Upright ears, a black saddle and a tan face make the German Shepherd a striking pattern. The contrast between black and tan is strong, so this breed stays recognizable even at small sizes.
Free German Shepherd pattern
80 × 80 stitches · 16 DMC colors · Easy · about 20–34 hours · 5.7 × 5.7 in on 14-count
A printable PDF (US Letter and A4) with color and symbol charts, a chart for stitching apps, and a DMC shopping list.
Tan
Black saddle
Sable
White
Threads matched by color difference (CIEDE2000). Look up any other color in our DMC color finder.
Fluffy double coats look best with soft gradients rather than hard edges. A medium or large size (100+ stitches) gives the ruff and cheeks room to show texture; at small sizes, the outline of the head does more for recognition than the fur detail.
A close-up of the free chart: every square has a symbol, with a bold line every 10 stitches.
| 11-count Aida | 7.3 × 7.3 in |
|---|---|
| 14-count Aida | 5.7 × 5.7 in |
| 16-count Aida | 5.0 × 5.0 in |
| 18-count Aida | 4.4 × 4.4 in |
For your own dog, about 80 stitches wide is a lovely small portrait — quick to stitch and enough for the eyes and markings. Go to 100–120 stitches for more fur detail, or 50–60 for an ornament.
A square crop from the shoulders up suits the German Shepherd. Work out other sizes with the size calculator.
Every dog is different — your pattern is made from your photo, with your dog's own markings and colors, a name if you like, and a size that fits your frame. The preview is free.
