A round face, big dark eyes and a topknot or teddy-bear trim give the Shih Tzu a sweet, expressive look. Gold-and-white coats in particular make bright, cheerful patterns.
Free Shih Tzu pattern
80 × 80 stitches · 18 DMC colors · Easy · about 37–64 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.
Gold
White
Black
Liver
Threads matched by color difference (CIEDE2000). Look up any other color in our DMC color finder.
Silky coats have long, smooth highlights. Stitch the light streaks first so you can see the flow of the hair, and pick a fabric that contrasts with the coat so the outline doesn't get lost.
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 Shih Tzu. 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.
