Welcome to my crochet Shih Tzu pattern. This is a request that I received. This is what the finished Shih Tzu applique will look like.

There’s also a video tutorial for this pattern available on my YouTube channel at crochet Shih Tzu tutorial.

 

To view this pattern for free, continue to scroll down this page. If you would like to download the ad-free version, it’s available on my Ravelry store for $1 at crochet Shih Tzu pattern and on LoveCrafts at crochet Shih Tzu pattern.

This pattern will be using US terminology. If you would like to view the UK version go to crochet Shih Tzu pattern (UK version).

Crochet Shih Tzu Pattern

Abbreviations

• st – stitch
• sts – stitches
• ch – chain
• sl st – slip stitch
• sc – single crochet
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet

Materials Used

• Crochet cotton or wool, I used Scheepjes Maxi Sugar Rush or Maxi Sweet Treat 2 ply crochet cotton colors (406) Soft Beige, (105) Bridal White, (162) Black Coffee and (110) Black.
• A crochet hook, I used a 1mm hook.
• Scissors.
• Darning needle to weave in ends.
• Sewing thread and needle to stitch the Shih Tzu together.

Size

Large Shih Tzu (Using 8 ply yarn & a 3mm hook)

10cm x 15cm or 4” x 6”

Medium Shih Tzu (Using 4 ply crochet cotton & a 1.5mm hook)

7cm x 11.5cm or 2.75” x 4.5”

Small Shih Tzu (Using 2 ply crochet cotton & a 1mm hook)

5.5cm x 8cm or 2” x 3”

Head

Using (105) Bridal White work 8 ch.

 

Row 1: Work 1 sc in 2^nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in following st, 1 hdc in each of next 2 sts, 1 sc in last st. Turn. (8 sts)

Rows 2-3: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to end. Turn. (8 sts)

Row 4: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (6 sts)

Row 5: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (4 sts)

Rows 6-10: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to end. Turn. (4 sts)

Row 11: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (6 sts)

Row 12: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in each st to end. Turn. (7 sts)

Row 13: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (9 sts)

Row 14: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to end. Turn. (9 sts)

Row 15: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in next st, 2 hdc in following st, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in following st, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in last st. Don’t fasten off.

Neatening Row

Turn work before neatening row.

 

1 ch, work 1 sl st in each st around. Fasten off.

Muzzle

Using (105) Bridal White work 4 ch.

 

Row 1: Work 1 sc in 2^nd ch from hook, 1 hdc in next st, 1 sc in last st. Turn. (3 sts)

Row 2: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (5 sts)

Row 3: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (7 sts)

Row 4: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (9 sts)

1st Side

 

Row 5: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, a joined sc over following 2 sts. Turn. (5 sts)

Row 6: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (5 sts)

Row 7: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 3 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (4 sts)

Row 8: 1 ch, work a joined sc over the 4 sts. Fasten off.

2nd Side

Join (105) Bridal White to last st worked of row 5.

Row 1: 1 ch, work a joined sc over same st as join and next st, 1 sc in each of following 2 sts, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (5 sts)

Row 2: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, a joined sc over following 2 sts. Turn. (5 sts)

Row 3: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (5 sts)

Row 4: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 3 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (4 sts)

Row 5: 1 ch, work a joined sc over the 4 sts. Don’t fasten off.

Neatening Row

1 ch, work 1 sl st in each st around. Fasten off.

1st Side of Face

Depending on the amount of stitches you worked on the neatening row of the head the st count may be slightly out for the 1^st and 2^nd side of the face.  You may need to adjust the amount of stitches.

 

Join (406) Soft Beige to row 6 as shown.

Row 1: Work 1 sc in each of next 3 sts, sl st in each of following 2 sts of head. Turn. (3 sc)

Row 2: Work 2 sc in 1^st sc, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in last sc, sl st in next 2 sts of head. Turn. (5 sc)

Row 3: Work 2 sc in 1^st sc, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last sc. Sl st in next 2 sts on head. Turn. (7 sc)

Row 4: Work 2 sc in 1^st sc, 1 sc in each remaining st and next 3 sts on head. Turn. (11 sts)

Row 5: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of next 11 sts, 1 sc in following 2 sts on head, sl st in last st on head. Turn. (13 sts)

Row 6: Work 1 sc in sl st and 1 sc in each st to end. Turn. (14 sts)

Row 7: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (12 sts)

Row 8: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. (10 sts)

 

Join in (162) Black Coffee and work over the top of the soft beige.

Row 9: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 4 sts, change to soft beige, work 1 sc in each of following 2 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (8 sts)

 

Bring the Black Coffee to the front and work 3 ch. Fasten it off leaving a long tail.

 

Row 10: Using the soft beige work 1 ch, a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (6 sts)

Row 11: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 hdc and 1 dc in next st, 1 dc and 1 hdc in following st, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Fasten off.

Neatening Row

Join (406) Soft Beige to 1^st st of soft beige.

Work 1 sl st in each st around to the start of the bridal white. Fasten off.

2nd Side of Face

Join (406) Soft Beige where shown.

Row 1: Work 1 sc in each of next 3 sts, sl st in each of following 2 sts of head. Turn. (3 sc)

Row 2: Work 2 sc in 1^st sc, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in last sc, sl st in next 2 sts of head. Turn. (5 sc)

Row 3: Work 2 sc in 1^st sc, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last sc.  Sl st in next 2 sts on head. Turn. (7 sc)

Row 4: Work 2 sc in 1^st sc, 1 sc in each remaining st and next 3 sts on head, sl st in last st on head. Turn. (11 sts)

Row 5: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of next 10 sts, a joined sc over following 2 sts on head. Turn. (11 sts)

 

Join in (162) Black Coffee and work over the top of the soft beige.

 

Row 6: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each of next 4 sts, change to soft beige, work 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, a joined sc over remaining sts. Turn. (9 sts)

 

Bring the Black Coffee to the front and work 3 ch. Fasten it off leaving a long tail.

 

Row 7: Using the soft beige work 1 ch, a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (6 sts)

Row 8: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 hdc and 1 dc in next st, 1 dc and 1 hdc in following st, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Fasten off.

Neatening Row

Join (406) Soft Beige to 1^st st of soft beige.

Work 1 sl st in each st around to the start of the bridal white. Fasten off.

Nose

Using (110) Black make a magic loop.

 

2 ch, into circle work 3 hdc, 2 ch, sl st in circle. Pull circle tight and fasten off.

Eyes (Make 2)

Using (110) Black make a magic loop.

 

1 ch, work 5 sc in circle. Pull circle tight and join with a sl st in top of 1^st st. Fasten off.

Body

Using (105) Bridal White work 14 ch.

 

Row 1: Miss 1^st ch, work 1 sc in each st to end. Turn. (13 sts)

Rows 2-5: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st. Turn. (13 sts)

Row 6: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (15 sts)

Row 7: 1 ch, work 2 sc in 1^st st, 1 sc in each st to last st, 2 sc in last st. Turn. (17 sts)

Rows 8-14: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to end. Turn. (17 sts)

Row 15: 1 ch, work a joined sc over 1^st 2 sts, 1 sc in each st to last 2 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (15 sts)

Rows 16-18: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st to end. Turn. (15 sts)

1st Leg

Row 19: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 6 sts. Turn. (6 sts)

Row 20: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 4 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (5 sts)

Rows 21-24: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st. Turn. (5 sts)

Row 25: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st. Fasten off.

2nd Leg

Join (105) Bridal White to last st of body.

Row 1: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 6 sts. Turn. (6 sts)

Row 2: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 4 sts, a joined sc over last 2 sts. Turn. (5 sts)

Rows 3-5: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each st. Turn. (5 sts)

Row 6: 1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 4 sts, 3 sc in last st. Don’t fasten off.

Neatening Row

Turn work before neatening row.

 

1 ch, work 1 sl st in each st across the top of leg and down the side, 1 sl st in 1^st st along tummy, 2 hdc in next st, work 1 sl st in each st to beginning of row. Fasten off.

Back

Join (406) Soft Beige at top of leg where shown.

Work 1 sl st in next st, 1 sc in following st, 1 hdc and 1 dc in next st, 1 dc in each of following 6 sts, 1 dc and 1 hdc in next st, 1 sc in following st, sl st in next st. Fasten off.

Back Legs (Make 2)

Using (105) Bridal White work 5 ch.

 

Row 1:  Miss 1^st ch, work 1 sc in each st.  Turn.  (4 sts)

Rows 2-5:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each st.  Turn.

Row 6:  1 ch, work 1 sc in each of 1^st 3 sts, 3 sc in last st.  Don’t turn or fasten off.

Neatening Row

1 ch, work 1 sl st in each st to start of row 6.  Fasten off.

To Make Up

Weave in ends. Stitch the chain for the ear markings down.

Attach the nose to the muzzle.

Embroider the mouth markings to the muzzle.

Sew the muzzle to the head.

Embroider a white dot on each eye.

Attach the eyes to the head.

Embroider markings on feet.

Stitch the head to the body.

Attach the back legs in behind the legs where shown.

And there’s the finished Shih Tzu applique. I’ve also made it in different sizes and colors.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed the pattern. If you’ve liked it, you might want to have a look at some of my other patterns including the crochet boxer dog pattern, the crochet border collie, the Boston terrier pattern, the crochet dachshund, the Chihuahua and the Yorkshire terrier pattern.