Yorkie Puppy

A small Yorkie sits with its paws tucked in and looks straight at you. The face is rust coloured, dark blue-grey fur runs over the head and back, and the chest and paws are pale, almost cream. We made the pattern in PatternHoop from an illustration and then stitched it in full; the finished piece is shown above.

How it looks on fabric

A Yorkshire terrier suits cross stitch well, because its coat already looks like separate strands. Rust, sand and cream threads alternate in small patches, and from a step away they read as fluffy fur, even though every stitch is a single colour. The dark back and ears give contrast, so the puppy stands out on white Aida. Each eye has one small white highlight, and that is what makes the look lively.

The background in the pattern is pale, and you can leave it unstitched. On our piece it stayed bare fabric. Only the grey shadow under the paws is stitched, so the puppy sits on the floor instead of floating.

How to stitch it

• Start with the black and dark grey areas around the eyes and along the back. They make good reference points for counting.
• The rust and sand shades are close, especially in the evening. Label them on an organiser and stitch in good light.
• Print the PDF and mark finished rows on the printout with a highlighter. In speckled fur it is easy to slip by one square.
• Leave the eye highlights and the pale strands on the chest for the end, so the light thread stays clean.
• Stitch the shadow last. It shows straight away whether the puppy sits level.

Who it is for

The pattern uses full cross stitches only, with no half stitches and no backstitch. The coat has a lot of colours, so a very first project should be something simpler. If you have finished a couple of small pieces, this Yorkie is a good next step. The finished work fits a light frame or a cushion cover, and it makes a good gift for a Yorkie owner.