I’ve got four dogs in the house at the moment. Yes, four! All Shih Tzu’s and they have been inspiring me to explore crochet designs for them.
You might ask why we have four dogs. Well, we have started fostering for a Rescue. Our first two fosters were a total failure as we couldn’t part with them, so Fergus and Finley joined our family in February ( they are the chocolate brown ones in the photo). We have now fostered Micha and Micha( the lighter brown ones) siblings who need to find a new home. And they all get on remarkably well.
My doggy crochet started with a practical purpose. Fergus and Finley were very neglected before their rescue and had to be shorn like sheep before they came to us in January, so jumpers were a must. I made them several each, honing my patterns to perfection.
The next thing I looked at were collars and leads. Crochet with yarn is probably a bit too stretchy for collars but crochet with macrame cord makes an excellent lead! Slip on collar covers, made in bright coloured cotton, dress up a plain collar and add a dash of colour.
Doggy bandanas are also made to Slip over a collar. These are decorated with a star, as the rescue is called Shih Tzu Action Rescue or STAR.
Finally, what’s the difference between a lamb and a Shih Tzu? Not much when it comes to size. A local animal sanctuary were looking for something to keep new lambs warm and I donated some dog jumpers. They were a perfect fit!
Walter and Betty look great in their cozy jumpers.
My dogs provided inspiration for a whole new set of designs to share with you. What next?
What Kate Made Today 