With the Criss Cross Dutch clip for Poodles, the feet, face, tail, stomach and neck are clipped exactly the same way as instructed under the Dutch clip. There is a slight difference in the setting of the body pattern: When viewed from the top, on the Criss Cross Dutch, the Poodle has a cross in the middle of his back.

Here is how to clip the body pattern:

1. Stand the Poodle with his hindquarters facing you. The first step is to clip a narrow strip from the base of the tail straight up the center of the back to the neck. To correctly proportion the width of the strip to the variety of Poodle you are clipping, use a #5/8 blade on Toy Poodles, a #7/8 blade on Miniature Poodles and a #10 blade (or #15 if you like a closer clip) on Standards. Be sure the dog stands still when you clip the strip from tail to head. If he is fidgety, have someone steady his front so the strip is not off-center. If you are worried about clipping a straight line, clip halfway, from the base of the tail to the middle of the dog, then stop. Check to see that the line is straight. If it is, continue clipping the strip up to the neck.
2. The next step is to clip a narrow strip around the middle of the dog to complete the pattern. It’s easier if you part the hair first with a comb. Make an even part completely around the dog’s middle, just in back of the last rib. Then, using the same blade, clip the strip around each side of the dog. Use the corner of the blade to round the edges of the strips at the center of the back and the neck.
3. Shape and finish the back legs with your shears as instructed in steps 12 and 13 for the Dutch clip.
4. Fluff out the hair on the hips and hindquarters with your comb. Shape the hindquarters, following the natural contours of the body, keeping in mind that the hair on the body should flow smoothly down to blend with the longer hair on the legs. When shaping the hair near the edges of the clipped strip, comb it up and out, then scissor off all the hair that falls over the clipped lines to make the pattern look neat. Use curved shears to bevel the hair at pattern lines to soften any sharp edges.
5. Comb the hair on the back, over the ribs and on the shoulders and chest up and out to fluff the coat. Scissor the jacket to the same length as the hindquarters, following the natural contours of the body.
6. Shape and finish the front legs with your shears as instructed in steps 14 and 15 for the Dutch clip. As on the hindquarters, there should be a smooth flowing of the lines from the shorter body coat to blend with the longer leg hair. When shaping near the edges of the clipped strip up the center of the back and around the neck, comb the coat up and out, then scissor off all the hair that falls over the clipped lines to make the pattern look neat. Use curved shears to bevel the hair at the pattern lines to soften any sharp edges.
7. Sit the Poodle on the grooming table, facing you. Comb the hair on the head upward and forward, and shape the topknot.
8. Comb the ear feathering downward, then round the ends with your shears to remove any straggly hairs or excessive length for an overall balanced appearance.