I have been wanting to share this little Suffolk Sheep pattern © with you and thought it would be a nice addition for your nature tables or a new member for your handmade farmyard, it really is an easy beginner pattern, basically 2 rectangles knitted in garter stitch and after everything is sewn up, you will have a little sheep.
Materials:
- White hand spun Merino yarn
- Black Merino yarn for the ears
- 4 mm knitting needles
- Wool needle for sewing up
- Fleece for stuffing
Pattern:
Body:
Cast on 17 stitches and knit a square, approx 32 rows. You can check if you have a square by folding one corner of your knitting across to the other corner, thus folding a triangle, if a perfect triangle is formed, then you know you have a perfect square.
Cast off.
Fold the square in half, in the photo above, the fold is on the right hand side. Start sewing left from the fold, half way down the opening.
Pinch the two edges of the knitting from where you have stopped sewing together to form a leg and sew along the edges.
Repeat on the other side, now you have two legs.
After you have sewn both of the front legs, sew down the underside of the body but not completely. This must be left open for stuffing. Sew the back of the sheep, (down the back edge) and pinching both of the legs separately together and sewing them as you did for the front legs.
This is the body of your sheep on the wrong side. Both pairs of front and back legs are visible, Now turn your sheep onto the right side.
Stuff the body and when it is firm, sew up the tummy.
The Body sewn up and stuffed.
Head:
Pattern:
Cast on 9 stitches and knit 12 rows,
Cast off.
Thread your needle through your cast off edge and pull tight as seen in the photo below.
Now you have a nice round edge.
Finished sheep head, the round front of the head on the left and sewn curved underside. Stuff this with fleece. Sew onto the front of the body.
Sew on the tail.
With your black yarn sew a small loop to weave the ears. Just weave in and out of the loop.
Weave in and out both loops for the ears.
and he is finished!
I hope you enjoy knitting this little character and if you do, please pop by my Mamma4earth Ravelry group and post your photo in the finished items thread, it would be wonderful to see your finished projects:) I am very excited to share that my Ravelry group has grown to a wonderful 250 members and I am so happy that my dear friend Carle‘ has agreed to help me on my group as a moderator. Pop by over there and say hi if you have a chance:)
Happy knitting
Linda
Gorgeous Linda.
Linda, Thank you for your wonderful patterns. I work in a Waldorf preschool and have the best time making your toys for our classroom. Your patterns are written so well. They have made wonderful baby gifts and children’s birthday presents too. Thank You so much! I can’t wait to make this little cuttie.
JoAnn you are very welcome and thank you so much for your kind words:)
Thanks Jeanette:)
this looks fun and easy and quick to make.
despite having had a ravelry account for some time now I’m very new to it. Think I may have joined your group? I’m not very good at computer kinda things!!
Thanks so much Emma, what is your Ravelry name?
He’s lovely! And a perfect simple knitting project for this mostly crocheter!!
Thanks so much Shara:)
nice sheep Linda!!! Thank you for sharing!
xxx Alessandra
he is the most lovely little thing! you continue to amaze linda, thank you so much for sharing.
Oh isn’t that CUTE! We have loads of sheep here in NZ too!! This would go down a treat with my kids.
How cute. Thanks for sharing the pattern. Will share with my playgroup mums if that’s OK>
So cute! I can imagine a whole little flock
So cute! I will definitely make one. Thank you for sharing the pattern!
This is so sweet! Favoring this on Ravelry to make a few for my kids!
Lovely cute little sheep!! Thanks for sharing the pattern:)
Cute little pattern! My nine yr old is really into knitting toys for her younger brothers. She will LOVE making this!
Sweet little knitted sheep and great photos and explanation 🙂
Fabulous tutorial!
I don’t know if you remember but awhile ago (maybe a year or so?? ) I bought some yarn from you. I’ve been working on a project and…. yeah. I need more! 😀 I’ll try and go back in your blog posts and see if I can find the yarn I bought. I bought two colorways actually. Both you had spun. One is more the primary colors and the other is softer pastels. I need more of the pastels yarn.
Let me know. 😀
Hugs,
Rachel
I wish all patterns were written like that! So sweet, I want a whole flock!
I can just tell how soft he is by looking at him. Really cute. Thanks for showing us how! One of these days I hope to find the time to knit toys.
LOVE It!! Thanks for sharing!
Love him! I’m not crafting at the moment because of a hand injury….
Thank you, Linda, for the lovely little sheep. I’ve added this to my charity giving list.
Tiny sheep.
Large generosity.