This lamb softie does double duty: she’s a sweet and huggable friend, but when you “shear” her by removing her fleece, she becomes a tote that’s perfect for Easter egg hunts. Once the hunt is over, just tuck in her handles, slip her fleece back on and she’s all ready for cuddles.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Size: 14” from nose to rump
Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st in MC on size 7 needles
Materials
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool (100% Wool; 478 yards [437 meters]/250 grams): 8010 Ecru (MC, 1 ball), 8085 Mocha (CC1, 1 ball), 8095 Ebony (CC2, 1 ball)
Needles: US size 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs, US size 7 (4.5 mm) circular, US size 10 (6 mm) circular
Notions: Polyester fiberfill, tapestry needle
Pattern Notes
This pattern is worked in the round from the nose of the sheep to the rump. The Sheep’s ears, legs, tail, and inside of the tote and handles are made separately and attached at the end. The fleece is also worked separately and fits over the Sheep.
Pattern
Body
With smaller DPNs and CC1, CO 3 sts.
Rnd 1: Kfb 3 times, distribute evenly over DPNs and join to work in the rnd. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Kfb 6 times. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: (K1, kfb) 6 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: (K2, kfb) 6 times. (24 sts)
Rnd 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: (K3, kfb) 6 times. (30 sts)
Rnds 9-10: Knit.
Rnd 11: (K4, kfb) 6 times. (36 sts)
Rnds 12-26: Knit.
Cut yarn and attach MC.
Rnd 27: Knit.
Rnd 28: K1, kfb, k to 2 sts before the end of the rnd, kfb, k1. (38 sts)
Rnds 29-36: Rep Rnd 28. (54 sts)
Rnds 37-39: Knit.
Rnd 40: K27.
Note: You should be at the middle of the Sheep’s back and this will be your new end of rnd. From here on you should turn the work and knit the body of the Sheep flat. This will form the opening at the back that makes him a tote. Depending on the length of your DPNs, you may want to switch to a circular needle at this point.
Row 41 (WS): Sl1, p53.
Row 42 (RS): Sl1, k53.
Rep Rows 41-42 until the Sheep measures 12.5” from the tip of its nose, ending with a RS row. Rejoin yarn to work in the rnd again.
Rnds 43-45: Knit.
Rnds 46: (K4, k2tog) 9 times. (45 sts)
Rnds 47-48: Knit.
Rnd 49: (K3, k2tog) 9 times. (36 sts)
Rnd 50: Knit.
Rnd 51: (K2, k2tog) 9 times. (27 sts)
Rnd 52: (K1, k2tog) 9 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 53: (K2tog) 9 times. (9 sts)
Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight and tie off.
Tote lining
Using MC and smaller DPNs, CO 50 sts.
Work in St st for 7”.
BO all sts.
Fold in half widthwise, with RS together. Seam up the sides to make a pocket.
Cut yarn, tie off.
Eyes
Using CC2 and smaller DPNs, CO 3 sts.
Rnd 1: Kfb 3 times, distribute evenly over DPNs and begin to work in the rnd. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Kfb 6 times. (12 sts)
Legs (make 4)
Using smaller DPNs and CC1, CO 18 sts.
Rnd 1: Knit, distribute evenly over DPNs and join to work in the rnd.
Rnds 2-20: Knit.
Cut yarn and attach CC2.
Rnds 21-28: Knit.
Rnd 29: (K1, k2tog) 6 times. (12 sts)
Rnd 30: (K2tog) 6 times. (6 sts)
Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts and pull tight. Tie off.
Ears and Tail (make 3)
Using smaller DPNs and CC1, CO 3 sts.
Rnd 1: Kfb into every st. Being careful not to twist sts, distribute evenly over DPNs and begin to work in the rnd. (6 sts)
Rnd 2: Kfb 6 times. (12 sts)
Rnd 3: (K1, kfb) 6 times (18 sts)
Rnds 4-10: Knit.
Rnd 11: (K2tog, k5, k2tog) 2 times (14 sts)
Rnd 12: Knit.
Rnd 13: (K2tog, k3, k2tog) 2 times (10 sts)
Rnd 14: Knit.
Rnd 15: (K2tog, k1, k2tog) 2 times (6 sts)
Rnd 16: Knit.
BO, leaving a long tail that can be used to sew the Ear to the head or the Tail to the rump.
Handles (make 2):
Using DPNs and CC2, CO 8 sts.
Rnd 1: Knit, distribute evenly all sts over 2 DPNs and hold them parallel to each other. Begin to work in the rnd this way (your work will be a flat tube).
K every rnd until each handle measures 12”.
BO sts.
Eyes
Using larger needles and CC3, ch 9.
Row 1: Sk first ch, sc tbl 8 times, ch 1.
Rows 2-40: Rep Row 1.
Cut yarn, tie off.
Fleece
Using larger needles and MC, CO 40 sts.
Row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 2: *P1, k1; rep from * to end of row.
Row 3: Rep Row 1.
Row 4: Work in est rib pattern first 12 sts, BO 2 sts for first earhole, work next 10 sts in est rib pattern, BO 2 sts for next earhole, k to end of row in est rib pattern.
Row 5: Work in est rib pattern to first earhole, CO 4 sts over bind off space, work in est rib pattern to next earhole, CO 4 sts over bind off space, work in est rib pattern to end of row.
Row 6: Kfb, work in est rib pattern to next to last st of row, kfb. (42 sts)
Rows 7-15: Rep Row 6. (60 sts)
Continue to knit every row in est rib pattern until piece meas 11” from CO edge.
Row 16: *K2tog, p2tog; rep from * to end of row. (30 sts)
Row 17: (P1, k1) 15 times.
Row 18: (K1, p1) 15 times.
Row 19: *K2tog, p2tog; rep from * to end of row. (15 sts)
Rows 20-21: (K1, p1) 7 times, k1.
BO.
Finishing
Insert tote lining into the tote opening at the top of the Sheep’s back, lining up the edges. Using a yarn needle and a length of MC yarn, attach the bottom of the tote lining to the inner belly of the Sheep with a few stitches.
Stuff the Sheep, and then use tapestry needle and MC to seam all around the upper edges of the tote lining and the tote opening on the Sheep’s back.
Lightly stuff the legs and sew them to the body.
Sew the back legs on 2” from the back end of the Sheep.
Sew the front legs on 6” from the front end of the sheep.
Attach ears on each side of the head, 5 sts from the top of the head in Rnd 26.
Attach tail on the rump of the Sheep.
Sew handles to the Sheep, at the tote openings.
Sew eyes onto Sheep’s face. Embroider on a white “V” sideways for a highlight.
Fold fleece in half, right sides together. Do not sew either the CO edge or the BO edge. Measuring from the CO edge, sew a 3” seam along the bottom front of the fleece.
Measuring from the BO edge, sew a 3” seam along the bottom back of the fleece.
Turn the fleece right side out.