BAAAAA (sheep speak)

I have an heirloom shawl.  A shawl made with my own hands 30 years or so ago.  A labor of love for I consider this a large project. You might think me crazy but when I did a purge of ‘old stuffs’, out went old crochet books and magazines.  Now the pattern is land fill.  So sad.

Two strands of crochet thread gave this shawl a bit of weight to keep me nice and warm.  I’m not sure what folks in the office thought of me with my ‘old lady’ shawl but it was ‘me’… my style … comfortable, different (there’s that word again), and something that made me happy.

I love how crocheting is back in style, fiercer than ever, funkier than ever, cuter than ever, AND STYLING.  Check out this sheep herd … cute yeah?  (local speak)  These lovely sheep will adorn bags or cozies or wherever they want to graze.

Here’s my interpretation of the pattern from this Japanese craft book.  The legs are the only alterations made.  Putting a crochet pattern to paper is quite difficult.  And although this project is small, one must be experienced with Japanese crocheting.  You could kind of wing it to make a similar shape. 

ISBN9784021904202

With the same pattern, you can make lovely trees, clouds, and sheep

Pattern for Sheep

Materials:

First, knowing what type of thread or yarn to use is always my biggest challenge.  This is where knowledge of the Japanese language would be helpful…sigh.

I usually experiment with needle and thread/yarn until I like the look, texture, and size.  For this project I lucked out finding Japanese crochet thread at a local store with a small Japanese craft section.  The thread is soft and thick.  This small thread ball was quite pricey at about $7. 

Thread Options = Thick crochet thread or double strand of crochet thread, or thin yarn (fuzzy yarn might make a pretty sheep)

For this thread, a size 8 hook worked well. 

Body Pattern:

1. Chain 15
2. Double Crochet (DC) in 5th chain (ch)  from hook
3. DC in the following 11 ch
4. 3 DC in the last ch
5. DC on the opposite side of the ch : DC in the following 12 ch
6. 3 DC in the last ch

At this point you should have an oval shape: 12 DC on both sides of the beginning chain of 15, and 3 DC at each end

Next

1. Slip stitch to join to first dc (in the form of 3 ch)
2. Slip stitch into next dc
3. Skip 1 dc
4. 5 dc in next dc
5. Skip 1 dc
6. Slip stitch in next 2 dc
7. Skip one dc
8. 5 dc in next dc
9. Skip 1 dc
10. Slip stitch in next dc

End

At this point you will have two humps on one side

Next

1. Join thread on opposite side: In second dc from left (this would be the dc directly opposite to the dc into which you slipped stiched to end the second hump)
2. Skip 1 dc
3. 5 dc in next dc
4. Skip 1 dc
5. Slip stitch in next 2 dc
6. Skip 1 dc
7. 5 dc in next dc
8. Skip 1 dc
9. Slip stich in next dc
10. End

Head

1. Start with a ‘wa’ with 10 single crochet (SC) Here’s a video on how to do a ‘wa’ (the demonstrator refers to a 'wa' as a 'magic circle' LOL!)
2. Going in a circle, SC in next 3 ch
3. Half double crochet in next ch
4. DC in next ch
5. Chain 5 (to form ears), slip stitch back into DC
6. DC in next 3 chain
7. Chain 5, slip stitch back into DC
8. DC in next ch
9. half DC in next ch
10. Slip stitch into next ch to END (leave about 4” of thread to sew head onto body)

Legs

1. Attach thread to back of sheep : eyeball placement for legs
2. Ch 10
3. Form a loop for one leg by attaching chain back of sheep then Ch 10 for second leg; Form second loop/leg. END

Repeat for second set of legs.

Hide and cut any thread ends.

Sew on Head.

Pau (local speak) : The End…Finish