Crochet Pattern Adorable Little Sheep

Materials

To crochet your adorable sheep, perfect as a Christmas tree ornament, interior decoration, keychain, or brooch, gather the following supplies:

• Bouclé Yarn: For the fluffy body. The pattern suggests “Bouclé Stretch” by Lama (50g/100m) or “Knyazhna” by Troitskaya yarn (200g/300m).
• Thin Smooth Yarn: For the head and ears. The pattern uses “Angora Ram” (100g/500m), which has mohair but minimal pile without brushing.
• Iris-type Threads: Essential for detailing the face, such as embroidering the nose.
• Small Beads: For the sheep’s eyes, adding a charming touch.
• Stuffing: Superpooh or synthetic down for filling your amigurumi sheep.
• Accessories: Satin ribbon or other embellishments, depending on how you plan to use your finished sheep.
• Crochet Hooks: A 2.5 mm hook for the body and a 2 mm hook for the head and finer details.

Abbreviations

Familiarize yourself with these standard crochet abbreviations used throughout this amigurumi sheep pattern:

• ch: Chain stitch
• sl st: Slip stitch
• sc: Single crochet
• inc: Increase (crochet two single crochets into one stitch of the base)
• dec: Decrease (crochet two single crochets together, typically through the front loops for a neat finish)
• x N times: Repeat the specified instructions within the parentheses N number of times
• (…): The total number of stitches you should have at the end of the row is indicated in parentheses.

Gauge & Finished Size

This charming crochet sheep pattern is worked in a continuous spiral, eliminating the need for starting chains. While a specific gauge swatch isn’t provided, here’s the approximate finished size for the body:

• Finished Body Size: Approximately 5 cm in length and 4 cm in height.

Crochet Tip for Bouclé Yarn: When working with bouclé yarn for the body, you’ll find that the “right side” of your crochet fabric will actually be the wrong side. This is because most of the fluffy, textured pile emerges on the wrong side, giving your sheep its characteristic woolly look. Keep this in mind as you crochet for the desired texture!

Instructions: Crafting Your Amigurumi Sheep

Let’s begin crocheting your adorable sheep! We’ll work in a spiral, meaning you won’t join rounds with a slip stitch. The following steps are illustrated with multi-colored sheep, but the process remains consistent for any yarn color you choose.

Body (Make 2 Pieces)

Using bouclé yarn and a 2.5 mm crochet hook, you’ll crochet two identical body pieces. Remember the bouclé yarn tip: the wrong side will be your textured “right side.”

1. Row 1: Chain 6. Starting from the second chain from the hook, work 4 single crochets (sc), then 3 sc into the very last chain. Rotate your work and crochet on the reverse side of the chain: 3 sc, then 2 sc into the first chain you originally worked into (12 stitches total).
2. Row 2: 1 increase (inc), 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 2 inc (18 stitches).
3. Row 3: 1 inc, 4 sc, then repeat (inc, 1 sc) 3 times, 3 sc, then repeat (inc, 1 sc) 2 times (24 stitches).
4. Row 4 (Standard): Work 24 sc evenly around (24 stitches).
5. Alternative Row 4 (If your work tightens): If you find your fourth row is tightening up, which can happen with certain yarn types, use this alternative: 1 inc, 6 sc, then repeat (inc, 2 sc) 3 times, 3 sc, then repeat (inc, 2 sc) 2 times (30 stitches).

On one of your body pieces, you will crochet a small tail before finishing. This is a delightful detail for your crochet sheep:

• Crochet the Tail: Without breaking the yarn, work 2 sc into the body, then chain 3. Work 1 sc into the second chain from the hook, then another 1 sc. Finish with 1-2 slip stitches back into the body to secure the cute tail.
• For a Tail on the Other Side: To crochet the tail on the opposite side (if you want a sheep facing another direction), leave a few single crochets unworked at the end of your last body row. Crochet the tail as described above, then continue with sc to complete the row.

Cut the yarn, secure the end, and carefully weave in all loose tails. You now have two fluffy body pieces ready for assembly!

Head

The head is created in two distinct sections: first with smooth yarn for the face, then transitioning to textured yarn for the top of the head.

Smooth Yarn Section (2 mm hook)

1. Row 1: Chain 6. Starting from the second chain from the hook, work 4 sc, then 3 sc into the very last chain. Rotate and crochet on the reverse side: 3 sc, then 2 sc into the first chain you worked into (12 stitches total).
2. Row 2: 1 inc, 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 2 inc (18 stitches).
3. Row 3: Repeat (8 sc, 1 inc) 2 times (20 stitches).
4. Rows 4-7: Work 20 sc evenly around for each row (20 stitches). On Row 7, leave the last 1 sc uncrocheted.
5. Row 8: Repeat (1 dec, 8 sc) 2 times (18 stitches).

Cut the yarn and secure it. Lightly stuff the smooth part of the head. This section forms the sheep’s distinct snout and facial area.

Textured Yarn Section (Bouclé yarn)

Now, switch to your bouclé yarn to create the signature curly top of the sheep’s head.

1. Row 9: Join the bouclé yarn and single crochet in each stitch around, working through both loops (18 stitches).
2. Row 10: Turn your piece. Work 1 decrease on each side of the row. Secure and hide the yarn tail.

Curly Head Tip: If your sheep’s head isn’t as curly as you’d like, you can add an extra row (making 3 rows total for the textured section) or gently pull the bouclé pile to one side for more fluffiness and volume.

Ears (Make 2 Pieces)

Using your smooth yarn and a 2 mm hook, crochet two cute ears for your sheep.

1. Row 1: Work 6 sc into a magic ring (6 stitches).
2. Row 2: Work 1 inc in each stitch around (6 increases total) (12 stitches).

Leave a long yarn tail for sewing. Fold each ear in half with the right side facing inwards, and sew 1-2 stitches to fix its folded shape. It’s important not to cut the yarn tails from the ears yet, as they will be used for attaching the ears to the head and other assembly steps later.

Assembly & Finishing Touches

Now comes the exciting part: bringing your crochet sheep to life with assembly and facial details!

Facial Details and Ear Attachment

First, sew the ears onto the head using the long tails you left from crocheting them. Position them symmetrically on the sides of the head. Next, decorate the face:

• Eyes: Carefully sew on the small bead eyes to give your sheep expression.
• Nose: Using iris-type threads, embroider a small nose below the eyes.

At this stage, if you’re making a brooch, your adorable curly heads are nearly complete! All that remains is to attach a small brooch blank to the back.

Attaching the Head to the Body

Sew the finished head to one of the body pieces. The method depends on your desired sheep type:

• For a Two-Legged Sheep: Sew the head centered on the front of one body piece. If you’re creating an ornament, remember to sew a ribbon for hanging securely between the head and body as you attach them. You can utilize the remaining thread ends from the ears for this step.
• For a Four-Legged Sheep: Sew the head to the side of one body piece, giving the impression that the sheep is looking forward.

Crocheting and Attaching the Legs

The number and length of legs vary based on whether your sheep will stand on two or four legs. All legs are crocheted using smooth yarn and a 2 mm hook.

For a Two-Legged Sheep:

• Front Legs (Make 2): Work 6 sc into a magic ring. Continue for a total of 4 rows.
• Back Legs (Make 2): Work 6 sc into a magic ring. Continue for a total of 5 rows.

For a Four-Legged Sheep:

• All Legs (Make 4): Work 6 sc into a magic ring. Continue for a total of 3 rows.

For all legs, secure the thread and leave a long tail for sewing. Instead of stuffing, tuck the starting yarn ends inside the legs to give them shape and firmness. Sew the finished legs onto the body in their appropriate positions.

Final Body Assembly and Stuffing

Align the two body pieces you crocheted. Using an overcast stitch, sew the back part of the body together. Pull the thread tightly so that it sinks into the bouclé pile, creating a neat and seamless look. Don’t forget to lightly stuff the body with Superpooh or synthetic down before fully closing it! This gives your amigurumi sheep its soft, squishy form.

• For the Two-Legged Sheep: If you haven’t already, crochet a small tail (chain 3, then 2 sc starting from the second chain from the hook) and sew it in place on the back.
• For the Four-Legged Sheep: If you’re making an ornament, ensure you sew a ribbon for hanging securely between the front and back body pieces before completing the seam.
• For a Brooch: If converting your sheep into a brooch, sew a piece of felt to the back for added stability, then attach a brooch blank for easy wear.

And there you have it – your very own collection of adorable crochet sheep! These little cuties make wonderful gifts, festive decorations, or charming keychains. Enjoy your handmade fluffy friends