So as you can see I have been busy and at last have finished my new patterns. Wooohooo! It’s such a nice feeling of relief! There has been a lot of tweaking and trying out different arrangements of stitches and shaping and I have gone slightly stir crazy knitting sheep heads (over 40 to date). So now I am really looking forward to knitting something different – maybe I will reward myself with a bit of scarf or sock knitting and as soon as I’ve finished this post I’m popping over to Loop’s website for a little restorative yarn shopping 🙂
There are two sheep patterns; a boy ram and a girl lamb. They both include options for 2 types of horns; a big curly pair and a narrower pointy pair. They also both have lots of suggestions for yarn colourways and although the animal pattern is written for knitting in 2 colours (one for the woolly part of the head and body and another for the smoother face, arms, legs, ears and tail) it can be knitted in a single colour if preferred.
The girl lamb pattern has plain coloured tights and knitted on shoes and comes with 2 dress patterns; one is worked in 2 colours with a Fair Isle/stranded technique and the other is knitted in a single colour with an arrangement of knit and purl stitches which give a textured pattern. Both are based on a honeycomb design (see below: the first 2 dresses are made from the Fair Isle pattern, one has the lighter colour as the accent colour defining the pattern and the other is reversed; the third lamb is wearing a dress from the textured pattern and has the pointy horns).
The boy ram pattern comes with a pattern for shorts and a sweater that uses a slipped stitch pattern to give an interesting nubby texture. The sweater is written for knitting in 2 colours but these are never used at the same time across the same row, instead it’s worked in alternate 2 row stripes with the slipped stitches giving the appearance of a more complex pattern. If preferred it can be worked in a single colour (see below: the first sheep with no horns is wearing the sweater made in a single colour, the other two are wearing sweaters knitted in 2 colours).
Both patterns are now available as instant downloads on Ravelry and my website. Buying any two of my animal patterns together gives an automatic discount of £1.25 (to apply the discount you’ll need to use the ‘add to basket’ rather than buying one at a time)
If you give either of them a go, I really hope that you enjoy them. As always I’m here to answer any questions that arise and there will be a knit along over on the Little Cotton Rabbits Ravelry group so that’s a really good place to pop in and leave a message if you need help with any aspect.
Thanks x
little cotton rabbits 
You’ve outdone yourself this time. These are ADORABLE!!!
LikeLike
Well worth waiting for, these sheep are gorgeous. You deserve some retail therapy – happy shopping!
LikeLike
These are absolutely incredible. I cannot wait to make these.
LikeLike
I agree with Donna: You have outdone yourself.
You are the most artistic and skilled knitter I know. As simply as that.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness! These are the cutest little sheep I have ever seen! You are so talented! I am off to buy these patterns right away.
Enjoy your restorative yarn shopping and whatever you decide to make next and thank you so much for all your lovely patterns.
Have a great weekend.
LikeLike
So adorable!
LikeLike
Absolutely lovely. Thank you. It is not easy to always come up with something new. You are an inspiration.
LikeLike
These new friends are adorable!!! Well done! I will be adding these to my LCR binder and my summer project list. I have a few Irish 🍀 babies that have just been born in Canada 🇨🇦 & I know their Mums will love the “back to their roots” sentiment. Thank you! How amazing are you?!?!? Now enjoy a little break. Summer & the new daily routine will be on us in no time…enjoy some gentle days.
With great admiration for your talents, Lori from Port Perry
LikeLike
Oh Julie they are absolutely gorgeous! I must make one at least one with the brilliant curly horns to join George the Piebald Rabbit..who now sits permanently on my (getting too small) knitting basket smiling encouragement when things go a bit needly and knarly! Enjoy your Loop visit…and a peaceful day!
love Jxx
LikeLike
They’re absolutely gorgeous! You are so clever. I can’t wait to start one this afternoon, I just have a rabbit’s frock to finish first.
Before I encountered ‘Little Cotton Rabbits’, I never found knitting pattern that I couldn’t improve on, but yours are in a different league.
LikeLike
I received your blog, laughed out loud (so so cute!) and had to pop right over! Wonderfully unique with your perfect touches! A must do! Thank you!
LikeLike
edit your email I meant!
LikeLike
I love these! You are so clever. Thank you.
LikeLike
Oh. My. Goodness. These are adorable!!! Buying both now. Thank you so much!
LikeLike
LOVE these little sheep! I’m going to make one for each of the ladies in my CroKnitster (Crocheting-Knitting-Sisters) group! Thank you for sharing your talent with us!
LikeLike
As always Julie, amazing. X
LikeLike
These are great, my little granddaughter wil love them!!!
LikeLike
They are gorgeous, as usual to your very high standard. You must have so much fun choosing jumpers and dresses. Have great weekend.
LikeLike
Adorable!!! I can’t imagine knitting so many. You must be able to knit them with your eyes closed!!!! Beautiful clothes patterns as well. Well done!!
LikeLike
Vraiment magnifique…Dommage que les explications ne soient pas en français.
J’adore votre blog tous les modèles sont superbes et très bien présentés…Bravo!
LikeLike
Oh Julie they are, as always, wonderful!!!! Just perfect! 🙂
I’m off to add them to my collection.
Happy weekend,
V x
LikeLike
OMG — these are so cute. Very talented to design these cute animals.
Just purchased the lamb. Can’t to make it.
Thanks,
Deb M
LikeLike
Its amazing!!!
You are a great artist!
I follow you from Spain and it’s no easy for me to understand your patterns and the way you name the stitches. However is great to see your work. You have such an incredible talent!!!!
I will keep in contact.
I am one of your greatest fans.
Thaks a lot for going on inspiring us.
Lucia
LikeLike
Oh, my! What a wonderful start to my day!!! I love them! Where are my needles? Which yarn should I start with? Oh, thank you!
LikeLike
These are so cute!
LikeLike
Beautifully done, they’re both absolutely delightful. I particularly love the horns, such a good texture, the perfect finishing touch. No doubt they’ll both be very popular. Hope you have a good weekend and a lovely virtual wander round the lovely Loop. CJ xx
LikeLike
Brilliant girl! You give me so much joy.
LikeLike
These are so cute. My friends in work love them as well.
LikeLike
Love love love. Gotta make a little something fir an ex pat Welsh girl who is expecting her first soon. Guess what’s on top of the list?
LikeLike
Wow! More gorgeous patterns from you. Off to buy I go! Can’t resist any of your patterns. Thank you Julie!
LikeLike
Julie you are brilliant! I will be making one of your beautiful lambs very soon. Thanks for giving us such fabulous patterns to knit. Sue x
LikeLike
Design of clothes are lovely and could provide confidence booster for toy knitter to garment knitter.
LikeLike
Omg… i got a shock … they are very very beautiful 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 thanks Julie ❤️❤️❤️
LikeLike
Julie you are the most talented lady. Can’t wait to start knitting these but must sew up a little bear first. The work you put into writing your patterns and the willingness to share them with others is so appreciated. You bring so much pleasure to so many knitters as well as those who receive them as gifts plus a lot of smiles of faces as people see them being knitted. Keep up the wonderful work. Marg – Melbourne, Australia
LikeLike
Beautiful! Buying both now and love to make them.
LikeLike
They are so cute. You are so talented Julie !
LikeLike
Wow they are darling!!
LikeLike
THEY ARE SO VERY VERY CUTE !! WELL DONE ! 🙂
LikeLike
Little lambs oh so cute!!! You are so talented. Happy knitting to all. 😊
LikeLike
WOW they are so cute and fantastic!!!
LikeLike
So adorable! Can’t wait to try knitting these. Thank you so much Julie for creating such amazing and lovely patterns for us!
LikeLike
Gorgeous!
xxx
LikeLike
Oh Julie there are fantastic. I’m off to Ravelry now to get them.
LikeLike
Hello, I finally finished my rabbits. Of course they don’t look at good as yours but this week I started the bears and hopefully by July I will be doing foxes. Thank you for your patterns and I love the new sheep
LikeLike
Jakie sliczne i te sukieneczki 🙂
LikeLike
I love these and want them all!!! You’re so clever xx
LikeLike
Brilliant Julie … and how much you put in to creating this beautiful animals never fails to amaze and impress me. You are a star! xx
LikeLike
So adorable!!!!! Enjoy your restorative knitting.
LikeLike
Rarely for me, I am favouring the boysie sheepies. They are adorable, like little vikings! Very cute and you are very clever. They do look fun. Love all the different colours you have used for them.
LikeLike
Julie,do I spy a little piggy in the basket?
LikeLike
Do you have any crochet patterns for these cute little animals? I would love to make some for my 4 grandchildren.
Writing from Canada
Mary-Joan
LikeLike
Absolutely adorable! Love them!!
LikeLike
Adorable Julie!!! You’ve created another set of winning patterns!!!
LikeLike
I have to stay up late and get up early as these sweet projects is all I think about and all I want to do!! I haven’t started very long ago and made 6 projects already! 2 foxes, 2 bunnies and 2 bears
LikeLike
what can one say……these are just way too cute…..you do a beautiful job. what a talent. Keep up the good work. Bless you from Wellborn, FL
LikeLike
Oh, these are beautiful! I help with a flock of Border Leiscester sheep and love them. It will be fun to knit a sheep instead of a rabbit and name it after one of the ewes.
Cheers, from Toronto, ON
LikeLike
C’est magnifique !!!!
avez vous des patrons en langue française car je ne lis pas l’anglais .
Merci à vous et bravo pour vos créations !
Amicalement
Chris from France
LikeLike