Sheepy Draughts... and a Wolf Too by Aurélie Colas

Sheepy Draughts... and a Wolf Too

Knitting
November 2013
DK (11 wpi) ?
20 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches
in double knitting
US 6 - 4.0 mm
1969 - 2297 yards (1800 - 2100 m)
Checkerboard Blanket: 84 cm x 84 cm approx. (33 in x 33 in)
English

“Somewhere on the train from Aberdeen to Inverness (Scotland), there was a little hill with a flock of sheep having a nap in the sun. Some of the sheep were white, some were dark. And they were scattered all over the hill like a checkerboard. They were playing Sheepy Draughts, for sure.

Whether you choose to play the draughts with your loved ones, or teach a young child how to play the “sheep and the wolf”, whether you build tall “towers” of sheep with a toddler, or simply use the checkerboard as a cosy blanket or a playmat, the possibilities are endless to enjoy the Sheepy Draughts.“


Message aux francophones: Si l’anglais n’est pas votre premiere langue, mais que vous souhaitez vous lancer et tricoter un de mes designs, n’hesitez pas ! Je peux vous aider a traduire des passages qui vous poseraient probleme, et, si il y a une demande suffisante, me lancer dans la traduction complete de mes modeles.


7-Page Pattern includes:

  • Detailed written instructions to create the checkerboard and the sheep to play International Draughts.

  • Also includes the rules to play “the sheep and the wolf”. (Note that there is no actual “wolf” included: a “black” sheep pretends to be a wolf for the duration of the game.)

The link to two animated slideshows demonstrating a game won by the sheep and a game won by the wolf can be found on the designer’s blog.


Size:

The checkerboard blanket / playmat measures approximately 84 cm x 84 cm (33 in x 33 in). Each sheep measures approximately 5 cm (2 in) across, and 3 cm (1 1/4 in) high.


Yarn requirement:

Sample shown uses New Lanark Pure Wool DK.

A small amount of the yarn is felted to create the heads of the sheep pieces. If planning on substituting the yarn, take this in consideration.

The checkerboard alone requires:

  • (A): 5 x 50g, in Shade Ecru (white)
  • (B): 1 x 50 g, in Shade Pebble (light grey)
  • (C): 5 x 50 g, in Shade Gritstone (darker grey)
  • (D): 1 x 50 g, in Shade Natural Black (Black)

The checkerboard and all the sheep pieces require:

  • (A): 7 x 50g, in Shade Ecru (white)

  • (B): 3 x 50 g, in Shade Pebble (light grey)

  • (C): 6 x 50 g, in Shade Gritstone (darker grey)

  • (D): 3 x 50 g, in Shade Natural Black (Black)