Prized for their wool, which has very long fibres, merino sheep are farmed in vast flocks in Australia and New Zealand. Wool of such quality makes excellent fibres for warm winter clothing and even insulation for buildings to make them more energy efficient. With his magnificent horns, this sheep is probably the leader of his flock, watching out for marauding dingo dogs that might carry off a new-born lamb. He is knitted in fuzzy textured yarn to mimic the dense fleece that makes the merino sheep so valuable to their farmers.

This knitted sheep has been designed to be large enough to cuddle, but if you’d like to make one smaller, try knitting it with thinner yarn (2 or 3-ply) on 2 3/4 (size 12, US 1) needles.

The pattern for the sheep is from the book Kath Dalmeny’s World of Knitted Toys, and the full list of over 50 projects is shown below.

Materials
The pattern calls for 50g DK textured yarn in cream, 20g DK yarn in cream for the legs and face, a small amount of DK yarn in pale brown for the horns, and scraps of DK yarn in dark brown for the nostrils and mouth.

Additional materials: 14mm toy (1/2 inch) safety eyes, but felt eyes or black stitches would also be appropriate.
Washable toy stuffing.

The pattern recommends substituting non-fuzzy yarn if you find textured yarn difficult to work with or are knitting for an infant.

KATH DALMENY’S WORLD OF KNITTED TOYS patterns list

The book contains over 50 patterns for making adorable knitted toys – people and animals from all over the world. Each chapter covers a different habitat, the animals that make their homes there, and one of the people who live there, with accessories to represent their lives or work. The knitting patterns are listed under three categories – Easy; Straightforward; and Challenging, to help knitters choose the project that is right for you. The projects are as follows:

BASIC PERSON PATTERN
(which is then adapted for the people patterns below)

IN THE JUNGLE

• South American Indian
• Spider monkey – mother and baby
• Snake
• Tiger cub
• Gorilla
• Orang utan
• Parrot
• Banana

AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK

• Australian sheep farmer (complete with corks hanging from his hat!)
• Merino sheep
• Koala bear
• Duck-billed platypus
• Wombat
• Kangaroo and Joey

DOWN ON THE FARM

• Farmer
• Highland bull
• Pigs and piglets
• Cat
• Mallard duck
• Chicken, cockerel and chicks

THE DEEP BLUE SEA

• Pearl fisherman
• Dolphin
• Shark
• Killer whale
• Turtle
• Octopus
• Clownfish

FOREST FRIENDS

• Canadian Mountie
• Horse
• Grizzly bear
• Beaver
• Raccoon
• Chipmunk
• Moose

ON SAFARI

• African Park Ranger
• Zebra
• Lion family – lion, lioness and lion cub
• Rhinoceros
• Elephant
• Warthog

THE SNOWY REGIONS

• Eskimo
• Husky dog
• Fish
• Penguins – Emperor penguins and Adelie penguins – parents and chicks
• Seal
• Walrus
• Polar bear

PATTERN VARIATIONS

• Sea lion
• Panda bear