The curly-haired sheep

Please note, the difficulty level is medium+. However, if you truly want to make it, stay patient and focused—it’s achievable!

Materials:

You can choose the yarn at your discretion, of a similar color, composition and thickness. Acrylic, wool, velour or cotton will do. I used 450 m/100g acrylic yarn. Yarn consumption depends on its thickness and a crochet hook size. The height of my sheep is 10 cm. Depending on the thickness of yarn, the finished toy size may differ.

Yarn of the following colours is required: white, light brown and dark brown. Also, small amount of thin white colour cotton yarn for the eyes.

- A crochet hook, I used 1,25 mm crochet hook;

- A sewing needle, matching sewing threads;

- Hollow fibre for stuffing;

- For eyes: a small amount of white yarn, 2 beads, I used 6mm diam half-beads or 1 pair of ready-made eyes;

- For embroidery: a few threads of black or brown;

- All purpose clear transparent glue, e.g. UHU;

- Wire with a diameter of 1mm (4 pieces of 10 cm);

- Adhesive fabric tape/plaster.

Abbreviations:

ch – chain

st - stitch

sl st – slip stitch

sc – single crochet

inc – increase (2 sc in 1 st)

dec – decrease (single crochet two stitches together)

hdc – half double crochet

dc –double crochet

(...) x N times – repeat instructions in brackets N times

Arms (make 2)

Work with dark brown colour yarn.

Rnd 1. 6 sc in a Magic Ring

Rnd 2. 6 inc = 12

Work 1 sc, transfer your place marker here.

Rnd 3. into the back loops only: (2 sc, 1 dec) х 3 times = 9

Rnd 4. 7 sc, 1 dec = 8

Rnd 5. 8 sc

Prepare the wire - 2 pieces of 10 cm. Make a loop on the end of the wire. Insert the wire into the arms.

Rnd 6. (skip 1 loop, 1 sc) х 4 times = 4

Cut off the thread, leave a long tail, about 30 cm. Pull off loops around the wire.

Apply some transparent glue onto the half of the wire and make neat wraps around it with yarn.

To create thickness, wrap the wire several times and secure the thread with glue.

Shoulder (make 2)

Work with white colour yarn. Once you’ve made a Magic Ring, leave a long tail which you will need at a later stage. 

Rnd 1. 5 sc in Magic Ring, do not tighten the ring too hard, leave a hole.

Rnd 2. 1 inc, 4 sc = 6

Rnd 3. (2 sc, 1 inc) х 2 times = 8

Rnd 4.  7 sc, 1 sl st = 18

Cut off yarn, leave a tail for sewing.

Insert the arms into the initial hole of the Magic Ring of each shoulder.  Twist both wires together. Make sure the arms are of the same length. Close the holes in the shoulders with the remaining piece of yarn. Fasten off, hide the ends of yarn inside the work. Add some hollow fibre to the shoulders.

Legs (make 2)

Work with dark brown colour yarn.

Work 5 ch

Rnd 1. starting from 2nd ch from hook: 3 sc, 3 sc in the last stitch, continue along the other side of chain: 2 sc, 1 inc = 10

Rnd 2-3. 10 sc

Rnd 4. 9 sc, leave the last stitch unworked, move marker – a next round will start from here = 10

Rnd 5. (1 dec, 3 sc) х 2 times = 8

Prepare the wire - 2 pieces of 10 cm. Make a loop on the end of the wire. The length of the loop should equal to the length of the foot.

Rnd 6. 2 sc, Insert the wire into the leg, 1 ch, skip 1 loop — (at this point, take the wire out (see photo for guidance), 5 sc = 7 + 1 ch

Add some hollow fiber.

Rnd 7. 2 sc, 1 sc along the chain, 5 sc = 8

Cut off the thread, leave a long tail, about 90 cm.

Pull off the loops. Take the yarn out in the spot where the wire sticks out.

Apply some transparent glue onto the half of the wire and make neat wraps around it with yarn.

To create thickness, wrap the wire several times and secure the thread with glue.

Drumstick (make 2)

Work with white colour yarn. Once you’ve made a Magic Ring, leave a long tail which you will need at a later stage. 

Rnd 1. 6 sc in Magic Ring, do not tighten the ring too hard, leave a hole.

Rnd 2. (1 sc, 1 inc) х 3 times = 9

Rnd 3. (2 sc, 1 inc) х 3 times = 12

Rnd 4.  11 sc, 1 sl st = 12

Cut off yarn, leave a tail for sewing.

Insert the legs into the initial hole of the Magic Ring of each drumstick.  Twist both wires together. Make sure the legs are of the same length. Close the holes in the drumsticks with the remaining piece of yarn. Fasten off, hide the ends of yarn inside the work. Add some hollow fibre to the drumsticks.

Body

Work with white colour yarn.

Stuff as you go

Work 6 ch

Rnd 1. starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 inc, 3 sc, 3 sc in the last stitch, continue along the other side of chain: 4 sc = 12

Rnd 2. 3 sc in 1 loop, (1 sc, 1 inc) х 2 times, 1 sc, 3 sc in 1 loop, 1 sc, 1 inc, 1 sc,  leave the last 2 stitches unworked = 19

Move place marker – a new round will start from here.

The marker goes along the back. Ensure it stays in a straight line, align as and when required. To do so make an additional sc and shift the marker.

Rnd 3. (1 inc, 2 sc) х 2 times, (1 inc, 1 sc) х 3 times, (1 sc, 1 inc) х 3 times, 1 sc = 27

Rnd 4. (1 sc, 1 inc) х 4 times, 2 sc, 1 inc, 3 sc, 1 inc, 2 sc, 1 inc, 9 sc = 34

Rnd 5. 13 sc, 1 inc, (3 sc, 1 inc) х 2 times, 8 sc, (1 inc, 1 sc) х 2 times = 39

In the next rounds, we will crochet the curls. The curls are arranged asymmetrically.

In the 6th round, it is necessary to crochet 6 curls.

Rnd 6. (1 sc, 1 inc) х 2 times, crochet curl: work 9 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 6 inc, 1 sc, continue work into the loops of the body: 4 sc,
crochet the curl again: work 9 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 6 inc,1 sc, continue work into the loops of the body: 7 sc,
crochet curl: work 9 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 6 inc,1 sc, continue work into the loops of the body: 3 sc, 1 inc, 3 sc,
crochet curl: work 9 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 6 inc,1 sc, work into the loops of the body: 7 sc,
crochet curl: work 9 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 6 inc,1 sc, work into the loops of the body: 5 sc,
crochet curl: work 9 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 6 inc,1 sc, work into the loops of the body: 5 sc = 42

Work 1 sc, transfer your place marker here.

In the following rounds, all curls will be designated "crochet curl". This means you need to work 9 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 6 inc, 1 sc. Then continue along the main loops of the body.

If you want to get larger curls, you can increase the number of chains. For example, you can crochet like this: Work 12 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 9 inc, 1 sc.

Rnd 7. 5 sc, take the underlying curl out, 4 sc, take the curl out, 7 sc, take the underlying curl out, 8 sc,
take the underlying curl out, 7 sc, take the underlying curl out, 5 sc, take the underlying curl out, 5 sc,
continue crochet tail: work 4 ch, starting from 3rd ch from hook: 2 hdc = 42

In the following rounds, leave all the curls on the front side.

Rnd 8. 4 sc, crochet curl, 10 sc, put an additional marker for the leg, 7 sc, crochet curl, 7 sc, put an additional marker for the leg, 7 sc, crochet curl, 7 sc = 42

Rnd 9. take the tail out, 9 sc, crochet curl, 15 sc, crochet curl, 18 sc = 42

Rnd 10. 12 sc, crochet curl, 3 sc, crochet curl, 12 sc, crochet curl, 4 sc, crochet curl, 3 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc, 1 dec, crochet curl, 1 sc, 1 dec = 39

Rnd 11. (1 sc, 1 dec) х 3 times, 8 sc, crochet curl, 22 sc = 36

Work 1 sc, transfer your place marker here.

Rnd 12. 3 sc, crochet curl, 33 sc = 36

Rnd 13. 13 sc, 1 dec, 2 sc, crochet curl, 4 sc, 1 dec, 6 sc, 1 dec, 5 sc = 33

Rnd 14. 5 sc, 1 dec, 13 sc, crochet curl, 7 sc, crochet curl, 1 dec, 1 sc, 1 dec, crochet curl, 1 sc = 30

Insert the legs in the marked places. Twist the ends of the wires together. Wrap some adhesive fabric tape around those. 

Sew the drumsticks on.

Rnd 15. (1 dec, 1 sc) х 2 times, crochet curl, 4 sc, crochet curl, 2 sc, (1 dec, 1 sc) х 3 times, 9 sc = 25

Rnd 16. 25 sc

Rnd 17. 2 sc, 1 dec, 2 sc, put an additional marker for the arm, 3 sc, 1 dec, 2 sc, crochet curl, 1 sc, 1 dec, 3 sc, put an additional marker for the arm, 2 sc, 1 dec, 2 sc = 21

Rnd 18. 2 sc, crochet curl, 13 sc, crochet curl, 6 sc = 21

Rnd 19. 5 sc, crochet curl, (1 dec, 5 sc) х 2 times, crochet curl, 1 dec = 18

Work 1 sc, transfer your place marker here.

Rnd 20. 7 sc, crochet curl, 11 sc = 18

Rnd 21. 10 sc, crochet curl, 8 sc = 18

Insert the arms in the marked places. Twist the ends of the wires together. Wrap some adhesive fabric tape around those. 

Sew the arms on.

Rnd 22. (1 dec, 4 sc) х 2 times, 1 dec, 3 sc, crochet curl, 1 sc = 15

Rnd 23. (3 sc,1 dec) х 2 times, 2 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc = 12

Rnd 24. 12 sc

Rnd 25. 2 sc, crochet curl, 1 dec, 2 sc, 1 dec, 1 sc, crochet curl, 1 sc, 1 dec = 9

Rnd 26-27. 9 sc

Cut off yarn, leave a tail for sewing.

Head

Work with light brown colour yarn.

Rnd 1. 6 sc in a Magic Ring

Rnd 2. 6 inc = 12

Rnd 3. (1 sc, 1 inc) х 6 times = 18

Rnd 4. (1 sc, 1 inc, 1 sc) х 6 times = 24

Rnd 5. (3 sc, 1 inc) х 6 times = 30

Rnd 6-9. 30 sc

Rnd 10. (1 dec, 8 sc) х 3 times = 27

Rnd 11-12. 27 sc

Rnd 13. 12 sc, 3 ch, skip 3 loops — This is a hole for the neck, 12 sc = 27

Rnd 14. 12 sc, 3 sc along the chains, 12 sc = 27

Rnd 15. (8 sc, 1 inc) х 3 times = 30

Rnd 16. (2 sc, 1 inc, 2 sc) х 6 times = 36

Rnd 17-22. 36 sc

Rnd 23. (2 sc, 1 dec, 2 sc) х 6 times = 30

Rnd 24. (1 dec, 3 sc) х 6 times = 24

Rnd 25. (1 dec, 2 sc) х 6 times = 18

Add hollow fiber.

Rnd 26. (1 dec, 1 sc) х 6 times = 12

Rnd 27. (1 dec) х 6 times = 6

Pull off the loops. Cut the thread, hide the end.

Connect the head and body, sew it on.

Curls for the head

Work with white colour yarn.

Rnd 1. 6 sc in a Magic Ring

Rnd 2. 6 inc = 12

In the next rounds, we will crochet the curls. The curls are arranged asymmetrically.

In the 3rd round, it is necessary to crochet 3 curls.

Rnd 3. crochet curl: work 9 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 6 inc,1 sc, work into the main loops: (1 sc, 1 inc) х 2 times, crochet curl: work 9 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 6 inc,1 sc, work into the main loops: (1 sc, 1 inc) х 2 times, crochet curl: work 9 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sl st, 6 inc,1 sc, work into the main loops: (1 sc, 1 inc) х 2 times = 18

Rnd 4. take the underlying curl out, 2 sc, 1 inc, crochet curl, 2 sc, 1 inc, take the underlying curl out, 2 sc, 1 inc, crochet curl, 2 sc, 1 inc, take the underlying curl out, 2 sc, 1 inc, crochet curl, 2 sc, 1 inc = 24

Rnd 5. 3 sc, 1 inc, take the curl out, (3 sc, 1 inc) х 2 times, take the curl out, (3 sc, 1 inc) х 2 times, take the curl out, 3 sc, 1 inc = 30

Rnd 6. 4 sc, 1 inc, 3 sc, crochet curl, 1 sc, 1 inc, 2 sc, crochet curl, 2 sc, 1 inc, 4 sc, 1 inc, 2 sc, crochet curl, 2 sc, 1 inc, 3 sc, crochet curl, 1 sc, 1 inc = 36

Rnd 7. 1 sc, crochet curl, 20 sc, crochet curl, 15 sc = 36

Rnd 8. 4 sc, crochet curl, 7 sc, crochet curl, 6 sc, crochet curl, 11 sc, crochet curl, 8 sc = 36

Rnd 9. 7 sc, crochet curl, 12 sc, crochet curl, 5 sc, crochet curl, 7 sc, crochet curl, 4 sc, crochet curl, 1 sc = 36

Rnd 10. 14 sc, crochet curl, 12 sc, crochet curl, 10 sc = 36

Rnd 11. 2 sc, crochet curl, 7 sc, crochet curl, 7 sc, crochet curl, 6 sc, crochet curl, 7 sc, crochet curl, 7 sc = 36

Fasten off, cut off any excess yarn, hide the end.

The curls should be glued or sewn onto the head.

Eyes (make 2)

Work 3 ch with white cotton yarn.

Rnd 1. starting from 3rd ch from hook: 7 hdc, join into a ring with a sl st = 7

Fasten off, cut off any excess yarn, hide the end.

Glue the eyes. Glue the pupils – black beads.

The eyes can be molded from polymer clay or use ready-made eyes.

Ear (make 2)

Work with light brown colour yarn.

Rnd 1. 8 ch, starting from 2nd ch from hook: 1 sc, 2 hdc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc, in the last stitch: 1 sl st, 1 sc, 1 sl st, continue along the other side of chain: 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 2 hdc, 1 sc = 15

Cut off yarn, leave a tail for sewing.

Sew the ears on. Embroider  the nose.

The curly-haired sheep is complete!