Knitted/Felted White Sheep

Knitted and Felted White Sheep by Anita Wheeless

What is Being Made

This is a charming handmade toy sheep designed by Anita M. Wheeless. The finished stuffed animal measures approximately 7 inches long from the tip of the tail to the nose and stands about 5 inches high, making it an ideal size for a decorative keepsake or child's toy. The design captures the gentle character of a lamb with a simple, approachable construction method suitable for knitters with intermediate skills.

Primary Craft and Techniques

This project combines knitting with wet felting to create the sheep's distinctive textured appearance. The felting process transforms the knitted wool fabric, creating a denser, more compact material that gives the finished toy its characteristic woolly look and feel. The designer notes that felting introduces an element of creative surprise to each project, as wool yarns vary in how they respond to the felting process, making every completed sheep unique.

Stitches and Abbreviations Used

• K1 — Knit 1 stitch
• K2tog — Knit 2 stitches together (a decrease)
• Ssk — Slip, Slip, Knit (a left-leaning decrease)
• BO — Bind Off (securing stitches at project completion)
• Increases — Made by knitting into the front and back of the same stitch

Materials and Tools Required

Yarn: The project uses two different yarns to create visual and textural interest. The primary yarn is one skein of 100% wool in worsted weight (100 grams / 223 yards / 204 meters). Important: The pattern specifies NOT superwash wool, as superwash-treated fibers do not felt properly. Additionally, one skein of 50 grams / 90 meters textured yarn is required for added dimension.

Needles and Tools: Size US 8 Double-Pointed Needles are used for the knitting construction. A yarn needle and thread needle facilitate weaving in ends and assembly. Matching thread and waxed thread secure pieces together during construction. An awl, pliers, and wire cutter assist with hardware installation.

Embellishments and Finishing: Pink embroidery floss adds facial details, while glass eyes bring the sheep to life. Polyester fiberfill stuffing fills the completed knitted form before felting and final assembly.

Design Notes

The pattern encourages crafters to embrace the unpredictability of the felting process. Since different wool yarns felt at different rates and to varying degrees, the designer recommends careful attention to yarn selection and felting technique to achieve the best results. This handmade quality ensures that each sheep created from this pattern becomes a one-of-a-kind creation.