Meet the Pastel Painter Sheep – a fluffy little artist in a striped pastel tee, dusty pink pinafore dress, yellow beret with a paint drop, mint shoes, a round palette crossbody bag, and a tiny paintbrush ready to paint on her canvas.
Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR – magic ring
- ch – chain
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – increase (2 sc in same st)
- dec – invisible decrease (sc 2 sts together through front loops only)
- BLO – back loop only
- FLO – front loop only
- bobble – 4 dc in same st, drop loop from hook, insert hook into first dc, pick up working loop and pull through all loops (small puff)
- FO – fasten off
All rounds are worked in continuous spirals unless otherwise noted. Use a stitch marker for the first st of each round.
Materials
- Sport or light DK weight yarn in:
- Cream (sheep body, muzzle, ears, bag base, hat drop)
- Off-white or very light cream (wool curls, optional)
- Mint (tee stripes, sleeve edges, shoes)
- Soft yellow (tee stripes, beret)
- Soft pink (tee stripes, pinafore dress)
- Light brown (paintbrush handle, mouth details)
- Assorted small amounts: red, orange, green, blue, purple (paint dots on palette)
- Dark brown or black embroidery thread (eyes, mouth if not using safety eyes)
- 8 mm safety eyes (pair)
- Crochet hook 2.5–2.75 mm (or size for tight stitches)
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
- Tapestry needle and pins
- Stitch markers
Finished sheep stands about 22–24 cm (8.5–9.5 in) tall with these materials.
Gauge & Notes
Gauge is not critical as long as stitches are firm so stuffing does not peek through. With sport yarn and a 2.5 mm hook, you’ll get about 5–5.5 sc per 1 inch.
The sheep is worked in separate pieces:
- Legs joined together and worked up into the body
- Head, ears, arms, tail, and wool cap made separately
- Clothes and accessories are removable
Stuff firmly, especially the head and body, so the doll stands nicely.
Construction Overview
- Crochet legs and join them to build the body.
- Make the head and add safety eyes, muzzle, and embroidered smile.
- Add floppy ears, little tail, and a bobbly wool cap.
- Dress the sheep in her striped tee and pinafore dress.
- Add beret, shoes, palette bag, and paintbrush.
- Optional: display with a tiny easel and canvas.
Sheep Pattern
Use cream yarn for body parts unless otherwise noted.
Legs (make 2)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Rounds 5–6: sc around (24) – foot shape.
Round 7: (4 sc, dec) x 4 (20)
Round 8: (3 sc, dec) x 4 (16)
Rounds 9–15: sc around (16)
Stuff the leg firmly. FO the first leg only. Work the second leg to Round 15 but do not FO.
Join Legs & Body
Round 1: From second leg, ch 3, attach to first leg with a sc in any st on inner side.
Sc around first leg (16), sc in each of 3 ch on opposite side, sc around second leg (16). (35 sts)
Round 2: (6 sc, inc) x 5 (40)
Rounds 3–6: sc around (40)
Round 7: (6 sc, dec) x 5 (35)
Round 8: (5 sc, dec) x 5 (30)
Rounds 9–10: sc around (30)
Round 11: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
Round 12: sc around (24)
Round 13: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
Stuff body firmly, shaping a gentle tummy.
FO, leaving a tail if you like to sew the head on with this strand.
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Head
Use cream.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
Round 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
Round 7: (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
Rounds 8–13: sc around (42)
Insert safety eyes between Rounds 10 and 11, spacing them about 7 sts apart.
Round 14: (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)
Round 15: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
Round 16: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
Round 17: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
Start stuffing head very firmly, shaping cheeks.
Round 18: (sc, dec) x 6 (12)
Round 19: dec around (6)
FO, close the hole, and leave a long tail for sewing to the body.
Muzzle
Use cream (or slightly lighter cream if you want a subtle contrast).
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: (sc, inc) x 3 (9)
Round 3: (2 sc, inc) x 3 (12)
Round 4: (3 sc, inc) x 3 (15)
FO leaving a long tail. Lightly stuff.
With brown yarn or thread, embroider a small triangular nose toward the top center of the muzzle and a vertical line down that splits into a “U” smile. Position muzzle centered under the eyes, covering about 3–4 rounds, and sew neatly.
Ears (make 2)
Use cream.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: (sc, inc) x 3 (9)
Round 3: (2 sc, inc) x 3 (12)
Round 4: (3 sc, inc) x 3 (15)
Rounds 5–6: sc around (15)
FO, leaving a tail. Flatten lightly without stuffing. Sew ears to the sides of head, roughly between Rounds 6–8, letting them droop slightly downward.
Arms (make 2)
Use cream.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: (sc, inc) x 3 (9)
Round 3: (2 sc, inc) x 3 (12)
Rounds 4–6: sc around (12)
Round 7: (2 sc, dec) x 3 (9)
Rounds 8–14: sc around (9)
Stuff lightly, mostly at the hand end. FO leaving a long tail.
Tail
Round 1: 5 sc in MR (5)
Rounds 2–7: sc around (5)
Very lightly stuff or leave unstuffed for a flexible little tail. FO with tail for sewing. Attach low on the back of body.
Curly Wool Cap
Use off-white or the same cream; you can mix for texture.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
Round 6: sl st in next st, (bobble, sl st) in next st repeat around (creates small bobbles; you will have 15 curls).
FO leaving a long tail. Place the flat cap on the top/front of head so curls frame the forehead and slightly over the ears. Sew around the edge, securing each bobble so it sits up and creates a fluffy wool fringe.
Assembly
- Sew head securely to body, making sure the sheep stands straight.
- Attach arms at sides of body around Round 11–12, angled slightly forward.
- Sew tail at the lower back.
- Make sure all ends are woven in tightly before dressing.
Clothing
Striped Painter Tee
Use mint, yellow, and pink for stripes, plus cream for neck and lower edges if desired. Work from bottom up in the round, then split for sleeves.
With mint:
Round 1: ch 32, join with sl st to form a ring (do not twist). (32)
Round 2: ch 1, sc in each st around (32)
Round 3: change to yellow, sc around (32)
Round 4: change to pink, sc around (32)
Round 5: change to mint, sc around (32)
Rounds 6–7: continue alternating colors every round to create pastel stripes until the tee measures the height you see under the pinafore (about 7–8 rounds total).
Next round (arm split):
Round 8: sc 6 (front right), ch 4 (skip 4 for sleeve), sc 12 (back), ch 4 (skip 4), sc remaining 6 (32 incl. chains).
Round 9: ch 1, sc around, working 4 sc into each armhole chain (32).
Rounds 10–11: ch 1, sc around (32).
FO and weave in ends. The tee is a little boxy and fits closely under the pinafore; you can sew a tiny opening at the back neck if needed for dressing.
Sleeve cuffs (optional for a neat mint edge):
Attach mint at center underside of armhole. Round 1: sc around opening, about 14–16 sts. Round 2: sc around. FO. Repeat other side.
Pink Pinafore Dress
Use dusty pink.
Skirt
Round 1: ch 54, join with sl st (54)
Round 2: ch 1, sc in each st around (54)
Round 3 (BLO): sc around (54)
Rounds 4–10 (BLO): sc around (54) – gives a subtle pleated look.
Round 11 (waist shaping): (7 sc, dec) x 6 (48)
Round 12 (BLO): sc around (48)
FO. Place seam at center back.
Bib & Straps
Count 18 sts centered at the front for bib.
Row 1: Attach pink yarn in first of those 18 sts, ch 1, sc 18. Turn.
Rows 2–6: ch 1, sc 18, turn.
Row 7: ch 1, sc2tog, sc 14, sc2tog (16). Turn.
Row 8: ch 1, sc 16. FO.
Straps (make 2):
Attach yarn at top corner of bib.
Row 1: ch 20, FO. Sew free end to back waistline above where the shoulder would sit.
Repeat other side. Cross straps slightly at the back.
Optional: embroider or sew little round “buttons” at front strap joins using cream yarn.
Yellow Painter Beret
Use soft yellow.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
Round 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
Rounds 7–8: sc around (36)
Round 9 (brim shaping): (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
Round 10: sc around (30)
FO and weave in. The beret should sit slightly slouchy on the woolly head.
Little top nub:
With yellow, ch 4, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and next 2 ch, FO. Sew to center top.
Paint drop on beret:
With mint, embroider a small oval “droplet” on one side of the beret using satin stitches.
Mint Shoes (make 2)
Use mint.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Round 5: sc around (24)
Round 6: (6 sc, dec) x 3 (21)
Round 7: (5 sc, dec) x 3 (18)
Round 8 (upper edge): sc around (18)
Round 9: sc around (18)
FO and weave in. Slip shoes onto the sheep’s feet; they should be slightly loose, like soft clogs.
Accessories
Palette Crossbody Bag
Base color: cream. Paint dots: assorted bright colors.
Bag circle (make 2):
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
FO each circle.
Place circles wrong sides together and join with cream:
Round 5: sc around through both layers (24). As you approach the end, leave a small opening, stuff lightly for a padded look, finish closing. FO.
Strap:
With cream, ch 70 (or length to fit crossbody). Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. FO. Sew ends to top sides of palette bag.
Paint dots:
In each color, make small bumps – Round 1: 5 sc in MR, sl st to first st, FO with tail. Arrange 5–6 dots on front of bag and sew down evenly spaced in a circle like real paint wells.
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Paintbrush
Handle: use light brown.
Row 1: ch 13. Starting in 2nd ch from hook, sc 12. Turn.
Rows 2–3: ch 1, sc 12. FO.
Roll this strip tightly into a little cylinder and sew along the length to secure.
Brush tip: use mint.
Round 1: 5 sc in MR (5)
Round 2: sc around (5)
Round 3: (sc, dec) x 2, sc 1 (3)
FO, lightly stuff, and sew narrow end to one end of the handle. Embroider a small cream band where tip meets handle if you like.
The brush can be tacked to the sheep’s hand or slipped behind the pinafore bib.
Mini Canvas & Easel (optional textile parts)
If you’d like a full yarn setup, you can crochet a tiny “canvas”:
Canvas front:
With white, ch 10.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (9). Turn.
Rows 2–10: ch 1, sc 9, turn. FO.
Make two rectangles and whipstitch together around edges, adding a thin piece of felt or a little stuffing to keep it flat. Display on a wooden miniature easel or lean against something in your scene.
Finishing & Styling
Dress your Pastel Painter Sheep in this order:
- Slide striped tee up from feet and align armholes with the arms.
- Pull pink pinafore over, arranging skirt and crossing straps at the back.
- Put on mint shoes.
- Place the beret over the curly wool cap, tilting slightly to one side.
- Put the palette bag strap across the body so the round palette rests at the hip.
- Give the sheep her paintbrush in one hand and place the mini canvas nearby.
Your Pastel Painter Sheep is now ready to sit on a wooden table, by a sunny window, or in a cozy craft corner – looking just like the handmade crochet artist from the photo.
