Welcome to the rustic charm of the French countryside! “The Artisan Cheese Maker” is a delightful amigurumi sheep who embodies the warmth and tradition of handcrafted culinary arts. With her passion for fromage and her gentle demeanor, she brings a touch of pastoral elegance to your home.

This creamy, fluffy sheep is designed with a rich texture that mimics real wool, contrasting beautifully with her smooth, beige face. She is dressed for a day in the dairy, wearing a lovely Butter Yellow dress that brightens the room. Over her dress, she dons a pristine white apron, essential for any serious cheese maker, embroidered with the word “Fromage” in classic blue script. A traditional ruffled mob cap keeps her wool tidily tucked away. On her feet, she wears sensible beige shoes adorned with tiny bows. She proudly presents her masterpiece: a wheel of cheese encased in red wax. Of course, where there is cheese, a little admirer is never far away—a tiny grey mouse accompanies her, hoping for a nibble. This pattern is designed for intermediate crocheters who enjoy textured stitches and creating miniature accessories.

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
• sc – Single Crochet
• hdc – Half Double Crochet
• dc – Double Crochet
• sl st – Slip Stitch
• inc – Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
• dec – Decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• st(s) – Stitch(es)
• rnd – Round
• BLO – Back Loop Only
• FLO – Front Loop Only
• Bobble St – (Yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops) x 5 times in the same stitch. Yarn over, pull through all 6 loops on hook. Push the cluster to the outside to pop.
• FO – Fasten Off

Materials Needed

• DK or Worsted weight yarn in Cream/Off-White (Sheep Wool)
• DK weight yarn in Beige/Light Tan (Face, Ears, Limbs)
• DK weight yarn in Butter Yellow (Dress)
• DK weight yarn in White (Apron, Hat)
• DK weight yarn in Red (Cheese Wax)
• DK weight yarn in Pale Yellow (Cheese interior)
• DK weight yarn in Grey and Pink (Mouse)
• Embroidery floss in Navy Blue (for “Fromage” text) and Brown (Shoes/Face details)
• 2.5 mm crochet hook (for amigurumi parts)
• 3.0 mm crochet hook (for clothing)
• Pair of 10mm black safety eyes (Sheep)
• Pair of 4mm beads or safety eyes (Mouse)
• Dark brown embroidery thread (Nose/Mouth)
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers, pins
• A small piece of cardboard or plastic canvas (for shoe soles)

Gauge & Finished Size

Work tightly in continuous spiral rounds for the sheep body so the stuffing does not show. Using DK yarn and a 2.5mm hook, the finished sheep stands approximately 28 cm (11 inches) tall. The clothing is designed to be removable for washing or style changes.

Construction Overview

The sheep is constructed in pieces. The head begins with a smooth beige snout and transitions into a textured “woolly” cap using Bobble stitches. The body is also textured to simulate a fluffy coat. The legs are made separately and joined to the body. The Butter Yellow dress is a separate garment worn over the body. The apron is a simple rectangle attached to a waistband. The accessories—the cheese wheel and the mouse—are detailed miniatures.

Body Parts (Sheep)

Head

Start with Beige yarn (Face) and 2.5mm hook.

• Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6)
• Rnd 2: inc around (12)
• Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) repeat around (18)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) repeat around (24)
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) repeat around (30)
• Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) repeat around (36)
• Rnd 7–11: sc around (36). (Smooth snout).
• Change to Cream yarn (Wool).
• Rnd 12: (5 sc, inc) around (42).
• Rnd 13: *sc 1, Bobble St* repeat around. (Texture starts).
• Rnd 14: sc around (42).
• Rnd 15: *Bobble St, sc 1* repeat around.
• Rnd 16: (5 sc, dec) around (36).
• Rnd 17: *sc 1, Bobble St* repeat around.
• Insert safety eyes between Rnds 9 and 10 of the beige section, spaced about 8 stitches apart. Embroider a Y-shaped nose on the snout.
• Rnd 18: (4 sc, dec) around (30).
• Rnd 19: *Bobble St, sc 1* around.
• Rnd 20: (3 sc, dec) around (24).
• Rnd 21: *sc 1, Bobble St* around.
• Rnd 22: (2 sc, dec) around (18). Stuff firmly.
• Rnd 23: dec around (9). Close hole.

Ears (Make 2)

Use Beige yarn.

• Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc.
• Rnd 2: (1 sc, inc) around (9).
• Rnd 3: (2 sc, inc) around (12).
• Rnd 4–8: sc around (12).
• Rnd 9: (2 sc, dec) around (9).

Flatten the ear and fold the top corners together slightly. Sew to the sides of the head where the beige face meets the cream wool.

Legs (Make 2)

Start with Beige yarn (Shoes/Feet).

• Rnd 1: Ch 7. Oval start: sc 5, 3 sc in last, sc 4, inc (14).
• Rnd 2: inc, sc 4, 3 inc, sc 4, 2 inc (20).
• Rnd 3: (BLO) sc around (20).
• Rnd 4–6: sc around (20).
• Rnd 7: sc 6, 4 dec, sc 6 (16).
• Rnd 8: sc 6, 2 dec, sc 6 (14).
• Rnd 9–20: sc around (14).

Stuff firmly. FO first leg. Do not cut yarn on second leg.

Body

Use Cream yarn (Wool). Join legs with ch 3.

• Rnd 21: sc 14 (leg 1), sc 3 in ch, sc 14 (leg 2), sc 3 in ch (34).
• Rnd 22: (inc, 16 sc) repeat twice (36).
• Rnd 23: (5 sc, inc) around (42).
• Rnd 24: *sc 1, Bobble St* repeat around.
• Rnd 25: sc around (42).
• Rnd 26: *Bobble St, sc 1* repeat around.
• Rnd 27–35: Continue alternating Bobble rounds and sc rounds, decreasing gradually (dec 6 sts every 4th round) until neck measures 18 sts.
• Rnd 36: sc around.

Stuff firmly. FO. Sew head to body.

Arms (Make 2)

Start with Beige (Hands).

• Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc.
• Rnd 2: inc around (12).
• Rnd 3–5: sc around.
• Change to Cream (Woolly Sleeves/Arms).
• Rnd 6: *sc 1, Bobble St* around.
• Rnd 7–14: Continue texture pattern. Stuff lightly.
• FO. Sew to body.

The Artisan Wardrobe

Butter Yellow Dress

Use Butter Yellow yarn and 3.0mm hook. Worked waist-down.

• Waist: Ch 40 (measure sheep’s waist). Join. sc around (40).
• Rnd 2: (BLO) (4 sc, inc) around (48).
• Skirt:
• Rnd 3: (5 sc, inc) around (56).
• Rnd 4–15: dc around (56). (Work until skirt reaches mid-calf).
• Rnd 16: (sc, ch 1, skip 1) around for a neat hem. FO.
• Bodice: Join yarn to the front waist loops.
  Row 1: sc 16 centered on front. Turn.
  Row 2–6: sc across (16).
• Straps: Ch 20 from top corners of bodice. Cross in back and sew to the back waistband.

Artisan Apron

Use White yarn.

• Row 1: Ch 14. sc across (13).
• Row 2–12: sc across. (Apron bib/skirt).
• Ruffle Edge: Work (sc, ch 2, sc) in each stitch along the bottom and side edges.
• Waistband: Ch 30, sc across top of apron, Ch 30. (Ties).
• Embroidery: Using Navy Blue embroidery floss, stitch the word “Fromage” in a cursive style across the center of the apron. You can also outline a small triangle shape to represent cheese.

Mob Cap

Use Cream/White yarn.

• Rnd 1: MR 6 sc.
• Rnd 2: inc around (12).
• Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) around (18).
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) around (24).
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) around (30).
• Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) around (36).
• Rnd 7: (5 sc, inc) around (42).
• Rnd 8–11: sc around (42).
• Rnd 12 (Ruffle): (FLO) *3 dc in next st, 2 dc in next* repeat around.
• Rnd 13: sc around the edge of the ruffle. FO.
• Place on head, ensuring the ears poke out from underneath.

Shoes Details

Use Brown thread/yarn. Embroider a small strap across the top of the beige foot and a tiny bow on the outer side to match the image.

Dairy Accessories

Cheese Wheel

Use Red and Pale Yellow yarn.

• Outer Rind (Red):
  Rnd 1: MR 6 sc.
  Rnd 2: inc around (12).
  Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) around (18).
  Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) around (24).
  Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) around (30).
  Rnd 6: (BLO) sc around (30).
  Rnd 7–9: sc around (30).
  Rnd 10: (BLO) (3 sc, dec) around (24). Stuff firmly.
  Rnd 11: (2 sc, dec) around (18).
  Rnd 12: dec around. Close.
• The Cut Wedge (Yellow): To mimic the look in the image where the inside is visible, crochet a yellow triangle wedge separately and sew it onto the red wheel, or simply embroider a yellow “V” shape on the side to look like a slice has been taken out.

Little Mouse Companion

Use Grey yarn.

• Body/Head: MR 6, inc to 12. sc 3 rounds. dec to 6. Stuff.
  Change to Head: inc to 9. sc 2 rounds. dec to 5. Close.
• Ears: Use Pink/Grey. Ch 2, 3 hdc in 2nd ch. Sew to head.
• Tail: Ch 10 in Pink. Sew to back.

Assembly

1. Dress the sheep in the Butter Yellow Dress.
2. Tie the Embroidered Apron around her waist.
3. Place the Mob Cap on her head.
4. Stitch the Cheese Wheel to her hands so she is holding it proudly.
5. Place the Little Mouse on the cheese or on her shoulder, gazing at the Fromage.

Your Artisan Cheese Maker Sheep is ready to craft the finest camembert in the land! Enjoy your crochet journey.