Her wardrobe is understated yet elegant, designed for a life of peaceful work. She wears a floor-length dress in a muted Lavender Grey, reminiscent of dried herbs and overcast skies, made to look like rustic linen. To keep warm during the crisp mornings, she drapes a delicate white lace shawl over her shoulders. A soft, fabric-style bonnet frames her face, tied with a silk ribbon. On her feet, she wears sturdy crochet shoes suitable for treading the wooden floors of her cottage.

Her accessories tell the story of her trade. She holds a “Drop Spindle,” a traditional hand-held tool used for spinning before the invention of the great wheel. In her other hand, she clutches a cloud of raw, white wool, ready to be drafted and twisted. Watching over her work is a tiny, helpful Spider—nature’s own master weaver—reminding us that creativity is found in every corner of the natural world.

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
• tr – Treble Crochet
• sl st – Slip Stitch
• inc – Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
• dec – Decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• st(s) – Stitch(es)
• rnd – Round
• row – Row
• BLO – Back Loop Only
• FLO – Front Loop Only
• Bobble St – (Yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, 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 create a “bump.”
• V-st – (dc, ch 1, dc) in the same stitch (used for the shawl).
• FO – Fasten Off

Materials Needed

• DK or Worsted weight yarn in Beige (Face, Limbs)
• DK weight yarn in Textured Cream or Off-White (Sheep Wool body/head) – Alternatively, use standard yarn and the Bobble Stitch.
• DK weight yarn in Lavender Grey (Dress)
• Fine weight or Lace weight yarn in White (Shawl)
• DK weight yarn in Brown (Shoes, Spindle)
• Scrap yarn in Grey or Black (Spider)
• Raw wool roving or white brushed acrylic yarn (for the fiber bundle)
• 2.5 mm crochet hook (for the main doll)
• 3.0 mm crochet hook (for the clothing)
• 3.5 mm crochet hook (for the shawl to keep it airy)
• A wooden skewer or chopstick (for the spindle shaft)
• Pair of 10mm black safety eyes
• Dark brown embroidery thread (Nose/Mouth)
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers, pins
• A small length of satin ribbon for the bonnet

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 dress and shawl are removable accessories.

Construction Overview

The sheep is constructed in pieces. The head begins with a smooth face for the muzzle area and transitions into a textured stitch pattern (Bobbles) for the woolly cap. The body is pear-shaped and also textured. The legs are made separately and attached. The dress is worked from the waist up for the bodice and waist down for the skirt. The shawl is a triangle worked in rows. The bonnet is a shaped piece. The accessories—drop spindle, raw wool, and spider—are miniatures.

Body Parts (The Sheep)

Head

Start with Beige yarn (Face). Use 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 face).
• Change to Cream/Textured yarn (Wool).
• Rnd 12: (5 sc, inc) around (42).
• Rnd 13: *sc 1, Bobble St* repeat around. (This begins the woolly texture).
• Rnd 14: sc around (42).
• Rnd 15: *Bobble St, sc 1* repeat around (Staggering the bobbles).
• 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. The ears should be smooth.

• 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 to create a teardrop shape. Sew to the sides of the head where the beige face meets the cream wool.

Legs (Make 2)

Start with Beige yarn (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. 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. (Wool Texture).
• 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 Spinner’s Wardrobe

Lavender Grey Linen Dress

Use Lavender Grey yarn and 3.0mm hook. Worked waist-down.

• Waist: Ch 38 (measure sheep’s waist). Join. sc around (38).
• Rnd 2: (BLO) (4 sc, inc) around (46).
• Skirt:
• Rnd 3: (5 sc, inc) around (54).
• Rnd 4–20: dc around (54). (Work until skirt reaches the ankles).
• Rnd 21: (sc, ch 1, skip 1) around for a simple, rustic hem. FO.
• Bodice: Join yarn to the front waist loops.
  Row 1: sc 14 centered on front. Turn.
  Row 2–6: sc across (14).
• Straps: Ch 22 from top corners of bodice. Cross in back and sew to the back waistband.

White Lace Shawl

Use White yarn and 3.5mm hook. Worked flat in a triangle.

• Row 1: Ch 4, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in 4th ch from hook. Turn.
• Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in first st. Skip 2 dc. In ch-2 space work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc). Skip 2 dc, 3 dc in last st. Turn.
• Row 3: Ch 3, 2 dc in first st. *Ch 1, skip 3 dc, 3 dc in space between clusters* repeat to center. In center ch-2 space work (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc). Repeat pattern down the other side. 3 dc in last st.
• Row 4–10: Continue increasing the triangle, adding ch-1 spaces to create a lacy, open fabric.
• Row 11: Scallop edge: *5 dc in ch-1 space, sc in next space* repeat. FO.
• Drape over the sheep’s shoulders and pin or tie loosely.

Soft Bonnet

Use Lavender Grey or a complementary neutral shade.

• 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 7–11: sc around (36). (Back of head).
• Rnd 12 (Brim): Work in rows now. Turn. Ch 1, sc 28. Leave 8 sts unworked for the neck.
• Row 13: Ch 2, dc across.
• Row 14: *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next* across (Ruffle brim).
• Row 15: sc around the entire edge.
• Attach satin ribbons to the corners to tie under the chin.

Crochet Shoes

Use Brown yarn.

• Rnd 1: Ch 8. Oval start: sc 6, 3 sc in last, sc 5, inc (16).
• Rnd 2: inc, sc 5, 3 inc, sc 5, 2 inc (22).
• Rnd 3: (BLO) sc around (22).
• Rnd 4: sc around.
• Rnd 5: sc 7, 4 dec, sc 7 (18).
• Rnd 6: sc 7, 2 dec, sc 7 (16).
• Rnd 7 (Strap): Ch 6, skip 6 stitches on the front, sl st to the other side. FO.

Spinning Accessories

The Drop Spindle

The drop spindle consists of a shaft and a whorl (disc).

• Shaft: Use a wooden skewer cut to about 10cm. Coat the top 2cm and bottom 2cm with Brown yarn (glue and wrap).
• Whorl (Disc): Use Brown 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: (BLO) sc around (24).
  Rnd 6: (2 sc, dec) around (18).
  Rnd 7: dec around. Stuff lightly. Close around the wooden shaft, positioning the disc near the bottom of the stick (about 2cm from the bottom end).
• Yarn on Spindle: Wrap some white yarn around the shaft just above the whorl to look like spun thread.

Raw Wool Bundle

• Take a handful of raw wool roving or brush out a piece of white acrylic yarn vigorously with a pet brush until it is a fluffy cloud.
• Form it into a loose ball. Stitch it lightly to the sheep’s left hand.

The Master Weaver (Spider)

Use Grey/Black yarn.

• Body: MR 6, inc to 12. sc 2 rounds. dec to 6. Stuff. Close.
• Legs: Cut 4 short pieces of black yarn/thread. Thread them through the body so they stick out on both sides (8 legs total). Knot them close to the body to secure.
• Eyes: Tiny white french knots.

Assembly

1. Dress the sheep in the Lavender Linen Dress.
2. Put on the Brown Shoes.
3. Tie the Bonnet over the ears.
4. Drape the Lace Shawl around her shoulders.
5. Stitch the Drop Spindle to her right hand.
6. Attach the Raw Wool cloud to her left hand.
7. Place the little Spider near her feet or on the hem of her dress.

Your Wool Spinner Sheep is ready to weave stories of old! Enjoy the tranquility of the craft.