I have been asked by fiber people for a long time to design a sheep bag — I have finally done it! Choose from the Wooly Ewe and the Wooly Lamb: These two sizes are created by changing from a double-strand to single-strand of yarn and going down in needle size. If you want to make a tiny wooly sheep change purse, you might try the same instructions with feltable lace weight yarn on a size 1 or 2 needle (and then send me a picture!).

These two sheep are given their personality by the way you embroider on their faces, so use your favorite sheep as your model. Or, as I did, think of a celebrity sheep (Lamb Chop) or the faces of your favorite illustrator (Maurice Sendak) to inspire your embroidery.

My little boy (4 at this writing) had decided that the sheep should be his, which made me see that they would make terrific stuffed animals. Instead of putting a zipper in the back, simply stuff after felting and then sew closed for a wonderful wooly pal.

And, of course, you’ll be the star of the Sheep & Wool Festival when you carry one of these bags with you!


Pattern Difficulty

Intrepid Beginner to Intermediate. Requires knitting, purling, working in the round on circular and double-pointed needles, some simple embroidery.


Wooly Lamb Bag

• Approximately 430 yds/393 worsted weight feltable wool in color 1, natural or other sheeply color.
• 1 skein or 100 yds/91 m worsted weight feltable wool in color 2, brown.
• US 6/4 mm 12”/30 cm or 16”/41 cm circular and double-pointed needles
• Tapestry needle, sewing needle & like-color sewing thread

• Stitch markers

Wooly Ewe Bag

• Approximately 1,260 yds/1152 m worsted weight feltable wool in color 1, natural or other sheeply color.
• 1 skein or 150 yds/137 m worsted weight feltable wool in color 2, brown.
• US 11/8 mm 24”/60 cm circular and double-pointed needles

• Tapestry needle, sewing needle & like-color sewing thread
• 
Stitch markers

Pictured sheep were made with Stonehedge Fiber Mill’s Shepherd’s Wool in White.

For a list of stores that carry this pattern (or can order for you), please visit NoniPatterns.com/store_locator.php.