Widdle Fat Sheepy

About the pattern
I originally made this sheep as a gift for my mother from handspun, spun from wool scavenged from her pet sheep, Beware.   The handspun gave her (keepsake) sheep a nice lumpy bumpy fleecy texture and I set about trying to share the pattern.

This is my first go at writing things down in anything other than scribbled shorthand, and while I have now made many sheep it has not been pattern tested.   I'd be happy to consider the first few people to make their own fat sheepy "Unofficial Official Pattern Testers" and provide credit and a link.

Update May 23:   It appears that people are actually making the sheep!  Hurray!   If you want your name and a link to appear here I am more than happy to do that, just let me know through here or Ravelry.   Thank you everyone.  :)

I have made a Phat Sheep.   Using thick/thin yarn and a 3.75 mm hook the body came in at juuust one quarter ounce.   If I had spun DK or finer and used a smaller hook I would have been able to do the project with a one quarter ounce sample, easily.

The pattern is flexible in terms of yarn and sheep expressions (position the head where you would like it for a sheep that is gazing, quizzical, sad, excited, you get the idea!) - so you can make a whole itty bitty flock for your sock drawer, if you so choose. And, in fact, I hope you do!

There are two options for faces - a flat face, which is an almost two dimensional face, which has a more abstract look, or a more traditional puffy face for your slightly more realistic tiny sheep needs.

Skill level:  Intermediate
     - stitches used: magic loop, chain (ch), single crochet (sc),  single crochet decrease (dec), single crochet puff stitch (foot puff), slip stitch (sl st), double crochet (dc), half double crochet (hdc),crochet in the back loop
     - pattern contains some less often used shaping directions

Materials:
Hook for a comfortably firm stitch
     -recommended
           -3mm hook for sportweight
           -3.5mm hook for worsted
           -3.75mm hook for heavily textured yarn
           -or size needed to achieve a fabric firm enough to show no holes for escaping polyfill
Yarn (for most weights 12 yards or less)
Poly fill or other stuffing (such as torn stockings)
Optional: embroidery floss or yarn or beads or paint for adding eyes
Optional: essential oils for scenting your sheepy-turned-sachet (I bought mine from the grocery store)

Gauge:
None, just aim for that tight fabric that is still comfortable to work in.
Most yarn sizes yield a sheep that is two inches tall, or less.

Unusual stitches:
Single Crochet Puff Stitch .......  (foot puff)
(Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through first loop only) x 5
Yarn over, pull through five loops on hook.
Yarn over, pull through two loops on hook.
Foot puff made.

THE PATTERN
The Face:

working in magic loop
round 1 row 1: 5 sc, 1 sc in first sc to join (5 sc)
row 2: ch 1, turn, 4 sc in next 4 sts
row 3: ch 1, turn, 4 sc in next 4 sts, 1 sc in ch 1 st (5 sc)

row 4 (flat face): ch 5, turn, sl st in sc, sc, hdc, hdc, sc, sl st in next sl st, ch 5, sl st in same sl st
Fasten off, leaving at least a 9 inch tail of yarn.

row 4 (puffy face): ch 5, remove hook from loop, turn, insert hook in sc, pick up dropped loop and pull through sc, sl st, sc, dc, sc, sl st in back loop, ch 5, remove hook from loop, turn, insert hook in sc back loop, pick up dropped loop and pull through sc,
row 5: ch 1, sc in back loops of next 3 sc, sl st in next back loop
Fasten off, leaving at least a 9 inch tail of yarn.
Insert a small ball of filling behind the face when you attach it to the body, sewing with the long tail.

Unless you want a super-sonic, streamlined, angry fat sheep don't sew the ears to the body.

If desired, add eyes now.

The Adorably Round Body:

working in magic loop
round 1:  5 sc (5 sts total for round))
round 2: 2 sc in each of next 5 sts (10 sc)
round 3: (1 sc, 2 sc in next sc) x 5 (15 sc)
round 4: (2sc in next sc, sc in next two sc) x 5 (20 sc)
round 5: (sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc) x 5 (25 sc)
round 6: sc across (25 sc)
round 7: 4 sc, foot puff, 1 sc in next st, foot puff, 18 sc (25 st total)
round 8 & 9: sc across (25 sc each row)
round 10: 4 sc, foot puff, 3 sc, foot puff, 16 sc ( 25 st total)
round 11: sc across (25 sc)
Pause - this is a good time to sew the face on, if you so choose.  Play with the position to give your sheepy the character you like.
round 12: (sc in next 3 sts, dec over next two sts) x 5 (20 sc)
round 13: (dec, sc in next two sts)x 5 (15 sc)

round 14: (sc, dec)x 4, ch 7, insert hook through side of last dec AND through next sc in row 13, yarn over, pull up new loop through sc, yarn over, pull through all three loops, dec (counts as 10 sts)

Pause - stuff your sheepy.
round 15: 5 dec
Fasten off

Terms of use for this pattern:
Sheepies made from this pattern can of course be sold, traded, or gifted.   A link back here is appreciated.

This pattern can be modified, as long as the modified pattern is offered for free as well, and a link back to here is provided.

Pattern last edited July 5, 2010
Errata: Added a reminded not to sew the ears down.
Errata: Round 12 should have read  (sc in next 3 sts, dec over next two sts) x 5 (20 sc)  Thank you bookette!