Adorable, wobbly-legged and vulnerable, lambs are symbolic of new life, springtime and Easter. They are equally happy frolicking in the fields or nestling snugly beside each other.
The lamb is easy to knit so it’s worth knitting several for your flock.
Length: 12cm (4¾in)
Height to top of head: 10cm (4in)
• Pair of 2¾mm (US 2) knitting needles
• 20g (¾oz) of Rowan Alpaca Cotton in Rice 400 (ri)
• Tiny amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Black 404 (bl) for eyes
• Tiny amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Shell 468 (sl) for nose
• 2 pipecleaners for legs
• 2 tiny black beads for eyes and sewing needle and black thread for sewing on
See here.
See for Wrap and Turn Method.
NOTE: work as directed, but to create a lamb as in photograph, make up with purl side as right side.
With ri, cast on 5 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 12 rows st st.**
Row 13: K1, inc, k1, inc, k1. (7 sts)
Row 14: Purl.*
Row 15: Cast (bind) off 3 sts, k to end (hold 4 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Back Leg to *.
Row 15: K4, cast (bind) off 3 sts (hold 4 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Work as for Right Back Leg to **.
Row 13: Cast (bind) off 2 sts, k to end (hold 3 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Back Leg to **.
Row 13: K3, cast (bind) off 2 sts (hold 3 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Legs
The lamb has long skinny legs that can be manipulated into any stance you want.
Row 1: With ri, cast on 1 st, with RS facing k3 from spare needle of Right Front Leg, cast on 7 sts, k4 from spare needle of Right Back Leg. (15 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 5: Inc, k13. (15 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K14, inc. (16 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: Inc, k15. (17 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K16, inc. (18 sts)
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: Inc, k15, k2tog. (18 sts)
Row 14: Cast (bind) off 14 sts, p to end (hold 4 sts on spare needle for Neck and Head).
Body
The lamb is made up with the purl side as the right side.
Row 1: With ri, cast on 1 st, with WS facing p3 from spare needle of Left Front Leg, cast on 7 sts, p4 from spare needle of Left Back Leg. (15 sts)
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K2tog, k13. (14 sts)
Row 5: Inc, p13. (15 sts)
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: P14, inc. (16 sts)
Row 8: Knit.
Row 9: Inc, p15. (17 sts)
Row 10: Knit.
Row 11: P16, inc. (18 sts)
Row 12: Knit.
Row 13: Inc, p15, p2tog. (18 sts)
Row 14: Cast (bind) off 14 sts, k to end (hold 4 sts on spare needle for Neck and Head).
Row 1: With ri and WS facing, p4 from spare needle of Left Side of Body, then p4 from spare needle of Right Side of Body. (8 sts)
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: Inc, k6, w&t (leave 1 st on left-hand needle unworked).
Row 5: Working top of head on centre 6 sts only, p6, w&t.
Row 6: K6, w&t.
Row 8: K6, inc. (10 sts in total)
Row 9: Purl.
Row 10: K8, w&t (leave 2 sts on left-hand needle unworked).
Row 11: Working top of head on centre 6 sts only, p6, w&t.
Row 12: K6, w&t.
Row 13: P6, w&t.
Row 14: K8. (10 sts in total)
Row 15: P2tog, p6, p2tog. (8 sts)
Row 16: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Row 17: P2tog, p2, p2tog. (4 sts)
Row 18: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
Eyes
The lamb has tiny black beads sewn on top of French knots for eyes. The beads are optional but make the lamb even more appealing.
With ri, cast on 1 st.
Beg with a p row, cont in st st.
Row 1: Inc. (2 sts)
Row 2: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)
Work 31 rows st st.
Row 36: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Work 9 rows st st.
Row 46: [K2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
With ri, cast on 2 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 8 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With ri, cast on 2 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 4 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
SEWING IN ENDS Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on and cast (bound) off rows for sewing up.
LEGS With knit sides together and whip stitch, fold each leg in half and sew up legs, starting at hooves.
BODY Sew along back of lamb and 2cm (¾in) down bottom.
TUMMY Sew cast on row of tummy to where you have finished sewing down bottom, and sew cast (bound) off row to nose. Ease and sew tummy to fit body. Leave a 2.5cm (1in) gap between front and back legs on one side.
STUFFING Pipecleaners are used to stiffen the legs and help bend them into shape. Fold a pipecleaner into a U-shape and measure against front two legs. Cut to fit approximately, leaving an extra 2.5cm (1in) at both ends. Fold these ends over to stop the pipecleaner poking out of the hooves. Roll a little stuffing around pipecleaner and slip into body, one end down each front leg. Repeat with second pipecleaner and back legs. Starting at the head, stuff the lamb firmly, then sew up the gap. Mould body into shape.
TAIL Attach cast on row of tail to start of bottom.
EARS With knit side facing forwards, sew cast on row of each ear to top of head, with 5 sts between ears.
EYES With bl, sew 2-loop French knots positioned as in photograph. Sew black beads on top of knots.
NOSE With sl, sew 3 satin stitches horizontally across tip of nose.
