Rams are featured in all kinds of unlikely places, from signs of the zodiac (Aries) and Greek mythology (the Golden Fleece) to ghost-ridden pubs. The Ancient Ram Inn at Wotton-under-Edge is reputed to be one of the most haunted pubs in England. Rams are spectacular-looking and have a reputation for virility and leadership. However, rams are not to be trusted and you shouldn’t turn your back on them.
Although he looks dramatic, the ram is no more difficult to knit than the sheep.
Length: 18cm (7in)
Height to top of head: 12cm (4¾in)
• Pair of 2¾mm (US 2) knitting needles
• Double-pointed 2¾mm (US 2) knitting needles (for holding stitches)
• 10g (¼oz) Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in Ebony 00500 (eb)
• 25g (1oz) of Rowan Alpaca Cotton in Rice 400 (ri)
• 5g (⅛oz) of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Shale 402 (sh)
• 3 pipecleaners for legs and horns
• 2 tiny black beads for eyes and sewing needle and black thread for sewing on
See here.
See for Wrap and Turn Method.
With eb, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 4 rows st st.
Row 5: K1, [inc] twice, k1. (6 sts)
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 9: K1, inc, k2, inc, k1.** (8 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K1, inc, k4, inc, k1. (10 sts)
Row 12: Purl.*
Row 13: Cast (bind) off 5 sts, k to end (hold 5 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
The Team
The ram, sheep, lamb and sheepdog are part of the same family. Try knitting the whole flock.
Work as for Right Back Leg to *.
Row 13: K5, cast (bind) off 5 sts (hold 5 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Work as for Right Back Leg to **.
Work 3 rows st st.***
Row 13: Cast (bind) off 4 sts, k to end (hold 4 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Front Leg to ***.
Row 13: K4, cast (bind) off 4 sts (hold 4 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
With ri, cast on 20 sts.
Row 1: Inc, k18, inc. (22 sts)
Row 2: P22, with WS facing p4 from spare needle of Right Front Leg, cast on 3 sts. (29 sts)
Row 3: K29, k5 from spare needle of Right Back Leg. (34 sts)
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: Inc, k32, inc. (36 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: Inc, k34, inc. (38 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Work 13 rows st st.
Row 22: P2tog, p34, p2tog. (36 sts)
Row 23: Cast (bind) off 5 sts, k29 icos, k2tog. (30 sts)
Row 24: P28, p2tog. (29 sts)
Row 25: K27, k2tog. (28 sts)
Row 26: Cast (bind) off 18 sts, p to end. (10 sts)
Row 27: Knit.
Cast (bind) off.
With ri, cast on 20 sts.
Row 1: Inc, p18, inc. (22 sts)
Row 2: K22, with RS facing k4 from spare needle of Left Front Leg, cast on 3 sts. (29 sts)
Row 3: P29, p5 from spare needle of Left Back Leg. (34 sts)
Row 4: Knit.
Row 5: Inc, p32, inc. (36 sts)
Row 6: Knit.
Row 7: Inc, p34, inc. (38 sts)
Row 8: Knit.
Work 13 rows st st.
Row 22: K2tog, k34, k2tog. (36 sts)
Row 23: Cast (bind) off 5 sts, p29 icos, p2tog. (30 sts)
Row 24: K28, k2tog. (29 sts)
Row 25: P27, p2tog. (28 sts)
Row 26: Cast (bind) off 18 sts, k to end. (10 sts)
Row 27: Purl.
Cast (bind) off.
Row 1: With eb and RS facing, pick up and k10 sts from neck of Right Side of Body, then pick up and k10 sts from neck of Left Side of Body. (20 sts)
Row 2: P9, p2tog, p9. (19 sts)
Row 3: K7, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k7. (17 sts)
Row 4: P6, p2tog, p1, p2tog, p6. (15 sts)
Row 5: K12, w&t (leave 3 sts on left-hand needle unworked).
Row 6: Working top of head on centre 9 sts only, p9, w&t.
Row 7: K9, w&t.
Row 8: P9, w&t.
Row 9: K9, w&t.
Row 10: P9, w&t.
Row 11: K12. (15 sts in total)
Row 12: P2tog, p11, p2tog. (13 sts)
Row 13: K10, w&t (leave 3 sts on left-hand needle unworked).
Row 14: Working top of head on centre 7 sts only, p7, w&t.
Row 15: K7, w&t.
Row 16: P7, w&t.
Row 17: K10. (13 sts in total)
Row 18: P2tog, p9, p2tog. (11 sts)
Row 19: K2tog, k7, k2tog. (9 sts)
Row 20: P2tog, p5, p2tog. (7 sts)
Row 21: K2tog, k3, k2tog. (5 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
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)
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: Inc, k4, inc. (8 sts)
Work 45 rows st st.
Row 52: K2tog, k4, k2tog. (6 sts)
Work 23 rows st st.
Cont in eb.
Work 4 rows st st.
Row 80: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
With ri, cast on 3 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 14 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
Body and tail
As for the sheep, stuff the body well and allow the tail to hang naturally.
(make 2 the same)
With sh, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 24 rows st st.
Row 25: K1, k2tog, k1. (3 sts)
Work 9 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 WS together and whip stitch, fold each leg in half and sew up legs on RS, starting at hooves.
BODY Sew along back of ram and 4.5cm (1¾in) 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 ram firmly, then sew up the gap. Mould body into shape.
TAIL Attach cast on row of tail to start of bottom.
HORNS Cut a length of pipecleaner to fit through both horns and thread through head approx 7 rows from where black starts on head. Insert each protruding end of pipecleaner into a horn, then sew horns to head and curl them around as in photograph.
EYES Sew on black beads positioned as in photograph.
