How time flies. Our sweet Bobble Sheep is all grown up! Okay, okay, our original Bobble Sheep Pillow didn’t actually grow (right, knit pillows don’t grow), but we have added to its flock!
Being the sheep fanatics that we are, we couldn’t resist making more Bobble Sheep, this time in our incredibly soft jumbo weight Gentle Giant merino. It’s the perfect cloudlike yarn for our favorite cloudlike animal.
Grab all the yarn you’ll need for your new buddy, in original Super Soft Merino or new Gentle Giant, with our Bobble Sheep Pillow Bundle. Knobbier, squishier, squeezier than ever, happy Baaaa-bble Sheep Pillow making! -Laura
Materials
Get all the yarn you’ll need to make your own Bobble Sheep Pillow with our Bobble Sheep Pillow Bundle. It includes…
- Main Yarn: 10 skeins of Purl Soho’s Gentle Giant, 100% merino wool, in either Heirloom White or Graphite Gray
- Contrast Yarn: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Flax Down, 43% baby alpaca, 42% merino wool, 15% linen, in Kettle Black. NOTE: The original color of the Contrast Yarn has been discontinued. We’ve replaced it with the slightly darker Kettle Black, still Flax Down. The photo of the finished Bobble Sheep here shows the original Toasted Charcoal color, but the yarn photo, above, shows the updated Kettle Black. Baa!
You’ll also need…
- US 17, 32-inch circular needles
- Optional: US 17, 24-inch circular needles (When you start the body of the sheep, you may find it more comfortable to use 24-inch circular needles than the double pointed needles. You will still need the double pointed needles to work the tail though.)
- Set of US 17 double pointed needles
- Set of US 10 double pointed needles
- 1 bag of Fairfield’s Poly-fil Stuffing
- Scrap yarn (jumbo weight) and crochet hook to match (for provisional cast on)
Gauge
8 stitches = 4 inches in garter stitch with Main Yarn on larger needles
15 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch with Contrast Yarn, doubled, on smaller needles
Size
28 inches wide (from chest to rear) x 15 inches tall (from top of back to bottom of belly)
Pattern
To make these incredibly cuddly Bobble Sheep Pillows in Gentle Giant, we followed the original Bobble Sheep Pillow in Super Soft Merino pattern. Just a few small modifications to keep in mind…
- For the Main Yarn, we used Gentle Giant on US 17 needles in place of Super Soft Merino on US 11 needles.
- For the Contrast Yarn, we used two strands of Flax Down on US 10 needles in place of a single strand of Sport Weight Alpaca on US 3 needles.
- We lengthened the legs from 4 to 5 inches.
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Does anyone know where I can find this pattern in crochet? Trying to find so I can make for my shepard mom but I don’t know how to knit
Hi Danielle,
Thank you for writing in! At present, this pattern is only available as a knit pattern. We will certainly keep your request in mind for the future!
Best,
Cassy
Hi 🙂 I am seconding Danielle’s request – would love this pattern in crochet. cheers! Lesley
I too would love a crochet pattern. The same bobble stitches I’ve made by crochet. Any advise on converting the pattern?
Hi LindieLee,
Thanks for the request! We do not currently have a crochet version of this available but I will add your voice to the chorus of crocheters requesting it!
Best,
Cassy
I would also love a crochet pattern!
I would also LOVE this pattern in crochet!
I would love it in crochet, too. Most of your patterns seem to be knitting. Some of us are more gifted in crochet.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for writing in! I have added your voice to the chorus of those requesting a crocheted version. It is true that we have many more knitting patterns than crocheted patterns. More patterns are in the works! You can find all of our current crocheted patterns here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/category/crochet/crochet-view-all/
Best,
Cassy
Thanks, Cassy!
Count me in for the crochet pattern request! 🙂
I may resurrect some knitting skills, but find crocheting so much easier. Thanks!
I have just finished the sheep body and am looking to pick up the stitches for the head but the 2 columns of “V’s” down the front are on the opposite side from the bobbles. Also how can I tell which end is the head and which the tail?
Hi Suzette,
Thanks for writing in but I’m not sure I fully understand your question. The section where you pick up for the head slants lower than the tail. As for picking up the head, you will be picking up half the head stitches along the left side of the knit column and half on the right side. I hope this helps you out! Best of luck and let me know if you still have questions!
-Adam
Suzette, I’m having exactly the same problem. Did you ever figure out the answer to your question?
Hello. Don’t know how I found this page but the bobble sheep pillow is just fantastic. Do you know where I can buy one ready made – I don’t knit. Thank you. Am in the UK. (but will pay international postage)
Hi Philippa!
Thank you for writing in! I’m sorry, we don’t sell these already made, but we do have all of the materials and instructions for you (or maybe a crafty friend?) to make one of your own! Thanks for getting in touch!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
I would like a crochet for the sheep also.
Hello Virginia!
Thank you so much for your interest in our Bobble Sheep Pillow pattern! Unfortunately, we don’t have a sheep pattern for crochet, but we will certainly take your request under consideration!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Me too! Would love the pattern in crochet! If there’s ever one available, please let me know! Thank you!
Hi Cheryle,
Thanks for writing in! Thanks for the request! We will keep it in mind!
Best,
Cassy
Hi, I am a beginner knitter, I would love to make this for my sister as they raise sheep. Those who made this how difficult is it? thanks!
I thank you so much for sharing this pattern. I have made it once but am redoing it as I think I’ve messed up somehow. For the beginning rows I am finding it have a wide space surrounding the stitch markers where there are no bobbles. I just finished row 6 and have 7 stitches with no bobble in it, just wondered if this is correct, when I look at your finished sheep I don’t notice any flat spaces like that. Thanks so much for your help.
Hi Lynanne,
Thanks for writing in. Maybe your tension is too loose? I’d try going down a needle size and seeing what that does.
All the best,
Adam
Hi . I think the mistake is not picking up the extra bobble as you increase…there should not be a big space
For the Bobble Sheep Pillow in Gentle Giant, what size of crochet hook should I buy?
Thank you,
Judy
Hi Judy,
Thanks for writing in! This pattern is currently only available as a knit pattern but we will keep your request in mind! If you would like to crochet a project with Gentle Giant we recommend P or Q (11.5 – 15.75 mm) crochet hooks.
Best,
Cassy
Hi,
Thank you for putting up this amazing pattern first of all!!
One question, I may just not be seeing it, but what length double pointed needles are best? I’ve found the right size ones but they come in two different lengths?
Thank you 🙂
Hi Allee,
Thanks for writing in! We do not have a recommendation on this page for a length of double point needles. I would say that you would not want double point needles shorter than 6 inches. We offer both 6 and 8 inch double pointed needles and either would work. I would suggest the slightly longer 8 inch needles as you will have a little more room on this lovely big Bobble Sheep!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi Cassy,
Yes that is massive help, thank you.
Hi I live in the UK and can’t wait to make the sheep, only problem is I am trying to work out what wool to use and how much?? Is it an aran/worsted or chunky/bulky?? What weight is a skein that you use??
Thank you
Diane
Hi Diane,
Thank you for writing in! For the body of the sheep we used our Gentle Giant, which we call a Jumbo weight wool. This wool has a large gauge, so look for a wool that calls for a 12-15mm needle. For the head and feet we used our Flax Down, which is a light worsted/DK, so look for a wool that calls for a 4-5mm needle.
We used 10 skeins of the Gentle Giant, which would be a total of 440 meters and 1 skein of the Flax Down, which has about 200 meters.
Please let us know if you have any more questions!
Best,
Kumeko
I made this WONDERFUL bobble sheep! His name is Shawn the Sheep and he lives on my bed. He is stuffed with a regular sized bed pillow. I took him to see some friends in town and got the strangest looks from other drivers as we passed them. Shawn was looking out the window. Lots of fun. Due to wool alergies I used an acrylic super bulky yarn for his body and a worsted for his head. I did omit his legs as he really didn’t need them. (Cause he just prefers to sleep, no running and jumping). Thank you so much for this free pattern. He is well loved!
cant wait to make this for my library room! i’ll sew on googly eyes too. 😉
Can this be knitted on straight needles? So many of your lovely patterns are for circular needles and I really struggle with them.
Thanks
Hi Judith,
Thanks for writing in! This pattern is written to knit in the round. We are unable to rewrite it to knit flat at this juncture. We realize that for some of our customers that this presents a challenge but we urge you to give it a try! Once you get the hang of it, you may find that you never use straight needles again, even for projects without so many stitches. Circular needles are just easier to keep track of (no losing one in the cushions of your couch!), and they never poke the person sitting next to you!
Best,
Cassy
Hello,
This is very cute, esp the gentle giant version.
Can you suggest another contrast yarn? Would Worsted Twist work? Thanks.
Hi Quynh,
Thanks for the kind words! Worsted Twist is a bit thicker than the Flax Down that we used for the head here. To use Worsted Twist, you would hold it doubled and go up to a US 10.75 or US 11. However, this would make the head quite a bit bigger and not in proportion to the rest of the sheep. If you are looking for an alternate yarn, you want something with a gauge of 5-5.5 stitches per inch. Here Cashmere Merino Bloom might work. Blue Sky’s Suri Merino would also make a good substitute. Please note that, as with the Flax Down, you would be holding these doubled.
Best,
Cassy
Wouah ! So good.
Their remind me old memories, a cover for my bed knitted with bobbles.
Great idea, Thanks.
Thank you for creating and posting this pattern. I can’t wait to make “them”, I think I need a flock! They will be a wonderful addition to my Maine farmhouse
I, too, would like to add to the requests of having this pattern available in a crochet pattern. Please keep us posted. I LOVE Purl Soho!
is this available in uk
Hi Jackie,
Thanks for writing in! Our lovely Purl Soho yarns are only available through us but we do ship worldwide! More information about our shipping can be found here: https://www.purlsoho.com/shipping/
Best,
Cassy
Hi! I love this pattern and want to make it as a birthday gift for a toddler. Approximately how long does this project take?
Thank you!
Hi Jill,
Thank you for your question! It’s always difficult to gauge how long a project might take since everyone knits at different speeds and has varying amounts of time that they can devote to knitting each day! However, since this sheep is knit with a chunkier weight yarn it will knit quickly and depending on how much time you can spend on the scarf each day it might take you 2-3 weeks to complete. Please keep in mind that this is just an estimate. I am sorry we can’t be more specific!
Best,
Cassy
Of course! Thank you for your reply!
I have a problem when I repeat row 5 . When the pattern tells me to make bobble…the bobble stitch starts on top of the previous bobble. Is that correct? Or did I mess up? I even ripped the rows and started over but still it turned out the same.
Hello Faith,
Thank you for reaching out! Great question. Is this happening on the first repeat of row 5? The bobbles should not end up on top of each other. The increases are such that the bobbles end up alternating location from row 5 to repeat row 5. I would be extra careful that you are placing the increase stitches in the correct location and that you are adding 4 stitches every row 5 and row 6. Good luck! Let us know if you have any further questions!
-Marilla
I’m currently attempting to knit this on 12mm needles and super chunky wool. It’s a painful struggle and is so hard it’s hurting my hands. I think I shall try to use an Aran on smaller needles with a view to enjoying knitting this. Not having pattern problems so far, just fed up fighting the needles and the wool.
Anyone else finding the same?
I too, would love the Sheep Pillow in crochet. Hope it comes soon.
In the original pattern (for the smaller version I believe), there is this instruction: Round 19: K2, *MB, k3, repeat from * to 3 stitches before next marker, sk2p (see Notes), sm, k2, k3tog (see Notes), **k3, MB, repeat from ** to 2 stitches before next marker, k2, sm, k2. [90 stitches, 4 stitches decreased at head]. What is sm and what is sk2p? I hate to sound stupid, but I am a fairly inexperienced knitter. Having a grandchild soon and my daughter asked if I would try this pattern. Thanks for your help.
Hello Julie,
Thank you for reaching out and congratulations on the new addition to your family!
There are no stupid questions in my book. “SM” simply means slip marker – so when you get to a marker you just transfer it from one needle to the next. sk2p is a bit more complicated, but still simple enough. This is a left-slanting double decrease. Slip 1 purlwise, knit 2 together, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch and off the needle. [2 stitches decreased].
I hope this helps and please let me know if you have any further questions!
-Marilla
It appears there are two size kits available. Am I correct? Can you tell me the finished size of each one.
Thanks
Hi Patty,
Thanks for writing! There are 2 versions of this lovely sheep. The one pictured above the the Gentle Giant version and it is 28 inches wide (from chest to rear) x 15 inches tall (from top of back to bottom of belly). The other version is the Super Soft version and is 19 inches wide (from chest to rear) x 14 inches tall (from top of back to bottom of belly). For further descriptions of the kits, click on the Product Details tab on the product page!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I am knitting the gentle giant large bobble sheep, using the gentle giant yarn for the body and the Flax Down the head. I just finished knitting the head and I am not satisfied with the floppiness of the head. Because I followed the pattern for the smaller bobble sheep, which did not specify knitting the head with a double strand, I knitted the head using a single strand of Flax Down. I just now looked back at the online site for the larger sheep and noticed that it mentions using a double strand of the Flax Down. Was I supposed to knit the head with a double strand of Flax Down yarn? Before I decapitate my sheep’s head I need to be sure that I should have used a double strand of yarn. Do you think, I will have enough yarn left to knit another head?
I am also confused as to the placement of the ears. Any help you can provide would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Chris Sydnor
Hello Christine,
Thank you for writing us! Unfortunately, it sounds like you are going to have to decapitate your sheep. The head is knit with two strands of Flax Down. I think you should have enough yarn to re- knit the head. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Warmly,
Marilla
Hi there! Just wondering if you might happen to happen to have a video that demonstrates each step of HOW this project is completed (from start to finish)? For instance, how the body should be looking as you are M1R and M1L.
Idk about anyone else, but most knitting techniques I’ve learned have been from watching videos provided on Purl Soho and YouTube. As such – being an annoyingly visual learner and all- something like a video demonstration could be EXTREMELY helpful in assisting those of us who struggle to follow written instructions over seeing how the written word plays out in real time.
Anyhow, I understand that making a video is likely easier said than done, so any thoughts on this would be certainly appreciated. Love the work you are contributing to the site and I look forward to your response.
Hope this message finds you well and much thanks in advance! 🙂
Hi Rachel,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m also a very visual learner so I get it! I will definitely pass your recommendation along!
Thanks,
Carly
I would like this in a crochet pattern as well!!
i would alsolike this in a ccochet pattern
Would love to see a crochet pattern.
May have to learn to knit. This just makes me smile.
Do you stuff the head?
Has there been any corrections to the pattern discovered?
Hi Brenda,
Thank you for writing in! We have not stuffed the head of this sweet sheep but you certainly can if you like the look! Additionally, we have not made any corrections to this pattern. That said, should you have any issues, please do not hesitate to reach out!
Best,
Cassy
I’m in a pickle! I promised my granddaughter this beautiful pillow for Christmas but I don’t have size 17 circular needles. I do have straight ones that size. Any advise on how to knit this flat and then sew it together? Thanks in advance.
Consuelo
Hi COnsuelo,
Thanks for writing in! At present, we only have this pattern written for knitting in the round. Altering the pattern to knit flat would require a fair amount of work and reworking of the pattern. You can certainly give it a try but I do think that it will require a fair amount of trial and error!
Best,
Cassy
Are there different instructions for the tail? It looks odd because of its shape and how open it is.
Hi Laura,
Thanks for writing in! There are not alternate directions for the tail available. The tail on this sweet little sheep is open and shaped a bit like a half dome that is open on the bottom. You can certainly sew it up once you are done if you prefer the look of a closed tail! Either way, I think that the sheep will look great!
Best,
Cassy
Ok, I’m about to pick up stitches for the head. The instructions say to pick up 3 sts in one 15 times on each side. My math says that adds up to 90sts where do the other 2sts come from?
Hi Consuelo,
Thanks for writing in! You will be picking up 3 stitches in each of the next fifteen stitches along the left side of the neck, two stitches along the top, and then 3 stitches in each of the fifteen stitches along the right side for a total of 92 stitches.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
I am sooooooo confused!! I am making the head for the third time. By the time I get to row 4 I have run out of stitches between the first and second marker. I have the correct number of sts on the needles and all the decreases line up correctly. What am I doing wrong???
Also, why are there more decreases on the right side than the left side? Row 2 doesn’t have any decreases on the left. I’m an experienced knitter but I’m ready to throw this in the trash.
HELP!
Hi Consuelo,
Thanks for writing in! It seems like perhaps you have been decreasing more rapidly than we are in the pattern. Right before you begin round 4 of the head you should have your beginning of round marker, 22 stitches, marker, 6 stitches, marker, 6 stitches, marker 22 stitches. On every iteration of round 2, you will be decreasing 1 stitch at the beginning of the second set of stitches and 1 stitch at the end of the third set of stitches. While on round 1 and 3, you will be decreasing 1 stitch at the beginning and 1 stitch at the end of each of these sections. This should leave you with 6 stitches in each of the second and third sections before you begin round 4.
I hope that this clears things up!
Cassy
Where are the directions to make the sheep? I see pictures of and what you need to make it but nothing else.
Hi Jayne,
Thanks for writing in! The directions for this lovely sheep are linked above in the pattern section. I am also including them here for you: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2013/03/03/lauras-loop-bobble-sheep-pillow/
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Why, oh why, are American knitting patterns always on circular needles?! It drives me potty! I’m in the UK and we very rarely knit on anything other than straight needles and I can’t convert a pattern from USA instructions to UK for the life of me! 🤔😳😢
Hi Jayne,
Thanks for writing in and sharing your thoughts with us! For many projects, we prefer the look and ease of knitting a project in one piece. For many of our projects worked in the round, working them flat would add quite a bit of complication as it would with this lovely Bobble Sheep!
Knitting in the round actually has a good amount of its origins in the UK! Traditional Fair Isle knitting has been worked traditionally in the round, first on double pointed needles and then on circular needles. Although, the earliest examples of knitting in the round have been found elsewhere in Europe, it was Fair Isle knitting that popularized it!
For some of our patterns, although we use circular needles, we knit them flat, meaning back in forth in rows, turning the work at the end of each row. The reason we sometimes use circular needles for flat knitting is to accommodate a lot of stitches. Cramming a blanket’s worth of stitches onto long straight needles can be pretty cumbersome and sometimes even, impossible. To use circular needles for knitting flat you simply finish a row, turn the work so the other side is facing you and put the needle that was in your right hand into your left hand and the needle that was in your left hand into your right hand, ready to go on the next row!
By the way, once you get the hang of it, you may find that you never use straight needles again, even for projects without so many stitches. Circular needles are just easier to keep track of (no losing one in the cushions of your couch!), and they never poke the person sitting next to you!
Best,
Cassy
Hi
I have ripped this out three times now. I am fine until I get to the repeat of the rows 5 and 6 my bobbles are not lining up correctly nor am I ending up with the right number of stitches before the markers. What could I possibly be doing wrong!?!?!?
I am determined to knit this fabulous sheep!
Hi Karyn,
Thanks for writing in! I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulties! I frequently find that writing out rows more completely can help in these situations. As only round 5 has bobbles (round 6 is an increase round), I am including the written out round 5 for you!
Round 5 reads: [M1L, k2, *MB k3, repeat from * to 3 stitches before next marker, MB, k2, m1R, sm, k2] two times. [4 stitches increased]
Round 5 expanded reads: M1L, k2, MB, k3, MB, k3, MB, k3, MB, k3, MB, k2, m1R, sm, k2, M1L, k2, MB, k3, MB, k3, MB, k3, MB, k3, MB, k2, m1R, sm, k2.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Crocheted my own sheep using this info as a starting point for my pattern. I think they turned out pretty good!