Bobble Sheep Pillow in Gentle Giant
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
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoBobbleSheepPillow, #PurlSohoGentleGiant, and #PurlSohoFlaxDown. We can’t wait to see what you make!
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. Each skein is 48 yards/ 125 grams; approximately 480 yards required. We used Heirloom White and Graphite Gray
- Contrast Yarn: 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Flax Down, 43% baby alpaca, 42% merino wool, 15% linen, in Kettle Black. (NOTE: We no longer offer Flax Down, but choose from one of our other light worsted/dk weight yarns.)
You’ll also need…
- US 17 (12mm), 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 (6mm) 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.
I am on the ears of this sheep and I am not understanding the placement of the stitches. The pictures are not quite clear to me. Does the ear start at the base of the head? And then you say rotate the sheep and pick up three stitches in each of the stitches directly across from those you just picked up. My head exploded a million times. I understand that I am knitting three stitches in one to get the number 18 in total, I’m just not confident where the ear actually attaches. At any time am I knitting into the white part? I wish there was a video that went along with this pattern. I can’t believe I got the head on and it looks okay. For some reason the ears are just not making sense to me. Thanks for your time
Hi Lisa,
I hope I can help clarify this! For the ears, you will count down four stitches from the top of the sheep’s head where it is attached to the body to pinpoint where to start picking up stitches from the same stitches where you already picked up stitches to knit the head. The second half of the ear stitches will be picked up from the main color or body of the sheep directly across from where you picked up the first half of the ear stitches. It’s quite tricky to visualize, but I think if you give it a try it will make sense as it’s quite similar to picking up the head stitches!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi, this makes ZERO sense to me. Zip. Zilch. Being so close to completion this is incredibly frustrating. I’m hoping to get additional help.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in! I am sorry to hear that you are so frustrated, but I am happy to help! To help me be able to give you the best advice, I would love a bit more information, are you having problems with the placement of where to pick up the stitches for the ears or how to pick up the stitches?
Looking forward to your response!
Gianna
pretty
Hi
I just started my sheep pillow and it says to repeat rounds 5 and 6 but I am not seeing round 5 is it just a knit do I increase?…
Hello Karyn,
Thank you for reaching out! Round 5 is just above round 6 and reads “Round 5: [M1L, k2, *make bobble (MB, see Notes), k3, repeat from * to 3 stitches before next marker, MB, k2, m1R, sm, k2] two times. [4 stitches increased]”. I wonder if it accidentally go deleted somehow when you downloaded the pattern.
I hope this clears things up for you and happy knitting!
-Marilla
How big is this sheep? It looks huge ! Is there a smaller pillow version? I am thinking a size that would fit in a child’s crib. Dimensions? Different sizes on the pattern? THANKS !!! It’s adorable !!!! I can;t wait to make it !!!!
Patty
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, our Bobble Sheep Pillow in Gentle Giant is wonderfully oversized but our original Bobble Sheep Pillow in Super Soft Merino is a much more manageable size! You can find the exact dimensions in the pattern information under “Size,” but the Gentle Giant sheep measures 28 inches wide by 15 inches tall, and the Super Soft Merino sheep measures 19 inches wide by 14 inches tall. Since both sheep use the same pattern with different size needles and yarn, you can always use a worsted weight yarn with an appropriate needle size for an even smaller sheep!
Best,
Julianna
On last row 33 of body. Experienced knitter. Went row by row. Everything row finished with correct number. Should have 48 stitches have 60! Ready for Kitchener closer. Should I just proceed?
Hello Tere,
Thank you for reaching out! This is very mysterious, it does sound like some rows possibly missed or you had to many stitches to begin with? You should have had 60 stitches at row 28. The only concern I would have about closing it up at this point would be that the shape of the body will be incorrect, however if it is looking good there is no reason why you can’t go ahead and close up your sheep.
I hope this helps and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Hi Tere,
Do I end up with a gusset as per M1L/ M1R video demo or should I be incorporating the increases (rounds 5 and 6) into the pattern? Enjoying the challenge and looking forward to seeing the finished cushion, and thank you for sharing.
Hi Coral,
Thanks for your question! Yes, you should be incorporating the increases into the pattern. Thanks to the bobbles, the “seam” that the increases create won’t be visible and instead the increases will help create the shape of the entire body of the sheep. I hope this was helpful!
All the best,
Cat
Hi
I am having a super hard time with the start of the head. Do I just pick up the stitch or do I pick it up then knit? Also at the end of the 15 stitches you pick up two and do the other side, are those two separate stitches picked up ?
Is there a video available to watch how the stitches are picked up for the head?
Thanks
Hello Karyn,
Thank you for reaching out! Unfortunately, we do not have a video of this. Those two stitches are separate stitches being picked up. So you will be picking up 45 stitches (3 stitches from each of the 15), pick up two stitches, and then 45 more stitches.
I hope this helps and let us know if you have any further questions!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
PLEASE!! can you make a follow along video tutorial of this project on you tube !! you would get major hits !!
Hello Patricia,
Thank you for giving us your thoughtful feedback! I will certainly pass it along!
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
i JUST LOVE THOSE SHEEP 😉
My great-grand-parents where farmers: i just LOVE sheep whool.
Cordialement.
Aimée.
Can I get the Pattern for the smaller Pillow ? This is all very confusing …. I keep getting sent back to the same place and it isn’t there …. Thand You.
Suzy
Hi Suzy,
I am happy to help! The pattern for the Super Soft Merino version of this sheep can be found here. Please know that both versions of this lovely littel sheep follow the same pattern and just differ in the needles and yarn used!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
I’ve made a few for new baby gifts ,
my grandson still sleeps with his and he’s now 11?
I can’t say enough about how much I love this pattern !!
It’s sooo cute and cuddly ,
Just order the new bulky yarn for another new baby gift.
Thanks Purl Soho for a great pattern and quality yarn.
Hi,
I finished the body and am having trouble with the head. I picked up the 92 stitches starting from the bottom of the head (neck), I the separated the stitches by : knit 16 stitches; pm; 30 stitches; pm, 16 stitches; pm, 30 stitches; pm. The instructions said K16, pm, K30, pm, repeat.
Is that correct or is it knit 16 st; pm; 30 st; pm; 30 st; pm, 16 st, pm. This way the neck would be 16 stitches on each side and the top of head would have 30 stitches on each side.
If I do the 1st version, seems like the head will not be straight.
I agree with previous posts, a youtube video would be great. I am worried about the ears.
thanks
Hi Sylvie,
Thanks for reaching out! Your second interpretation of the row is correct. When working the set-up round for the head you will only be repeating the section within the markers, so you will knit 16, place a marker, knit 30, place a marker, knit 30, place a marker, and then knit to the end of the round, which should be 16 again. I will be sure to pass your request for a video along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
I am stumped on row 5 (small sheep): Before I start the row I have a marker after stitch 21 and another marker after stitch 44. Using the original row stitch count to explain my problem. I get to the first marker correctly (5 bobbles completed, M1R). SM, K2 (stitch 22, 23) , then start the repeat making: 1st bobble +K3 = stitch 24-27, 2nd bobble +K3 = stitch 28-31, 3rd bobble + K3 = stitch 32-35, 4th bobble +k3 = stitch 36-39. I am now 5 stitches from the marker. I make a 5th bobble (stitch 40), then K1 (stitch 41). I am now 3 stitches from the marker (5 stitches from the end of the round). The pattern says when you are 3 stitches from the marker, MB, K2, M1R, K2. If I do this, I will have a 6th bobble (stitch 42) with just one stitch between the 5th and 6th bobble and then I will K2 (stitch 43-44), M1R, K2 (stitch 45-46). Then row 6 starts. Is this correct?
Hi Laurie
Thanks so much for writing in! This pattern has brackets and a repeat (*) within the brackets, and can get a bit challenging! After you completed the first 5 bobbles, the row finishes with k2, m1R, sm, k2] two times. Your bracket starts over at the beginning of the with [M1L, k2,(this is stitch 24 and 25) *make bobble (MB, see Notes), k3, repeat from * to 3 stitches before next marker, MB, k2, m1R, sm, k2] There should be a total of 10 bobbles on this round, 5 on each side, and you will have added 4 stitches total. I hope this helps!
Happy Knitting
Jessica
Hi is it possible to send image of were the markers are for thehead please? I understand picking up the 92 sts but were is the beginning of the round? Were the chin would be?
Hi all!
I’m about to graft the top of the sheep and have my working yarn on the front need as the instructions stated to slip the last stitch of the last round onto the left needle. Do I need to re-arrange the stitches so that the working yarn to graft is on the back needle? It looks like that might throw the seams off? Please advise when convenient. Love this project!
Thanks very much,
Ginger
Hi Ginger,
Thanks for writing in! You can go ahead and start working kitchener stitch as normal, even with the yarn attached to the front needle! The first setup setp will also start with the front needle which seems odd, but the look of the grafted seam won’t be affected by where the yarn is attached.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hi! I started my bobble sheep years ago and had to set it aside. I am back at it and am ready to do the Kitchener stitch to bind off the top of the head. Have you stuffed the head? Maybe a bit of stuffing would give it shape and help the ears to stand out. Looking forward to your thoughts. Karen
Hi Karen,
Thanks for writing in! That is a great idea, we haven’t tried stuffing the head but I think it would add a bit more shape to the heads and ears!
Please let us know how this works out, happy knitting!
Gianna
These sheep are the sweetest! Any chance for a crochet version of this pillow using Gentle Giant? I would love to make these for my daughters!
Hi Emily,
Thanks for reaching! Unfortunately we don’t have a crochet version of this pattern available, but thank you so much for expressing your interest and I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Warmly,
Gianna
I love this sheep, is there anyway that you sell the completed sheep??? It is so amazing. Thanks so much,
Rachel Harvey
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, we don’t sell these already made, but we do have all of the materials and instructions for you to make one of your own!
Thanks for getting in touch!
Gianna
Is there somewhere where this pattern is written out stitch by stitch?
Hi Maureen,
Thanks for reaching out! We only offer instructions as written in the PATTERN section, but thank you for expressing your interest and I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Warmly,
Gianna
Do you sell these sheep pillows made up??
Adore them but not sure Im up to knitting one.
Jane
Hi Jane,
Thanks for reaching out! I’m sorry, we don’t sell these already made, but we do have all of the materials and instructions for you to make one of your own!
Thanks for getting in touch!
Gianna
Do you have a crochet version of this pattern?
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for reaching out! We do not have a crochet version of this pattern, but thank you for expressing your interest! I will be sure to pass this along to the rest of the team!
Gianna
There is no pattern, just comments
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for writing in! For this pattern, we followed the original Bobble Sheep Pillow in Super Soft Merino pattern. You can navigate to the page I just linked to find the pattern, but there are just a few small modifications to keep in mind when using Gentle Giant…
1. For the Main Yarn, we used Gentle Giant on US 17 needles in place of Super Soft Merino on US 11 needles.
2. 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.
3. We lengthened the legs from 4 to 5 inches.
I hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Hello! I am having trouble understanding the ears…I have done the first 4 rows in the round, but do not understand the “back and forth” pattern n the next rows. Pictures look like the ears are done in the round like the head….please help!
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for reaching out. The ears begin in the round, but then the switch to being worked flat at this very point! This creates a cupped shape that mimics what a real sheep’s ear looks like!
All the best,
Lili
Hi, this may be a stupid question, but is there a way to convert this pattern into crochet? I never was able to pick up knitting, but I’m very experienced in crocheting. I’ve been trying to figure out how I can replicate and try this with my crochet experience, but I just can’t get the desired look, so I thought I’d reach out for any advice or tips.
Hi Mikka,
Thanks for reaching out! I’m sure that it would be possible to crochet something like this, but it will take a lot of rewriting. A good place to begin though would be to learn some bobble crochet stitches! This type of stitch would result in a very similar look to the knit bobbles on this sheep. If you end up giving this a try, please let us know how it turns out!
All the best,
Lili