In the first few months of designing knitted toys (the winter of 2006/2007), I decided it would be helpful to have a free pattern. I thought it would introduce knitters to my style, show them how my patterns were written, what techniques they would need to know, and hopefully encourage them to try other patterns.
Most of my toys are knit with wool yarn, because it's relatively affordable and available, comes in many colours, and is quite durable for a toy. So it made sense that my free design should be of an adorable, cuddly lamb! In order to make it a little cuter, and simpler to knit, I modified the features somewhat from the real animal. But it's such a fun project, and a great introduction to making knitted toys!
Hint: if you'd like to dress up your lamb, any of the clothes from my smaller toys will fit this one. You'll find a variety of styles in my shop.
This toy remains my most popular design, even after 14 years, and I'm happy to be able to share it with you here! If you have some experience with basic knitting skills (casting on and off, knit, purl, k2tog, m1 increases), and are willing to practice some more challenging techniques (changing yarn colours, mattress stitch for seaming, ssk or skpo*, p2tog, and working through the back loop), this toy will be a fast and satisfying project!
Find the instructions below, or download the PDF. Happy knitting!
Fuzzy Mitten Lamb
Materials
40 g of fuzzy worsted weight yarn (MC), 15 g of contrasting worsted weight yarn (CC), yarn for embroidering face, two 8-10 mm black buttons or safety eyes, stuffing, pair of 4 mm (US size 6) knitting needles, tapestry needle
Size: 20 cm (8") tall
Gauge/Tension: 22 sts and 32 rows per 10 cm (4") in stockinette
Legs (make 2)
Begin at sole. CO 10 sts with CC.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: k1, [m1, k1] to end. (19 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: k4, [m1, k3] x 5. (24 sts)
Row 5: Purl.
Break off CC, start next row with MC.
Row 6-7: work 2 rows in st st.
Row 8: k8, [ssk] x 2, [k2tog] x 2, k8. (20 sts)
Row 9: p6, [p2tog] x 2, [p2tog tbl] x 2, p6. (16 sts)
Row 10: k7, k2tog, k7. (15 sts)
Row 11-13: work 3 rows in st st.
Row 14: k2, m1, k11, m1, k2. (17 sts)
Row 15-25: work 11 rows in st st.
Row 26: k1, [k2tog] x 8. (9 sts)
Cut yarn, thread end through remaining sts, pull tight to gather. Gather together cast-on stitches, then sew up back leg seam, leaving an opening. Stuff and sew closed.
Body
Begin at neck. CO 16 sts with MC.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: k1, [m1, k1] to end. (31 sts)
Row 3-5: work 3 rows in st st.
Row 6: k8, m1, k15, m1, k8. (33 sts)
Row 7-13: work 7 rows in st st.
Row 14: k15, m1, k3, m1, k15. (35 sts)
Row 15-17: work 3 rows in st st.
Row 18: k3, m1, k1, m1, k27, m1, k1, m1, k3. (39 sts)
Row 19: Purl.
Row 20: k16, ssk, k3, k2tog, k16. (37 sts)
Row 21-23: work 3 rows in st st.
Row 24: k15, ssk, k3, k2tog, k15. (35 sts)
Row 25-27: work 3 rows in st st.
Row 28: k1, [k2tog] to end. (18 sts)
Row 29: Purl.
Row 30: [k2tog] x 9. (9 sts)
Cut yarn, thread end through remaining sts, pull tight to gather. Sew up back seam to cast-on neck edge (leaving this edge open for attaching head). Stuff body.
Right arm
Begin at paw. CO 6 sts with CC.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: k1, [m1, k1] to end. (11 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: [k2, m1] x 2, k3, [m1, k2] x 2. (15 sts)
Row 5: Purl.
Break off CC, start next row with MC.
Row 6-7: work 2 rows in st st.
Row 8: k1, [ssk] x 2, [k2tog] x 2, k6. (11 sts)
Row 9-13: work 5 rows in st st.
Row 14: k5, [m1, k3] x 2. (13 sts)
Row 15-23: work 9 rows in st st.
Row 24: k1, [k2tog] x 6. (7 sts)
Cut yarn, thread end through remaining sts, pull tight to gather. Gather together cast-on stitches, then sew up arm seam, leaving an opening. Stuff and sew closed.
Left arm
Begin at paw. CO 6 sts with CC.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: k1, [m1, k1] to end. (11 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: [k2, m1] x 2, k3, [m1, k2] x 2. (15 sts)
Row 5: Purl.
Break off CC, start next row with MC.
Row 6-7: work 2 rows in st st.
Row 8: k6, [ssk] x 2, [k2tog] x 2, k1. (11 sts)
Row 9-13: work 5 rows in st st.
Row 14: [k3, m1] x 2, k5. (13 sts)
Row 15-23: work 9 rows in st st.
Row 24: k1, [k2tog] x 6. (7 sts)
Cut yarn, thread end through remaining sts, pull tight to gather. Gather together cast-on stitches, then sew up arm seam, leaving an opening. Stuff and sew closed.
Head
Begin at back. CO 7 sts with MC.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: k1, [m1, k1] to end. (13 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: k1, [m1, k1] to end. (25 sts)
Row 5-7: work 3 rows in st st.
Row 8: [k2, m1] x 4, k9, [m1, k2] x 4. (33 sts)
Row 9-17: work 9 rows in st st.
Break off MC, start next row with CC.
Row 18-19: work 2 rows in st st.
Row 20: k8, [ssk] x 2, k9, [k2tog] x 2, k8. (29 sts)
Row 21: Purl.
Row 22: k1, [ssk] x 6, k3, [k2tog] x 6, k1. (17 sts)
Row 23-25: work 3 rows in st st.
Row 26: k1, [k2tog] x 8. (9 sts)
Cut yarn, thread end through remaining sts, pull tight to gather. Secure yarn ends from colour changes. Attach safety eyes or buttons. Gather together cast-on stitches, then sew up seam, leaving an opening. Stuff head, making sure to put extra stuffing in the nose and cheeks to improve the shaping. Sew closed. If not using safety eyes or buttons, embroider eyes with black yarn. Embroider a nose and mouth with black or pink yarn.
Ears (make 2)
CO 3 sts with MC.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: k1, m1, k1, m1, k1. (5 sts)
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: k1, m1, k3, m1, k1. (7 sts)
Row 5-14: K 10 rows in garter stitch.
Bind off.
Finishing
Fold ears in half lengthwise, then position them on the head behind the eyes and in line with the increases from Row 8. Sew the bound-off edge of ears to head. Sew head securely to cast-on edge of body. Thread a length of yarn through left arm about 1 cm (1/4") from top, thread yarn through body at shoulder position, then thread yarn through right arm. Thread yarn through body again, and then the left arm and pull tight. Repeat so yarn passes through each arm 3-4 times. Pull yarn tight so arms are secure, then weave in yarn ends. Attach legs at lower edge of body in the same way as the arms.
*The PDF version of the pattern was originally published in 2012. My pattern style has changed somewhat since then, so I've updated the pattern in this blog post to reflect some of those changes. The only significant change is that I now use "ssk" instead of "skpo," but feel free to use whichever left-leaning decrease you prefer.
Abbreviations
[ ] x N = repeat sequence in brackets N times ("to end" means to repeat until the end of the row)
CO = cast on
K or k = knit
k2tog = decrease 1 stitch by knitting 2 stitches together
m1 = increase 1 by picking up loop between stitch just worked and next stitch, and knit into the back of this loop
P or p = purl
p2tog = decrease 1 stitch by purling 2 stitches together
ssk = decrease 1 by slipping 2 stitches purl-wise, then knit slipped stitches together
st or sts = stitch or stitches
st st = stockinette stitch
tbl = insert your needle from left to right through the back of the loops