If you’ve followed Thoresby Cottage for a little while, you probably already know that I love granny squares! So much so that I’ve collaborated on several books on the subject. This sweet little lamb granny square pattern was actually designed several years ago and is one of the patterns in the book 3D Granny Squares (click on the link to read an overview of the book), and I’ve decided to share it with you, for free!
This crochet little lamb granny square pattern is the most adorable motif. It is wonderful for baby makes and can be used for nursery blankets, cushions or even a toddler busy book. The popcorn stitches create a lovely texture which is great for little hands. If you are new to making baby things, then have a look at these tips that I have put together for you, to help you make the most out of your project. I used Paintbox Cotton DK for this square, but you can use any yarn you like.
Requirements:
C2/2.75 mm hook
DK Cotton yarn (such as Paintbox Yarn cotton DK) in the following colors:
Light green (I used Paintbox DK Pistachio)
Cream (I used Paintbox DK Vanilla)
Light grey (I used Paintbox DK Misty Grey)
Black embroidery floss for facial details
Yarn needle
Stitch marker (optional)
View my recommendations for my favorite tools on Amazon
>>PIN THIS PATTERN FOR LATER!<<
NOTES
- This sheep granny square pattern is worked mostly in continuous rounds. Do not slip stitch to join the round unless instructed to do so.
- If you are looking for a plain square to use alongside the lamb granny square, consider either the Solid Granny Square or the Polka Dot Square.
- Finished size: 13cm square using the hook and yarn suggested.
- This pattern uses US terminology (see abbreviations here)
- A low-cost, printer-friendly PDF (which includes charts) can be purchased here.
Special stitches(*):
5-dc-popcorn stitch: work 5 dc into the same stitch. Remove your hook from the last dc and insert it, from front to back, into the top of the first dc of the popcorn stitch. Insert the hook into the loop from the last dc and pull it through to make the popcorn stitch puff, ch 1
3-dc-popcorn stitch: work 3 dc into the same stitch. Remove your hook from the last dc and insert it, from front to back, into the top of the first dc of the popcorn stitch. Insert the hook into the loop from the last dc and pull it through to make the popcorn stitch puff, ch 1
Little lamb granny square pattern
Rnd 1: Starting with Light Grey, mr 6 sc, slst to close the rnd (6)
Rnd 2: ch 3 (counts as a dc), 3 dc in next 5 st, 2 dc in last st, slst into 3rd ch of initial ch 3 to close the rnd (18)
Rnd 3: ch 3 (counts as a dc), dc into next st, (dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) repeat 8 times. Cut yarn and invisible join to first st of rnd to close. Weave in ends. (26)
Rnd 4: Join Cream with a standing dc (or ch 3) in any st. Continue to make a 5-dc popcorn in the same st, *ch 2, sk st, 5-dc popcorn in the next st. Repeat from * around. Ch 2 and slst into the back of the 1st popcorn to close the rnd (13 x 5-dc popcorn, 13 x ch-2 sp)
Rnd 5: Slst into next ch-2-sp. Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc of popcorn) and continue to make a 5-dc-popcorn. *ch 2, 5-dc popcorn into the next ch-2-sp. Repeat from * around. Ch 2 and slst into the back of the 1st popcorn to close the rnd (13 x 5-dc popcorn, 13 x ch-2 sp)
Rnd 6: Note: in this round, the stitches are worked in both the ch-2-sp and the top of the popcorn stitches from the previous rnd.
ch 3 (counts as the first dc of 3-dc-popcorn) and continue to make a *3-dc-popcorn into the back of the popcorn from the previous rnd, ch 2, 3-dc popcorn into the ch-2-sp, ch 2*. Repeat from * to * 8 more times. Sk the next popcorn and 3-dc popcorn into the ch-2-sp. Repeat from * to * 2 more times. 3-dc-popcorn into the back of the last popcorn, ch 2, sk ch-2-sp and slst into the back of the 1st popcorn to close the rnd. (24 popcorns, 24 x 2-ch-sp). Fasten off and weave in ends.
Rnd 7: For this round, only ever work one st into the ch-2-sp, unless otherwise instructed.
Join Light Green into any ch-2-sp with a standing tr + ch 3 + tr (into same st). *dc into the next popcorn, hdc into the next ch-sp, sc into the next 7 st (popcorn / ch-sp), hdc in the next ch-2-sp, dc into the next popcorn st, (tr + ch 3 + tr) into the next ch-2-sp. Repeat from * 3 more times, omitting the (tr + ch 3 + tr) in the last repeat. Slst into first st of rnd to close. (52 + 12 ch)
Rnd 8: Slst into the ch-3-sp and work the following, [ch 3 (counts as dc), dc + ch 2 + 2 dc], *dc into the next 13 st, (2 dc + ch 2 + 2 dc) into the next ch-3-sp. Repeat from * 3 more times, omitting the last (2 dc + ch 2 + 2 dc). Slst into 3rd ch of initial ch 3 to close. (68 + 8 ch)
Rnd 9: ch 3 (counts as dc), dc into next st, *into ch-sp (2 dc + ch 2 + 2 dc), dc in the next 17 st. Repeat from * 3 more times, omitting the last 2 dc. Slst into 3rd ch of initial ch 3 to close. (84 + 8 ch)
Rnd 10: ch 3 (counts as dc), dc into next 3 st, *into ch-sp (2 dc + ch 3 + 2 dc), dc in the next 21 st. Repeat from * 3 more times, omitting the last 4 dc. Cut yarn and invisible join into first st of rnd to close. (100 + 12 ch)
Weave in ends.
Legs (x 2)
Using Light Grey:
- Ch 8, hdc into 3rd ch from hook
- Hdc in the remaining 5 st down the ch
- Fasten off, leave a tail for joining.
Ears (x 2)
Using Light Grey;
- Ch 4 and sc into 2nd ch from hook
- Hdc into the 3rd and 4th ch from hook
- Fasten off and leave a tail for joining
Assembly and details
- Stitch the ears on either side of the face, 5 popcorn stitches apart.
- Stitch the legs in place, between rnd 5 and 6, (tucked under rnd 5) 1 popcorn st apart.
- Sew on the face details (eyes and nose) using black embroidery cotton
- Weave in any remaining ends.
- Block the square (follow my easy blocking tutorial)
I hope you enjoy this crochet lamb granny square pattern. Make sure to check out my other granny squares too!
If you would like to purchase a printable, ad-free version of this crochet sheep granny square pattern (that also includes charts and conversions so that you can use this pattern along with my other animal squares), you can do so here.
Yours in craft,
Caitie
I just love working this pattern. Do you have a border for this pattern?
I don’t have at this time, but one I’d like to add one! I think a sweet little shell would work nicely, or eve just a row of dc or hdc for a more modern look.
Thank you for this square. I adore it. I gave a try, but my square with medium yarn got a hight of 4 cm… Looks like a 3D cupcake. Hehehe
The square definitely can puff up a bit! Wet blocking it helps, but if it is too puffy then I’d suggest adding in an extra chain between the puffs to help it flatten out a bit.
Hello, I love the sheep, however mine is ending up very round and pronounced, not as flat and layered looking as yours, would you suggest extra chains between bobbles to loosen the tight shape? Or any other thoughts? Thank you, Nicole
Yes, you can add an extra chain inbetween the bobbles. Blocking the square also makes a big difference! (Here is my wet blocking tutorial)
Thank you for the tips! I’ll give it another go!
Hi. I’m having a similar experience. How many chains did you add to make it looser and did it work?
One extra chain should be enough.
If I only wanted to make the lambs in alternating squares, is there a pattern that I could use for black squares that would match?
Thank you so much.
Hello! Yes, there are two options. Either the Solid Granny Square or the Polka Dot Square (either worked all in one color, or with 2 colors, as per the pattern pictures). Hope that this helps! Happy stitching.
Thank you so much.
What weight is the yarn you are using? My granny squares are coming out large when crocheting with a medium weight yarn.
I’m using DK (double knit) cotton which is closer to light worsted. Note that the type of fibre you are using may also play a role in how chunky the square will appear! This article may also help
Could you explain what I should be looking for at the back of the popcorn stitch when slip stitching into the back of the first popcorn stitch to close the rounds? I do not know where to push my needle through
The patten is quite forgiving, so you can slip stitch into the top, towards the back of the popcorn. I usually slst into the ch that cinches the popcorn together. Just make sure you go into the same spot each time to have a nice even finish!
Hi, thank you for this pattern. In Row 4, when making the popcorn stitches, does the 2 space gap include the space already mentioned in the popcorn instructions, or is it in addition to it, I.e. making a 3 space gap in total?
Apologies if this is a silly question!
Hi, the ch 2 gap is technically 3 chains, but one of those chains belongs to the popcorn (as part of closing off the stitch). Hope that helps!
Thanks so much for this lovely sheepie square Caitie! I retired in August 2021 and am now making a baby blanket for my nephew and his wife’s wee one who is due in July this year. I could only do a very basic crochet stitch but have learned to do a few more and am delighted with the results. Here’s the first square …. quite a few more to go yet 😂
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0bePKbz6rwKJCqHGRXrGJ0nEA#Linlithgow
This is just adorable! Well done 🙂
Hello
I am from USA and want to knit the animal granny squares, on your pattern the yarn you use is Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK is there any other brand from USA substitute that you have the color chart for it to use?
Hope to have a soon answer
Regards
Hello! You can use any light worsted cotton yarn in the colors of your choice! Lionbrand have some good options (with decent color palettes), WeCrochet also have some beautiful cotton yarns (such as CotLin). Scheepjes also have a broad range of cotton (Catona) but I’m not sure how easy they are to get in the USA. Happy stitching!
I would like to make a baby blanket for my first grandchild . I am wondering how much wool I would need as I have never attempted this before . Thanks
How lovely to make a blanket! I would suggest first making a brief sketch of the layout of the squares you would like to make. For example, are you going to do sheep squares directly next to each other, or with plain squares in between? What sized blanket would you like to make? Each sheep square is approximately 13 cm x 13 cm and a standard crib blanket is approximately 100 cm x 150 cm. Once you know how many squares you need, you can calculate how many skeins of yarn you will need to complete all those squares. You can definitely get more than one sheep square out of a skein. Hope that helps!
I love this! If I wanted to use this pattern as a pillow top, how should I increase the size?
So glad you like the pattern! The easiest way to increase the overall size of the square would be to use a thicker yarn and a larger hook. You can even hold two strands of yarn together to make it extra bulky. It does depend on how much bigger you would like to make the sheep part of the motif. Unfortunately if you want one really big sheep then that involves a fair bit of redesign.
I am slowly working through your patterns in the 3D granny square book as I am making a blanket for my grandchild due in October but I am not at all sure that I have done the sheep square correctly. All my popcorn rows stand up in the air as they seem to be too tight to lie flat so the finished square is very raised and if you turn it over, there is a big space under the head. Is this correct or not?
What a lovely gift for your grandchild! The sheep square does not lie completely flat (there is a bit of a gap at the back) as that is what gives the sheep its ‘”puff”. If you block the square that may help to settle it a bit.
BEAUTIFUL
This is so cute.How big are these squares & how many would I need to make a baby blanket?
Using the hook size and yarn suggested, this motif is approximately 11 cm square. You can add as many squares as you need to get to the size of blanket you want! A standard baby blanket is approximately 30 – 40 inches square (76cm – 100cm) but you may find the blanket will get used for longer if it is a bit bigger.
This is adorable! I’m new to your blog and I can’t wait to make some of your animal squares. Thank you for the patterns.
So glad you like it! And welcome to my creative space. I’ve got some more patterns up my sleeve, so watch this space 😁