Sheep: a needlework chart for any craft

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The random number generator picked Sheep from the suggestions for this post, suggested by Cathy D, one of my Patreon supporters.

I developed a lace stitch pattern for Sheep, but I also like to provide a basic chart for any craft that’s worked on a grid: beads, cross stitch, whatever. I try to provide at least some digital art of the pattern repeated all over not as a chart. It doesn’t necessarily look like a finished object for any particular craft, but I want to give a sense of it in use. (I try to make it look like knitting when it’s got floats short enough for easy stranded knitting.)

depiction of Sheep needlework chart as a stranded knitting border
chart showing how to work Sheep Needlework by means of dark and light squares. Written instructions included in blog post.
click chart to enlarge
  • Sheep has a repeat of 4 + 1 columns and 17 rows. (If converting to an allover design, the row repeat is 16 + 1.)
  • In the written instructions, color A is the light squares above, and color B is the dark.
  • The written instructions below are formatted for stranded knitting, but it is my hope that they could be translated into instructions for other crafts. For instance, if working filet crochet, 1A could be one open square and 2B could be two filled-in squares.
  • Designers, please feel free to use this in your patterns (no need to ask). I’d like credit but won’t be offended if people don’t give it.
  • My blog posts and free stitch patterns are supported by subscriptions on Patreon or donations to my Paypal tip jar in the sidebar. If you appreciate my work, please consider helping out. Thanks!

Round 1: work knit as follows; 1A, *(1B, 1A) × 2; work from *.

Round 2: using A, knit.

Round 3: work knit as follows; 1A, *1A, 1B, 2A; work from *.

Round 4: work knit as follows; 1A, *(1B, 1A) × 2; work from *.

Round 5: work knit as follows; 1A, *1A, 1B, 2A; work from *.

Round 6: work knit as follows; 1A, *3B, 1A; work from *.

Round 7: work knit as follows; 1B, *3A, 1B; work from *.

Round 8: work knit as follows; 1B, *3A, 1B; work from *.

Round 9: work knit as follows; 1A, *1A, 1B, 2A; work from *.

Round 10: work knit as follows; 1B, *3A, 1B; work from *.

Round 11: work knit as follows; 1B, *3A, 1B; work from *.

Round 12: work knit as follows; 1A, *3B, 1A; work from *.

Round 13: work knit as follows; 1A, *1A, 1B, 2A; work from *.

Round 14: work knit as follows; 1A, *(1B, 1A) × 2; work from *.

Round 15: work knit as follows; 1A, *1A, 1B, 2A; work from *.

Round 16: using A, knit.

Round 17: work knit as follows; 1A, *(1B, 1A) × 2; work from *.