Knitting Patterns for the Year of the Sheep

Whether this year is the year of the sheep, goat or ram is a matter of debate in the Western world, but we knitters know it’s the year of the sheep in our hearts.

Looking for more fun sheep patterns to knit? Check these out on Etsy.

This is the year to knit with all the wool you can, and if you’d like to show a little more love to our wooly friends, knit some projects that involve sheep. Here are some great ideas to get you started.

What better place to start you sheepy knitting adventures than with a knit Shaun the Sheep? This adorable pattern by Magni Flyum is a free Ravelry download and is available in English and Norwegian.

Another cute sheep comes from Juanita McClellan, whose Sheepy the Sheep is built on a frame of pipe cleaners and batting.

Dona Carruth’s knit sheep ball ornaments are super cute and a great way to recycle a glass or plastic ball ornament that isn’t looking so great anymore (or buy one for this purpose). And the Eleanor Dishcloth by Elaine Fitzpatrick (scroll down in the post, past the cow) is super cute and a great way to keep the year of the sheep on your mind all year long.

I am in love with Denise de Lelys’ Sheep Cozies, adorable little sheep sleeves to keep your coffee warm. Hers are worked in gray and white, but I’ll bet you could knit a black sheep, too, if you identify with that color more.

This sweet Sheep Backpack from Tatyana Federova is super cute for sheep loving kids, and it looks like Shaun the Sheep, too. (The notes on Ravelry says this is the designer’s first attempt at writing a pattern in English, so be patient, OK?)

Mariann An’s Sheep and Duck sock pattern (shown with sheep only) is not really a pattern, but it does include a chart for the sheep that you can add to any sock pattern you like. So cute! Pair them with Jennifer Little’s Sheep Yoke Baby Cardigan and I’m pretty sure no one will be able to stand the cuteness.

Go your own way with a design by adding the Sheep Outline pattern by Rachael Tomasino to an existing project. The finished sheep is 24 stitches by 30 rows tall, and I think he’d be great on the side of a knit bag!

The Hundred of Sheep sweater by Sangmi Lee is amazing and I would love to wear it but I’m not sure I would ever take the time to knit it. But I love that there are knitters who do such awesome things, don’t you? And in the same vein I also love the Stranded Sheep Scarf by Chelsea Amanda. Another one that’s a lot of work but so, so lovely.

Are you planning to knit anything special to celebrate the year of the sheep? I’d love to hear about it!

Some sweater patterns quietly join the knitting queue. Others make you mentally rearrange your entire winter wardrobe before you’ve even checked the yarn requirements.

The Sandok Cable Sweater by Tuva Sandok falls firmly into the second category. With bold cables, a generous silhouette and a high neckline finished with decorative buttons, this is a statement knit with plenty of cosy appeal.

What draws me to this design is the balance between traditional texture and a relaxed shape. It has that lovely, substantial cable-sweater look, but I’d style it simply: jeans, boots and perhaps a promise to stop buying yarn until the sleeves are finished.

This review looks at the published pattern information and the practical considerations I’d weigh before casting on.

What Makes the Sandok Cable Sweater Stand Out?

The combination of chunky texture and button detailing gives this sweater its personality. I particularly like designs where the knitting provides enough interest that you don’t need much else going on.

For my taste, a solid or gently heathered colour would let those cables do their best work. Cream would feel classic, while moss green or chocolate brown would be tempting alternatives.

If you enjoy comparing different silhouettes before committing to a project, our collection of free cable knit sweater patterns offers more wardrobe inspiration.

How Is the Sandok Cable Sweater Knitted?

The sweater is worked from the top down, beginning with flat sections before the body is joined in the round. Sleeve stitches are picked up and worked in the round.

That construction would appeal to knitters who enjoy working through a garment in stages. However, top-down does not automatically mean beginner-friendly. Following shaping while keeping a cable pattern organised requires attention.

I would approach this as a project for someone already comfortable with garment knitting, picking up stitches and following cable instructions. That is my assessment of the construction, rather than an official difficulty rating.

If cables are still unfamiliar territory, start with one of these cable knitting projects to build your skills. A smaller project is a useful place to discover whether you enjoy crossing stitches while the television is on.

Sandok Cable Sweater Sizing: Understand the Oversized Fit

The revised pattern offers seven sizes, with finished chest circumferences from 120 to 180 cm. The designer recommends approximately 40–60 cm of positive ease.

That is a deliberately generous fit. Positive ease is the difference between your body measurement and the finished garment measurement.

For example, a 140 cm sweater on a 95 cm bust gives 45 cm of positive ease. Measuring a favourite oversized jumper can help you picture that amount of fabric more clearly than a size label.

The listing also describes optional extra front bust width and three sleeve variations.

Those choices are appealing, but I’d still study the measurements before buying yarn. Adding room at the bust and increasing the whole sweater size are different decisions.

What Yarn Does the Sandok Cable Sweater Use?

The recommended combination is Sandnes Garn Peer Gynt held together with Ballerina Chunky Mohair, with 7 mm needles suggested for the main fabric.

If you’re considering Sandok Cable Sweater yarn substitutes, look beyond the weight printed on a ball band. The finished fabric needs the right combination of thickness, drape and stitch definition.

My approach would be to:

Swatch the proposed yarn combination before purchasing the full quantity.
Include cable stitches in the swatch.
Wash and dry it as you intend to care for the sweater.
Check whether the fabric feels comfortable against your neck.
Consider its weight as well as its softness.

A substitute can match stitch gauge and still produce a fabric you don’t enjoy wearing. A little swatching is cheaper than discovering that halfway through the body.

Check the Pattern Version Before Starting

The designer’s website states that a revised version with seven sizes and new charts was published on October 6.

Use the latest download, and follow its gauge instructions carefully. The detailed listing distinguishes between stockinette and cable gauge, which matters when planning the fit.

Also check yarn requirements for your chosen sleeve option and any added length. Personalising a sweater is lovely; running short with half a cuff remaining is considerably less charming.

Is the Sandok Cable Sweater Pattern Worth Considering?

For a knitter who enjoys substantial cables and a roomy silhouette, this is an appealing design. My main considerations would be the oversized fit, the yarn investment and whether I’d enjoy wearing the suggested fabric at the neckline.

It is a paid pattern, available in English and Norwegian. You can find the Sandok Cable Sweater knitting pattern on Ravelry, including the current purchase information and project gallery.

I’d spend a little time looking at finished projects before choosing a size or colour. Seeing a sweater on different bodies can be far more useful than imagining it from a single photograph.

This is the sort of knit I’d choose for the pleasure of making something substantial: an interesting texture to settle into, a shape worth planning carefully, and a finished sweater intended to earn its space in the wardrobe.

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