2015 Year of the Sheep Craft

The Chinese New Year was celebrated last week and 2015 is the year of the sheep, goat and ram. The celebration started on the 19th and lasts for 15 days, ending with a Lantern Festival.  There are so many interesting facts about the year of the sheep.  People born under this Chinese zodiac sign are polite, shy, frank and honest, are highly creative focusing their energy on artistic hobbies.  Their lucky colors include purple, red and brown.  You might think that I am one of the sheep people, but I'm not.  I am a rooster. 

I love watching them. There's a farm a couple of miles from where we live and every time I drive pass it, I make a point of seeing if the sheep are out grazing.  They seem so cute, fluffy and cuddly! Watching them inspired me to make these adorable stuffed sheep.

Isn't she precious!

 

And putting this together was so easy to do!

 

Here's how:

 

Start by right-click copying the pattern for the sheep and paste to Word.  From there, you can adjust the size you want and trace the pieces onto faux fur and felt or fleece fabric.

 

 

1.  Cut out the six pieces - one top, two ears, two face, and one body. 
2. With right sides together hand or machine stitch around edge of face. 
3. Once stitched, separate the center fabric and make a slit opening in back and turn inside out.
4.  Stuff face with poly-fil.
5.  Hand-stitch opening close.

6.   Insert needle and embroidery thread from the back to make eyes, positioning thread into a slanted line as pictured.

7.    Move the thread into a v shape and push needle through to the back in the same area.

8.    Continue pushing the needle in the same area, under the fabric for the other eye and make the v shape as before.
 
9.    Move the needle from the back down to the cheek dimples and pull through to the front and back again.

10.  Fold the ears together and sew ends onto top of head.










11.  Gather the body by weaving the needle and thread over and under.

12.  Pull the threads and fabric together leaving an opening to insert the stuffing.

13.  Add stuffing half way to body leaving space.  

14.  Add decorative filler for weight (optional). add more stuffing for a round full look.

15.  Add more stuffing for a round full look and stitch opening close.


To complete the sheep:
        - Make running stitches in top to close and hot glue between ears.
        - Hot glue head to stitched area of body.
        - Use rouge or pink chalk dust to high-light dimples and inner ears.
        - Add bow embellishments.

I dipped the beige faux fabric in diluted black acrylic paint to make the black sheep on the left.  The fabric became very rough with the watered down paint rubbings and dust smearing on my fingers and everywhere else for that matter.  I don't recommend doing this.  

 

The Year of the Sheep runs from February 19, 2015 to February 7, 2016.

Wouldn't this be a fun project to make with kids?  Imagine the possibilities!  Don’t ever be afraid to get creative or to try something new. From making simple birthday cards on Shutterfly, to sculpting clay from Michael’s, start small and work your way up if this is a new realm for you or your kids! You never know what idea will turn into a lasting keepsake for the house, or a nice gift for a loved one. These DIY sheep are easy enough that any of you can give it a try!

Take a little time to enjoy

and

Happy Crafting!