Shropshire Sheep Baby Blanket by Sylvia Leake

Shropshire Sheep Baby Blanket

Knitting
May 2020
Super Bulky (5-6 wpi) ?
9 stitches and 12 rows = 4 inches
in Stocking Stitch
US 15 - 10.0 mm
445 - 465 yards (407 - 425 m)
One size - see notes
English
This pattern is available for £3.50 GBP buy it now

You can buy this pattern with my matching Shropshire Sheep Cushion Cover as an ebook and save 20%.

This cute sheep themed baby blanket has garter stitch borders, with a sheep motif in the bottom right corner knit in stocking stitch using the intarsia method. A dot stitch pattern surrounds the motif and covers the body of the blanket.
The blanket pictured is worked using a super chunky/extra bulky weight, acrylic and wool mix yarn.
The pattern includes line by line written instructions as well as a chart for the sheep motif.
Size
Width: 72cm/28½in. Length: 110cm/43½in

About the name Shropshire Sheep
I was wondering what to call this blanket when I decided to look up sheep breeds, which is how I discovered Shropshire Sheep. Having been brought up on a farm in Shropshire, England, and my motif looking a little like the sheep, I thought it appropriate to name my blanket after them.
I discovered that the Shropshire is the oldest pedigree registered sheep breed in the UK and their strengths make them absolutely ideal for the modern kind of sustainable farming. They are a tri-purpose breed. They thrive on pasture and produce meat of excellent quality. They are good sires and excellent mothers. They have wool that is good enough for hand knitting. They are also the “tree-friendly” breed, being able to graze tree plantations and orchards without damaging the trees.