Celebrate Lunar New Year by making this adorable sheep and its red lantern basket. The finished set makes a great hanging ornament that adds a festive touch to your home, and it’s a sweet gift for family and friends who were born in the Year of the Sheep.

Though an intermediate-level project, this crochet pattern comes with easy-to-follow instructions along with many clear guiding images and uses basic crochet stitches and techniques. Adventurous crochet beginners are encouraged to give this pattern a try as well.

In the “References” section, you can find tips and introductions for the crochet techniques used in the pattern.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Crochet Stitches used in the pattern:

• Magic Circle
• Slip Stitch
• Chain Stitch
• Single Crochet Stitch
• Half Double Crochet Stitch
• Double Crochet Stitch
• Increase
• Decrease
• Crochet into the back loop only
• Crochet into the front loop only

The PDF is written in English, and it includes:

• A list of recommended materials and tools
• A written pattern (in US terms)
• Guiding images
• References:
  • How to make an invisible single crochet decrease
  • How to change colors in single crochet
  • How to close the top
  • How to sew crocheted pieces to the main body

Materials you will need:

• Crochet hook size: 3.5 mm
• Yarn: Size 4 medium weight (approx. 30 yds of red, 20 yds of white, 20 yds of beige, 20 yds of yellow, and a few inches of black yarn)
• Yarn needle
• Stitch markers
• Pins
• 6 mm safety eyes
• Stuffing
• Scissors

The size depends on the yarn weight and the crochet hook size. Try to use a smaller size hook than recommended on the yarn label. As a reference, using the recommended materials and tools, the sheep will be approximately 4.00” tall and 1.75” wide (not including the basket). The lantern basket is approximately 2.75” in diameter.