It’s hard to be a knitter and not fall in love with sheep, at least a little. After all, these wonderful creatures start off as adorable lambs and grow up into the creatures that supply us with wool. Featuring a dramatic ram’s head motif and knit in the most sheep-y single-breed wool I could get my hands on, the Ram’s Head Cushion is my ode to all things sheep.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS Approximately 11” high and 12½” wide

NOTE ON SIZE: The finished size can be enlarged by using a heavier weight yarn but will require additional yardage.

YARN 3-Ply Yarn by Barn Swallow Farm (100% Gotland wool) Main color (MC): Black (185 yards) Contrast color (CC): Pearl (172 yards) OR approximately 150 yards each of two contrasting colors in a worsted-weight yarn of your choice

NEEDLES One 24” circular needle in size US 6 [4 mm] or size needed to obtain gauge

GAUGE 23 stitches and 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in colorwork pattern

NOTE ON GAUGE: It is natural to have a tighter gauge in colorwork knitting. Therefore, you may need a bigger needle size than usual to achieve gauge. For more tips on colorwork knitting, visit www.mscleaver.com/tutorials.

MATERIALS & NOTIONS

• Smooth worsted-weight scrap yarn

• Crochet hook in size US G/6 [4 mm] or H/8 [5 mm]

• 14” x 14” pillow form (see note), or loose pillow stuffing Stitch marker(s)

• Tapestry needle

NOTE ON MATERIALS: If knitting a larger pillow, choose a pillow form approximately 1” to 2” larger than the finished cushion cover.