Lamb Coat Pattern

There have been many requests for my lamb coat pattern, which is featured on the January 18, 2008, blog page. I'm going to repeat it now to make it easier for people to find. The coat can be crocheted or knitted. I think simple garter stitch is the best as it is fluffy on both sides and sticks to the lamb without sliding. Double or single crochets are good too, and lay nice and flat on the baby. Wool is the best, as it doesn't slide around like polar fleece or moleskin does.

Knitting: Bulky yarn, or two strands of worsted, size 15 needles. Remember this coat will be washed and you want to leave a little room for shrinking. I use my shrunken coats for angora goat kids.

Cast on approx. 45-50 stitches. You have to consider the breed of sheep. If you are raising Rambouillet lambs your sweater needs to be longer. You can hold the knitting needle up to the lamb's back and spreading the stitches apart slightly, cast on as many as you need to reach from high up on the lamb's neck to the tail. Knit back and forth until you have three inches on the needles. Knit approx. 15-20 stitches and cast off ten for the leg hole. Continue knitting, turn at the end of the row, and knit back until you reach the spot where you cast off. Cast ON the same number of stitches that you cast off on the last row. Knit to end.
Knit back and forth until you have 6-8 inches of knitting. Knit to the spot where you have a leg hole on the other side. Cast off the same number of stitches. knit to end. Knit until you come to the spot where you cast off, and cast the same number of stitches back on the needles. Knit to end. continue knitting until you have the same length as the other side. Cast off. Sew together the end where you cast off for the leg holes, half way down the sweater. This will cover the lamb's neck, yet leave a hole for pee/poo and let the mother sheep nuzzle her baby underneath the "cape" hanging over the lambs. My moms sometimes flip the cape over so more of the lamb's back is showing. I've never had a mom pull off a sweater. They keep the lamb warm so it can internal the energy needed to survive. The sweaters pull off if the lamb gets caught on a nail or fence post. A sweater won't burn down your barn but a heat lamp might, and the heat lamp won't help a lamb that has moved over into a corner and isn't directly under it. Good luck and write with any questions! Happy Lambs to You!