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Sewing up a blasted sheep….

(32 Posts)
Witzend Tue 18-Oct-22 21:56:15

…knitted, that is, and trying to get the effing thing to stand up afterwards!
For my 5th Nativity set - you’d think I might have got it sussed by now.
Yes, I know I’m mad, but apart from the first, they’ve all been for Gdcs’ school Christmas fair raffles.
And I’ve still got another pesky sheep to do battle with. The donkey was a doddle by comparison.
Apart from that, it’s all done. I really think I’ll call it a day after this one.

Callistemon21 Wed 19-Oct-22 13:04:13

Witzend

Dennis Wheatley!

Callistemon, have you actually sewn up some of your languishing bits? If so, ??!
I thought at first that you meant real sheep, as in mint sauce! If one looks like a dog are you sure it’s not a Bedlington Terrier instead - they do look rather like sheep. But very sweet.

I can't decide if it looks a dog or a pig, Witzend, although as I bought it at a stall of knitted goods at the Cotswold Farm Park it could be a rare breed!

Witzend Wed 19-Oct-22 11:34:08

Great idea, thanks Billybob4491. These aren’t actually stuffed, just little rolled-up strips, but I do actually have some pipe cleaners and I’m sure a section inside would help.

Billybob4491 Wed 19-Oct-22 11:28:26

Witzend, if you double over pipe cleaners or use thick matchsticks you can insert in the sheeps legs prior to stuffing them. That is what I do and they do stand upright (most of the time)

Knittynatter Wed 19-Oct-22 11:21:53

I saw a tip on Instagram to use slim foam hair rollers (like pool noodles but much smaller!) inside the legs of knitted animals to give them structure?
I’ve not tried it as I actively avoid anything that needs stuffing ?

NotSpaghetti Wed 19-Oct-22 11:19:48

Witzend you could do a "sister" sheep in (say) white with a cream front leg???

NotSpaghetti Wed 19-Oct-22 11:18:36

I think my children would have loved the idea...

NotSpaghetti Wed 19-Oct-22 11:17:52

Witzend

Sheep number one does look particularly gormless - a sheepdog would def. be a good idea - but at least I’ve got it to stand up.
Number two will have to wait until tomorrow - I haven’t even knitted it yet. According to the pattern there should be a number three, too, but stuff that.

My younger sister is demanding a nice little pile of donkey poo to add authenticity to the scene (I did make one for Gdcs’ set - 3 ‘holly berries’ done in brown and stitched together) but I’m not sure quite everybody at a C of E school fair would appreciate it.

I would put them in a little bag and put a tag on it ? that read something like "manure optional". Or "free poo with every set"...

Witzend Wed 19-Oct-22 11:10:58

You couldn’t make it up! - but in the better daylight of this morning, I’ve realised that I’ve done the gormless animal’s back legs in white instead of pale cream - it’s very noticeable now - and will have to effing well unpick and do them again. ?

Witzend Tue 18-Oct-22 23:38:11

Dennis Wheatley!

Callistemon, have you actually sewn up some of your languishing bits? If so, ??!
I thought at first that you meant real sheep, as in mint sauce! If one looks like a dog are you sure it’s not a Bedlington Terrier instead - they do look rather like sheep. But very sweet.

Namsnanny Tue 18-Oct-22 23:33:40

It was a scary cover. I remember my parents had it. The goats face was red, I think?
That table ect., sounds very Agatha Christie.

MissAdventure Tue 18-Oct-22 23:29:08

The whole table.
Book, candlestick, all of it gave me the heebie jeebies.

Namsnanny Tue 18-Oct-22 23:27:15

The goat or his book?

Namsnanny Tue 18-Oct-22 23:26:15

I guessed it was you Witzend when I read the title.
I dont know how you have the patience. Each year I promise I will make a Nativity, but as soon as Christmas is over, the impetus wains.

MissAdventure Tue 18-Oct-22 23:16:24

That's it.
It was on a small dark table, with a candlestick near it, in a little holiday flat we stayed in when I was small, and I used to run past it.

Namsnanny Tue 18-Oct-22 23:14:15

Wheatley I think

MissAdventure Tue 18-Oct-22 23:07:03

Dennis Wheatman?

MissAdventure Tue 18-Oct-22 23:03:14

Dennis wasn't the goats name.
At least I don't think so, but he didnt introduce himself.

MissAdventure Tue 18-Oct-22 23:01:31

They have funny slitty eyes, and I always think of that book "the devil rides out" when I see them.

Did it have a goats skull on it?

Dennis someone?

Witzend Tue 18-Oct-22 23:00:21

Sheep number one does look particularly gormless - a sheepdog would def. be a good idea - but at least I’ve got it to stand up.
Number two will have to wait until tomorrow - I haven’t even knitted it yet. According to the pattern there should be a number three, too, but stuff that.

My younger sister is demanding a nice little pile of donkey poo to add authenticity to the scene (I did make one for Gdcs’ set - 3 ‘holly berries’ done in brown and stitched together) but I’m not sure quite everybody at a C of E school fair would appreciate it.

OnwardandUpward Tue 18-Oct-22 22:58:08

Oh no! They are strange creatures and a little freaky how they look at you sometimes. I liked them because the ones I knew were very affectionate, although I think a dog is better all round company, less damaging to your garden ( and a lot less smelly!)

MissAdventure Tue 18-Oct-22 22:40:13

I love animals, but not goats.
We went to a sanctuary place where children could go in and feed them, and a goat chased me around and knocked me over.

OnwardandUpward Tue 18-Oct-22 22:37:33

I always wanted goats grin

Callistemon21 Tue 18-Oct-22 22:35:46

I bought two sheep, Witzend, one is lovely and the other looks more like a dog ??
The lovely one is a New Zealand sheep, he's rather large ?, the odd one is from the Cotswolds.

They just need a N set (Jesus and Mary are finished)!

I always wanted to be a farmers wife when I grew up.
Don't do it!!

MissAdventure Tue 18-Oct-22 22:25:18

I always wanted to be a farmers wife when I grew up.

I'm not sure there is still time, now.

OnwardandUpward Tue 18-Oct-22 22:24:20

I watched Jeremy Clarkson's Farm and he was complaining about all the money he spent on vets bills and food for the sheep but he only got £40 for them when they went for meat and sheepskins were ridiculously low priced and barely covered by all the work of shearing. I hadn't realised they were so low profit.

Funny creatures! grin