Little Lambs for Peace Pattern

          

          When I became a certified yoga instructor, I had already been practicing for nearly three years.  What began as a weekly respite from the demands of a busy job soon became a life preserver, and eventually a way of life that continues to evolve as I do.

          Shortly after my certification training was complete, I was given the yogic name, "Chitananda."  Not knowing the comprehensive definition or its application, I was told to continue my yoga practice and knowledge would reveal itself in time. 

          A year later I was in attendance at a workshop with a teacher who spontaneously began to speak about the journey of "chit ananda."  He said that as a yogi moves through their path in life, events occur that challenge their fears so they can awaken to what is authentic, and the true knowledge of the inner self, the higher Self, can be known.  He went on to say that the literal translation of chit ananda means "knowledge of bliss or peace."

          My mind wandered back to a warm spring day in 1980 when I sat crouched behind the organ at Glendale Presbyterian Church with a Bible verse in my hand.  Our youth group leader has assigned each child a passage from the New Testament and we were asked to find a quiet place in the church and study the verse until we knew it by heart.  I was given Philippians 4:6-7:  "Do not worry about anything, but with prayer and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and He will give you the peace that passes all understanding."  Decades later, when I learned the meaning of chit ananda, my past and present fused together, east met west and I was blessed with the awareness that peace has always been within me. 

         

         Peace can be translated in many ways.  To me it does not mean to be free from stress, challenges, living a life filled with obstacles or hard work.  It means to be in the center of all of those things and find my inner calm and awareness, regardless of what the outer world is telling me.  Repetitive movement, intentions and actions create who we are and who we eventually become.  Yoga, gardening, knitting and meditation have all been avenues to finding peace in my life and it's a joy to share these gifts with others. 

          In creating this pattern for Little Lambs for Peace, I decided to write it so that the majority of the lamb is knitted in the round, which can be a very meditative way to work.  Like a pebble dropped into a pond, we can evolve in ever-expanding circles, and it's my hope that you will share this pattern, make it your own, add a bit of your personality to each lamb you knit and then share it with someone who needs a little comfort, a little hope, a symbol of peace.

          May you be blessed in your knitting practice, and may others be blessed by the healing thoughts and prayers your hands and heart create through these tangible gifts of grace.

Om, Shanti, Namaste 

Little Lambs for Peace Pattern

Supplies: 

Any light worsted weight yarn (I use Caron Simply Soft):

                

*220 yds of MC (main color)      

*100 yds of CC (contrasting color)

*a small amount of soft pink for inner ears

*a small amount of black or pink for accents

*a small amount of any color yarn for collar, or ribbon for a bow tie                                               

Size 4 US double pointed needles (dpn)

Size 4 US 16" circular needle, optional               

                  

Tapestry needle, polyester fiberfill stuffing, stitch marker, scissors and plastic safety pins

Abbreviations:  (please use YouTube for assistance with these knitting techniques)

k:  knit

p:  purl

m1:  make 1

k2tog:  knit 2 together

p2tog:  purl 2 together

k2tog tbl:  knit 2 together through back loop

St st:  stockinette stitch (K one row, P one row)

kfb:  increase, knitting front and back of stitch

TLst:  twisted loop stitch (k the stitch, leave it on the left needle; pull the loops from the right needle out 2-2.5 inches with your fingers.  Place your finger in the loop and twist the loop until it fold over on itself.  Place the loop on the left needle and k the 2 stitches together.

NOTE:  To watch your little lamb come to life, it will be sewn together as you create it.  Directions are in bold italics.

Body: 

• Using MC and dpns, cast on 9 stitches, K one row, then divide evenly on three needles (3 stitches per needle)
• Round 1:  kfb in each stitch (6 stitches per needle)
• Round 2:  K
• Round 3:  kfb in each stitch (12 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 4-6: k
• Round 7:  (k2, kfb) repeat to end of the round (16 stitches per needle)
• Round 8:  k
• Round 9:  (k3, kfb) repeat to end of the round (20 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 10 - 12:  k
• Round 13:  (k4, kfb) repeat to end of the round (24 stitches per needle)
• Round 14 - 16:  k
• Round 17:  (k5, kfb) repeat to end of the round (28 stitches per needle)
• Round 18 - 20:  k
• Round 21:  (k6, kfb) repeat to end of the round (32 stitches per needle)
• Place a stitch marker on Round 21; continue on dpns or switch to circular needle and k all round until body measures 3 inches from the stitch marker

Decrease rounds:

• Round 1:  (k6, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (28 stitches per needle)
• Round 2:  (k5, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (24 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 3 - 11: k; change back to dpns on round 11
• Round 12:  (k4, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (20 stitches per needle)
• Round 13:  (k3, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (16 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 14 - 25:  k
• Round 26:  (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (12 stitches per needle)
• Thread the tail from the cast on edge and sew hole at the bottom.  Weave in end, then stuff with fiberfill.
• Round 27:  k
• Round 28:  (k1, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (8 stitches per needle)
• Round 29:  k
• Round 30:  (k2tog) repeat to end of the round (4 stitches per needle)
• Finish stuffing firmly, gently stretch the neckline to shape.
• Round 31:  (k1, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of the round (3 stitches per needle)
• Cut the yarn, leaving a ten inch tail to sew the head on later.  Pull through the remaining 9 stitches and gather to close hole.  Stitch to secure.

Head:

• Using MC and dpns, cast on 9 stitches, K one row, then divide evenly on three needles (3 stitches per needle)
• Round 1:  kfb in each stitch (6 stitches per needle)
• Round 2 - 3:  K
• Round 4:  kfb in each stitch (12 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 5-7: k
• Round 8  (k2, kfb) repeat to end of the round (16 stitches per needle)
• Round 9:  k
• Round 10:  (k3, kfb) repeat to end of the round (20 stitches per needle)
• Thread the tail from the cast on edge and sew hole at the bottom.  Stitch to secure
• Rounds 11 - 24: k

Decrease rounds:

• Round 1:  (k3, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (16 stitches per needle)
• Round 2:  k
• Round 3:  (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (12 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 4 - 5: Change to CC, then k
• Round 6:  (k1, k2tog tbl, k6, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of the round (10 stitches per needle)
• Rounds 7 - 12:  k
• Round 13:  (k3, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (8 stitches per needle)
• Stuff firmly, gently stretching to shape muzzle..
• Rounds 14:  k
• Round 15:  (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (6 stitches per needle)
• Round 16:  (k1, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (4 stitches per needle)
• Finish stuffing firmly.
• Round 17:  (k1, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of the round (3 stitches per needle)
• Cut the yarn, leaving a tail to pull through the remaining 9 stitches and gather to close hole.  Stitch to secure.  Weave ends inside head.
• Using a color of your choice, take a couple of stitches for each eye and nose accent, using photo as a guide.  I gently shape the head to make the muzzle more pronounced.
• Whipstitch the head to the body using tail from the top of the neck.  I usually go around at least twice to make sure the head is secure.

Legs:  (make 4 pieces)

• Using MC and dpns, cast on 24 stitches, leaving a ten inch tail.
• K one row, then divide evenly on three needles (8 stitches per needle)
• Knit every round until piece measures 5" from the cast on edge
• Change to CC to begin the hoof:
• Round 1:  (k1, m1, k6, m1, k1) on each needle (10 stitches per needle)
• Round 2 - 7:  k
• Round 8:  p
• Rounds 9: k
• Round 10:  (k3, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (8 stitches per needle)
• Round 11:  (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (6 stitches per needle)
• Round 12:  k
• Round 13:  (k1, k2tog) repeat to end of the round (4 stitches per needle)
• Round 14:  (k1, k2tog, k1) repeat to end of the round (3 stitches per needle)
• Cut the yarn, leaving a tail to pull through the remaining 9 stitches and gather to close hole.  Stitch to secure.  Weave ends inside hoof.
• Stuff firmly with fiberfill, then whipstitch the top of the leg closed.  Using the photo as a guide, whipstitch the legs to the body.

Outer Ears:  (make 2 pieces)

• Beginning at lower edge with MC or CC, leaving a ten inch tail, cast on 10 stitches
• Beginning with a k row, St st for 4 rows
• Increase row 1:  k1, m1, k to the last stitch, m1, k1 (12 stitches)
• Increase row 2:  p
• Next row:  repeat increase row (14 stitches)
• Beginning with a p row, continue in St st for 13 rows
• Decrease row 1:  k1, k2tbl, k to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1 (12 stitches)
• Row 2:  p
• Row 3:  repeat row 1 (10 stitches)
• Row 4:  p1, p2tog, p to the last 3 stitches, p2tog, p1 (8 stitches)
• Row 5:  k1, k2tbl, k2, k2tog, k1 (six stitches)
• Row 6:  p1, p2tog twice, p1 (4 stitches)
• Row 7:  k2tbl, k2tog (2 stitches)
• Row 8:  p2tog (1 stitch)
• Cut the yarn and pull through remaining stitch, then weave into the wrong side of the work at the tip of the ear.

Inner Ears:  (make 2 pieces)

• Beginning at lower edge with pink yarn, leaving a ten inch tail, cast on 8 stitches
• Beginning with a k row, St st for 2 rows
• Increase row 1:  k1, m1, k to the last stitch, m1, k1 (10 stitches)
• Increase row 2:  p
• Next row:  repeat increase row (12 stitches)
• Beginning with a p row, continue in St st for 13 rows
• Decrease row 1:  k1, k2tbl, k to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1 (10 stitches)
• Row 2:  p
• Row 3:  repeat row 1 (8 stitches)
• Row 4:  p1, p2tog, p to the last 3 stitches, p2tog, p1 (6 stitches)
• Row 5:  k1, k2tbl, k2tog, k1 (4 stitches)
• Row 6:  p2tog twice (2 stitches)
• Row 7:  k2tog (1 stitch)
• Cut the yarn and pull through remaining stitch, then weave into the wrong side of the work at the tip of the ear.

Place inner ear into outer ear, purl sides facing and tips touching.  Pin in place, then using the tail from the inner ear, sew the lower edge in place (there will be two rows of the outer ear still showing), then sew along outside edge of inner ear, tucking the stitches inside the curled edge of the outer ear.  Weave in pink yarn.

Fold the ear in half at the lower end, sew into place and take a few stitches up the inside of the ear until you reach the inner ear.  Whipstitch onto the head, slightly down-turned (see picture for guidance).  Weave in end of yarn inside the head.

Curly Top:

• Using 2 dpns like straight needles, using MC or CC, cast on 10 stitches
• Row 1:  TLst in every stitch
• Row 2: K
• Repeat rows 1 and 2 four or five times, depending on your preference, ending with row 1
• Bind off in K
• Attach the curly top on the head between the ears, attaching the back seam, then taking a few stitches underneath to tack it down securely.

Curly Tail:

• Using 2 dpns like straight needles, using MC or CC, cast on 6 stitches
• Row 1:  TLst in every stitch
• Row 2: K
• Repeat rows 1 and 2 three times, ending with row 1
• Bind off in K
• Fold tail in half then sew it to the back of the lamb between the hind legs, taking a few stitches underneath to tack it down securely.

Optional Collar:

• Using 2 dpns like straight needles, use any color yarn and cast on 5 stitches
• Make an I-Cord approx. 9" long
• Cast off in K, thread the yarn through the remaining stitch and pull tightly.  Weave in end.
• Fold cast on end of collar approx. 1 - 1.5 inches and tack into place on the collar to make a loop.
• Place the collar around the lamb and loop into place.
• You can also use a small piece of ribbon and make a little bow tie.

Suggested CD's for listening while you knit:

• Putumayo Presents:  Yoga

• Putumayo Presents:  World Yoga

• Putumayo Presents:  Instrumental Dreamland

• On A Starry Night

• Sarah McLachlan:  Rarities, B-sides and Other Stuff

• Anything by 2002, Secret Garden or Will Ackerman

When completed, send your Little Lamb for Peace to:

Hugs for Sandy Hook

20 Roosevelt Street

Norwalk, CT  06851

or to anyone in need of a symbol of peace, comfort and compassion.

Suggested blessing to send with your Little Lamb for Peace:

May this Little Lamb be a comfort to you and your loved ones.

May you be blessed by the presence of those who love and support you and by the memories of what you hold most dear.

May you be strengthened in your tentative new beginnings and in your unfolding new memories.

Blessings of comfort be with you and all you love now and always.