When we re-watched the film, we were reminded that a lovely local wool shop plays a central part - and without the wonderful Wendolene Ramsbottom's love of knitting, we would never have had Shaun!

To celebrate this landmark anniversary, we've teamed up with Wallace & Gromit to help support our local yarn shops, (just like Wendolene's) and we're also offering Knit Now readers a free and exclusive knitting pattern to make your very own Shaun from the film - see below!

This pattern uses yarns which are widely available from small independent yarn shops all over the country. Even if you can't get out to visit one in person - get in touch with them! Lots of shops now offer their services online and over the phone.

Find a local yarn shop using the UK Hand Knitting Association's handy guide.

Be sure to follow Wallace & Gromit on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to keep up to date with other fabulous activities to celebrate the anniversary!

Designed by Sachiyo Ishii

"I love Shaun the sheep. We enjoyed watching the videos when my boys were little, and I am delighted to have an opportunity to make him! Enjoy the pattern."

Tools and materialsYarn used:

DK yarn in cream (A), orange (B), purple (C) and black (D) such as:

Sirdar Snuggly DK:

1 ball each in Cream 303 (A), Pumpkin 508 (B) & Violet 488 (C)

Sirdar Hayfield Bonus DK:

1 ball in Black 965 (D)  

Fluffy DK yarn in white/cream (E), such as:

Sirdar Snuggly Bunny:

1 ball in Lamb 3610 (E)  

About the yarn:

Sirdar Snuggly DK:

DK; 165m per 50g ball, 55% nylon, 45% acrylic

Sirdar Hayfield Bonus DK:

DK; 140m per 50g ball, 100% acrylic

Snuggly Snuggly Bunny:

Aran: 90m per 50g ball, 100% nylon  

Tension:

26 sts x 32 rows = 10cm measured over St st  

Needles used:

3.5mm straight  

Other supplies:

Oddment of white DK yarn, pair of 8mm safety eyes all-purpose sewing needle and white thread toy stuffing tapestry needle  

Sizing 15cm tall

Start knitting

Body

With A, cast on 12 sts.

Row 1 (WS): Purl.

Row 2: [K1, kfb] 6 times. 18 sts

Row 3 & all WS rows: Purl.

Row 4: [K2, kfb] 6 times. 24 sts

Row 6 (edge): Purl.

Row 8: [K3, kfb] 6 times. 30 sts

Rows 7-23: Work 17 rows in St st.

Row 24: [K1, k2tog] 3 times, k12, [k2tog, k1] 3 times. 24 sts

Rows 25-37: Work 13 rows in St st.

Row 38: [K1, k2tog] 3 times, k6, [k2tog, k1] 3 times. 18 sts

Row 39: Purl.

Row 40: [K1, k2tog] 6 times. 12 sts

Rows 41-43: Work 3 rows in St st.

Cast off.  

Head

With D, work as for Body to Row 6. 30 sts

Rows 7-13: Starting with a p row, work 7 rows in St st.

Row 14: [K3, k2tog] 6 times. 24 sts

Rows 15-19: Work 5 rows in St st.

Row 20: [K2, k2tog] 6 times. 18 sts

Row 21: Purl. Break D. Join E.

Row 22: Knit.

Row 23 (edge): Knit.

Rows 24-29: Starting with a k row, work 6 rows in St st.

Row 30: [K2tog] 9 times. 9 sts

Break yarn and thread through rem sts.

Pull tight to fasten.  

Ears Make 2

With D, cast on 10 sts.

Rows 1-7: Starting with a p row, work 7 rows in St st.

Row 8: K2, [k2tog, k2] twice. 8 sts

Row 9: Purl.

Row 10: K2tog, [k1, k2tog] twice. 5 sts

Break yarn and thread through rem sts.

Pull tight to fasten.

Eyes Make 2

With white DK yarn, cast on 12 sts.

Break yarn and thread through rem sts.

Pull tight to fasten.

Use white sewing thread to stitch both ends together to make it into a circle.  

Legs Make 4

With D, cast on 6 sts.

Row 1 (WS): [Pfb] 6 times. 12 sts

Row 2: Knit.

Row 3 (edge): Knit.

Rows 4-7: Starting with a k row, work 4 rows in St st.

Row 8: K3, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k3. 10 sts

Rows 9-21: Work 14 rows in St st.

Cast off.  

Tail

With E, cast on 9 sts.  

Row 1 (WS): Purl.

Row 2: [Kfb] 9 times. 18 sts

Rows 3-11: Starting with a p row, work 9 rows in St st.

Row 12: [K1, k2tog] 6 times. 12 sts

Rows 13-17: Work 5 rows in St st.

Cast off.

Jumper body

With A, cast on 54 sts.

Rows 1-10: Starting with a k row, work 10 rows in St st.

Row 11: [K1, k2tog] 3 times, k36, [k2tog, k1] 3 times. 48 sts

Row 12 & all WS rows: Purl.

Rows 13-19: Join B & C and work in colourwork patt from chart, working only the repeated section 12 times across row.

Row 21: [K1, k2tog] 3 times, k30, [k2tog, k1] 3 times. 42 sts

Row 23: [K1, k2tog] 3 times, k24, [k2tog, k1] 3 times. 36 sts

Row 25: [K1, k2tog] 3 times, k18, [k2tog, k1] 3 times. 30 sts

Rows 26-30: Work 5 rows in St st.

Row 31: [K1, k2tog] 3 times, k12, [k2tog, k1] 3 times. 24 sts

Row 33: [K2, k2tog] 6 times. 18 sts

Rows 34-40: Work 7 rows in St st.

Cast off.    

Jumper sleeves

Work both the same

With A, cast on 20 sts.

Rows 1-11: [K1, p1] 10 times.

Rows 12-14: Starting with a p row, work 3 rows in St st.

Row 15: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. 18 sts

Row 16: Purl. Rows 17-23: Join B & C and work in colourwork pattern from chart, working repeated section 4 times across row.

Rows 24-26: Starting with a p row, work 3 rows in St st.

Row 27: K3, [k2tog, k3] 3 times. 15 sts

Row 28: Purl.

Row 29: [K2, k2tog] 3 times, k3. 12 sts

Rows 30-32: Work 3 rows in St st.

Cast off.

To make up

With cast-on yarn end of body, work a gathering thread along cast-on edge and draw tightly. Sew tummy seam as far as neck and stuff. With cast-on yarn end of leg, work a gathering thread along cast-on edge and draw tightly. Sew seam as far as cast-off edge and stuff. Repeat for all legs. Attach hind legs, bending top 1cm inwards. Seam and stuff tail. Attach tail to body. Wrap body with jumper and sew seam at the front, matching patt. Secure jumper to body with a few sts. Seam sleeve, roll up cuff and secure hem in place with a few sts around. Insert front leg and secure sleeve to leg. Repeat for the other leg. Sew sleeves to body using photograph as a guide to placement.

With cast-on yarn end of head, work a gathering thread along cast-on edge and draw tightly. Sew seam halfway. With fastened-off yarn end, seam head fleece. Attach safety eyes through knitted eyes to head. Stuff head and close seam. Seam ears and attach them to head. Sew head to neck, roll down jumper neck.  

Hints and tips

Leave long ends at the beginning and end for sewing.  As an alternative to safety eyes, you could embroider eyes with black yarn.