Crochet Lamb Granny Square

This delightful crochet motif features a textured, dimensional sheep centerpiece sitting snugly inside a classic square border.

Perfect for nursery blankets, baby cushions, or interactive quiet books, this project brings a tactile, playful element to your crochet work.

The popcorn stitches create a bumpy, wool-like texture that mimics a sheep’s coat, while simple facial features and stitched appendages bring this little character to life.

Materials & Tools

• Yarn: DK-weight cotton yarn in four colors: Light Green (background), Cream/Vanilla (wool), Light Gray (face/limbs), and a small amount of Black embroidery floss (facial features).
• Hook: C-2 or 2.75 mm crochet hook.
• Notions: Tapestry needle for assembly and weaving ends, plus an optional stitch marker.
• Finished Size: Approximately 13 cm x 13 cm when using the specified yarn and hook.

Special Texture Stitches

Before starting, familiarize yourself with these puffing stitches that create the “wool”:

5-DC Popcorn: Work 5 double crochets into a single designated stitch. Drop the loop from your hook, insert the hook from front to back through the top of the first double crochet made, grab the dropped loop, and pull it straight through. Chain 1 to lock it.

3-DC Popcorn: Work 3 double crochets into the designated stitch. Drop the loop, insert your hook from front to back through the first double crochet, pick up the dropped loop, and pull it through. Chain 1 to lock it.

Step-by-Step Pattern Instructions

Note: This pattern uses US crochet terminology.

1. The Face (Light Gray)

• Round 1: Form a magic ring. Work 6 single crochets into the ring. Join with a slip stitch to the first single crochet to finish the round. (6 stitches)
• Round 2: Chain 3 (counts as your first double crochet). Put 3 double crochets into each of the next 5 stitches. Work 2 double crochets into the final stitch. Slip stitch into the top of your starting chain-3. (18 stitches)
• Round 3: Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet), then double crochet into the next stitch. *Double crochet in the following stitch, then place 2 double crochets in the next stitch. Repeat from * 7 more times. Snip yarn and use an invisible join to finish. Weave in your ends. (26 stitches)

2. The Fluffy Body (Cream)

• Round 4: Attach the cream yarn to any stitch using a standing double crochet (or attach with a slip stitch and chain 3). Complete a 5-dc popcorn in that same space. *Chain 2, skip the next stitch, and make a 5-dc popcorn in the following stitch. Repeat from * all the way around. Chain 2, then slip stitch into the back of your opening popcorn. (13 popcorns, 13 chain-spaces)
• Round 5: Slip stitch into the first chain-2 space. Chain 3 (acts as the first leg of your popcorn) and finish a 5-dc popcorn in that space. *Chain 2, then work a 5-dc popcorn into the next chain-space. Repeat from * around. Chain 2 and slip stitch into the back of the starting popcorn. (13 popcorns, 13 chain-spaces)
• Round 6: This round builds texture by working into both the chain spaces and the tops of the previous round’s popcorns. Chain 3 (counts as part of a 3-dc popcorn). *Work a 3-dc popcorn into the back of the previous round’s popcorn, chain 2, then work a 3-dc popcorn directly into the chain space, chain 2. Repeat from * 8 more times. Skip the next popcorn stitch entirely and work a 3-dc popcorn into the following chain space. Repeat from * 2 more times (ignoring the skipped segments). Finally, work a 3-dc popcorn into the back of the last popcorn, chain 2, skip the final chain space, and slip stitch to the back of your first popcorn. Fasten off. (24 popcorns, 24 chain-spaces)

3. Squaring Off (Light Green)

• Round 7: Join your green yarn to any chain-2 space with a standing treble crochet, then chain 3 and place another treble crochet in that same space to form a corner. *Double crochet into the next popcorn, half-double crochet into the next chain space, and single crochet across the next 7 stitches (alternating popcorn tops and chain spaces). Half-double crochet in the next chain space, double crochet into the next popcorn, and create a corner in the next chain space by working (treble crochet, chain 3, treble crochet). Repeat from * 3 times, skipping the corner instructions on your final repeat. Slip stitch to the first stitch to close. (52 stitches, 12 corner chains)
• Round 8: Slip stitch into the corner chain-3 space. Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet), then work (1 double crochet, chain 2, 2 double crochets) into that same corner space. *Double crochet into the next 13 stitches across the side. In the corner space, work (2 double crochets, chain 2, 2 double crochets). Repeat from * around, skipping the final corner cluster. Slip stitch to the 3rd chain of your opening chain-3. (68 stitches, 8 corner chains)
• Round 9: Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet), then double crochet into the next stitch. *Inside the corner space, work (2 double crochets, chain 2, 2 double crochets). Double crochet in each of the next 17 stitches down the side. Repeat from * around, omitting the final 2 double crochets on the last repeat. Slip stitch to your opening chain-3. (84 stitches, 8 corner chains)
• Round 10: Chain 3 (counts as a double crochet), then double crochet into the next 3 stitches. *Inside the corner space, work (2 double crochets, chain 3, 2 double crochets). Double crochet in each of the next 21 stitches down the side. Repeat from * around, omitting the final 4 double crochets on your last side. Cut your yarn and finish with an invisible join to the first stitch. (100 stitches, 12 corner chains)

4. Facial Features & Limbs (Light Gray)

Ears (Make 2)

Chain 4. Single crochet into the second chain from your hook. Half-double crochet into the remaining two chains. Fasten off, leaving a long thread for sewing.

Legs (Make 2)

Chain 8. Half-double crochet into the third chain from your hook. Work a half-double crochet into each of the remaining 5 chains heading down. Fasten off, leaving a long yarn tail.

Assembly

1. Placement: Thread your yarn needle with the gray tails. Secure the two ears to the sides of the gray face, spacing them about 5 popcorn stitches apart.
2. Legs: Tuck the upper edge of the legs slightly under Round 5 of the textured body, placing them between Rounds 5 and 6. Keep them roughly 1 popcorn stitch apart.
3. Face Embroidery: Using your black embroidery floss, carefully stitch a pair of eyes and a small, delicate “Y”-shaped nose onto the center of the gray face.
4. Finishing: Secure and weave in any stray yarn tails on the back of the square. For crisp edges and a perfectly flat background, gently wet-block or steam-block your completed square.