Knitting Tutorial: Little Lamb Girl in Floral Meadow Dress and Green Cardigan – Free Knitting Pattern.

This sweet knitted garden doll is worked as a soft standing plush with a cream dress, pale green floral cardigan, floppy brown ears, rounded white face, yellow sandals, sunflower crossbody bag, and tiny garden accessories. The finished look matches the meadow picnic style in the photo, with soft shaping, embroidered flowers, button details, a straw hat, seed packets, trowel, and watering can.

 

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Finished Size and Construction

The finished doll measures about 11.5 inches tall when made with DK weight yarn and 2.75 mm needles. The body is knitted firmly so the stuffing does not show. The head, body, legs, arms, ears, clothing, and accessories are made separately, then joined with mattress stitch and neat whipstitching.

• Finished height: approximately 11.5 inches from sandal sole to top of head.
• Head width: about 4.25 inches across after stuffing.
• Body width: about 3.25 inches at the dress waist and 4.75 inches at the skirt hem.
• Style: soft garden doll with floppy brown ears, cream dress, green cardigan, sunflower bag, and yellow sandals.
• Skill level: advanced beginner to intermediate.

Materials

• DK weight yarn in warm white or cream for head center, muzzle, body, arms, legs, and dress.
• DK weight yarn in medium warm brown for ears, side head patches, and back hair patch.
• DK weight yarn in pale mint green for cardigan.
• DK weight yarn in soft yellow for sandals, sunflower petals, bag strap, and garden tag.
• DK weight yarn in dark brown for sunflower center, nose shading, and seed packet details.
• Small amounts of olive green, white, yellow, tan, light blue, gray, and terracotta yarn for embroidery and accessories.
• 2.75 mm straight needles or double-pointed needles for small pieces.
• 2.25 mm needles for straps, edging, and tiny accessories.
• Two 10 mm brown safety eyes or sew-on glossy toy eyes.
• Four 7 mm tan buttons for the cardigan front.
• Toy stuffing.
• Tapestry needle, stitch markers, sewing pins, and small scissors.

Gauge

Use a firm gauge so the doll keeps its rounded shape. Exact gauge is less important than consistent tension, but the sample uses 7 stitches and 10 rows per inch in stockinette stitch on 2.75 mm needles.

• Main gauge: 28 stitches and 40 rows over 4 inches in stockinette.
• Accessory gauge: 30 stitches and 42 rows over 4 inches on smaller needles.
• Important: if your knitted fabric looks loose, go down one needle size.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on.
• BO: bind off.
• K: knit.
• P: purl.
• Sts: stitches.
• RS: right side.
• WS: wrong side.
• Kfb: knit into front and back of the same stitch.
• K2tog: knit 2 stitches together.
• SSK: slip 1, slip 1, knit slipped stitches together through back loops.
• St st: stockinette stitch, knit RS rows and purl WS rows when worked flat.
• Garter st: knit every row.
• I-cord: small knitted cord made by sliding stitches back to the start of the needle.

Pattern Notes

Most pieces are knitted flat and seamed. For a smoother toy, use mattress stitch with matching yarn. Stuff gradually and firmly, especially the head, muzzle, feet, and lower body. The head should look round and plush, while the dress and cardigan should sit softly over the body.

The doll in the photo has a cream central face, brown side patches, long brown floppy ears, a black oval nose, curved embroidered mouth, and shiny brown eyes. The clothing is layered: a cream sleeveless dress first, then a short green cardigan with ribbed lower edge, flower embroidery, and small tan buttons.

Head

The head is made as a rounded cream base with brown side panels sewn on afterward. This gives the visible white forehead stripe and white muzzle area shown in the image.

Main Cream Head

1. With cream yarn and 2.75 mm needles, CO 12 sts.
2. Row 1: Purl.
3. Row 2: Kfb in every st across. You now have 24 sts.
4. Row 3: Purl.
5. Row 4: K1, kfb, repeat across. You now have 36 sts.
6. Row 5: Purl.
7. Row 6: K2, kfb, repeat across. You now have 48 sts.
8. Rows 7 to 18: Work in st st, beginning with a purl row.
9. Row 19: P10 cream, join brown for side patch, p10 brown, p8 cream, p10 brown, p10 cream.
10. Row 20: K10 cream, k10 brown, k8 cream, k10 brown, k10 cream.
11. Rows 21 to 30: Continue color placement as established. Twist yarns at color changes to avoid holes.
12. Row 31: Purl all sts in cream, carrying brown yarn behind only if needed.
13. Row 32: K2, k2tog, repeat across. You now have 36 sts.
14. Row 33: Purl.
15. Row 34: K1, k2tog, repeat across. You now have 24 sts.
16. Row 35: Purl.
17. Row 36: K2tog across. You now have 12 sts.
18. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull tight, and seam the back of the head.

📌Thank you for reading the article

Stuff the head until round and full. The front should be smooth, with the cream center stripe sitting between the brown patches. Do not overstuff the neck opening because it must sit neatly on the body.

Raised Cream Muzzle

1. With cream yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: Purl.
3. Row 2: Kfb across. You now have 16 sts.
4. Row 3: Purl.
5. Row 4: K2, kfb, repeat to last st, k1. You now have 21 sts.
6. Rows 5 to 11: Work in st st.
7. Row 12: K2, k2tog, repeat to last st, k1. You now have 16 sts.
8. Row 13: Purl.
9. Row 14: K2tog across. You now have 8 sts.
10. Cut yarn, thread through sts, lightly gather, and stuff into a soft oval pad.

Sew the muzzle to the lower front of the head. Place the top of the muzzle just below the eyes and shape it into two rounded cheeks by stitching a small vertical dip at the center bottom.

Black Nose and Smile

1. With black yarn, CO 6 sts.
2. Row 1: Purl.
3. Row 2: Kfb, k4, kfb. You now have 8 sts.
4. Row 3: Purl.
5. Row 4: K2tog, k4, ssk. You now have 6 sts.
6. BO all sts and sew into a soft oval on the upper center of the muzzle.
7. Using black yarn, embroider one straight line downward from the nose for 0.5 inch.
8. Embroider two curved smile lines, one to the left and one to the right.

Floppy Brown Ears

The ears are long, rounded, and slightly tapered at the top. They should hang beside the face and reach below the muzzle, just like the image.

1. Make 2. With brown yarn, CO 10 sts.
2. Row 1: Purl.
3. Row 2: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. You now have 12 sts.
4. Row 3: Purl.
5. Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until you have 24 sts.
6. Rows 13 to 36: Work even in st st.
7. Row 37: Purl.
8. Row 38: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. You now have 22 sts.
9. Row 39: Purl.
10. Repeat Rows 38 and 39 until 10 sts remain.
11. Row next: K2tog across. You now have 5 sts.
12. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, and pull closed.
13. Fold each ear lengthwise with wrong sides together and seam around the edge, leaving the cast-on edge open.

Lightly steam by hand shaping only, without pressing flat. Sew the ears to each side of the head at a slight downward angle. The inner top edge should start level with the eyes, while the outer edge should fall naturally along the side of the face.

Body

The body is a simple cream torso that sits under the dress. It needs enough structure to support the head, cardigan, and accessories.

1. With cream yarn, CO 18 sts.
2. Row 1: Purl.
3. Row 2: Kfb across. You now have 36 sts.
4. Rows 3 to 8: Work in st st.
5. Row 9: Purl.
6. Row 10: K5, kfb, repeat across. You now have 42 sts.
7. Rows 11 to 26: Work even in st st.
8. Row 27: P4, p2tog, repeat across. You now have 35 sts.
9. Row 28: Knit.
10. Row 29: P3, p2tog, repeat across. You now have 28 sts.
11. Rows 30 to 36: Work even in st st for the neck base.
12. BO all sts, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Seam the back of the body. Stuff the lower body firmly and the upper body medium firm. The body should be narrower than the head, creating the cute toy proportions seen in the image.

Legs

The legs are short cream cylinders with visible feet inside yellow sandals. Make both legs before attaching the dress.

1. Make 2. With cream yarn, CO 14 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 18: Work in st st.
3. Row 19: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. You now have 16 sts.
4. Row 20: Purl.
5. Row 21: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. You now have 18 sts.
6. Rows 22 to 28: Work even.
7. Row 29: K2tog across. You now have 9 sts.
8. Cut yarn, thread through sts, pull closed, and seam the back of the leg and foot.

📌Thank you for reading the article

Stuff the legs firmly, especially the rounded foot section. Sew the legs to the lower body with toes pointing forward and about 0.75 inch between them.

Arms

The arms have cream hands and green cardigan sleeves layered over the top. The hands should peek out from the cuffs.

1. Make 2. With cream yarn, CO 10 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 8: Work in st st for the hand.
3. Change to pale green yarn.
4. Row 9: Knit.
5. Row 10: Purl.
6. Row 11: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. You now have 12 sts.
7. Rows 12 to 26: Work even in st st.
8. Row 27: K2tog across. You now have 6 sts.
9. Cut yarn, thread through sts, pull closed, and seam the arm.

Stuff the hands lightly and the upper arms softly. Sew arms to the sides of the body after the cardigan is placed, so the sleeves look naturally connected to the jacket.

Cream Meadow Dress

The dress is sleeveless, cream colored, and gently flares out at the skirt. It is knitted separately and slipped over the body before the head is attached.

Dress Skirt

1. With cream yarn, CO 64 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 4: Knit every row for a soft garter hem.
3. Row 5: Knit.
4. Row 6: Purl.
5. Rows 7 to 24: Continue in st st.
6. Row 25: K6, k2tog, repeat across. You now have 56 sts.
7. Row 26: Purl.
8. Row 27: K5, k2tog, repeat across. You now have 48 sts.
9. Row 28: Purl.
10. Row 29: K4, k2tog, repeat across. You now have 40 sts.
11. Row 30: Purl.

Dress Bodice

1. Rows 31 to 38: Work even in st st on 40 sts.
2. Row 39: K8, BO 4 sts, k16, BO 4 sts, k8 for armholes.
3. Work each section separately for 6 rows in st st.
4. Rejoin sections by casting on 4 sts over each armhole on the next RS row. You now have 40 sts again.
5. Rows 46 to 50: Work even.
6. Rows 51 to 54: Knit every row for neckline edging.
7. BO all sts loosely.

Seam the back of the dress from hem to waist. Leave the upper back open enough to fit over the body, then close with two small stitches after dressing the doll. The hem should sit above the sandals and slightly flare around the legs.

Green Cardigan

The cardigan is short, open-front, pale green, and decorated with small embroidered daisies. It has ribbed edges, short sleeves, and four tan buttons on the right front.

Cardigan Back

1. With pale green yarn, CO 34 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 4: K2, p2 rib across.
3. Rows 5 to 22: Work in st st.
4. Row 23: BO 3 sts, knit to end.
5. Row 24: BO 3 sts, purl to end. You now have 28 sts.
6. Rows 25 to 34: Work even.
7. BO all sts.

Left Front

1. With pale green yarn, CO 18 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 4: K2, p2 rib as evenly as possible.
3. Rows 5 to 22: Work in st st.
4. Row 23: BO 3 sts at armhole edge, knit to end.
5. Rows 24 to 30: Work even.
6. Row 31: At neck edge, BO 4 sts, finish row.
7. Row 32: Work back.
8. Row 33: At neck edge, BO 2 sts, finish row.
9. Rows 34 to 36: Work even on remaining shoulder sts.
10. BO all sts.

Right Front with Button Placement

1. Work as for left front, reversing shaping.
2. On Rows 8, 13, 18, and 23, mark button positions along the front edge.
3. Do not make buttonholes if using decorative buttons only. Sew buttons on after assembly.

📌Thank you for reading the article

Cardigan Sleeves

1. Make 2. With pale green yarn, CO 18 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 4: K2, p2 rib.
3. Row 5: Knit.
4. Row 6: Purl.
5. Row 7: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. You now have 20 sts.
6. Rows 8 to 20: Work even in st st.
7. BO all sts.

Sew shoulder seams, set in sleeves, and sew side seams. Place the cardigan over the dress before attaching arms permanently. Sew four tan buttons down one front edge, evenly spaced from neckline to lower hem.

Floral Embroidery on Cardigan

• On each front side, embroider two small white daisies with six straight stitches per flower.
• Add one yellow French knot or tiny duplicate stitch in each flower center.
• Use olive green yarn for small stems and leaves below the flowers.
• Keep the flowers low on the cardigan fronts, near the hem, matching the image.

Yellow Sandals

The sandals are soft yellow with cream soles, open toes, and a small side button look. They are sewn over the cream feet after the legs are attached.

Sandal Sole

1. Make 2. With tan yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: Knit.
3. Row 2: Kfb, k6, kfb. You now have 10 sts.
4. Rows 3 to 12: Knit every row.
5. Row 13: K2tog, k6, ssk. You now have 8 sts.
6. BO all sts.

Toe Strap and Ankle Strap

1. For each toe strap, with yellow yarn, CO 18 sts.
2. Knit 3 rows and BO.
3. Wrap across the front of the foot, leaving the cream toes visible, and sew under the sole edges.
4. For each ankle strap, CO 22 sts with yellow yarn.
5. Knit 3 rows and BO.
6. Wrap around the ankle above the foot and sew at the outer side.
7. Add one tiny tan stitch or mini button at the side of each sandal.

Sunflower Crossbody Bag

The sunflower bag sits at the front left hip with a yellow strap crossing from the shoulder to the bag. The flower has a dark brown center and raised yellow petals.

Bag Center

1. With dark brown yarn and 2.25 mm needles, CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: Purl.
3. Row 2: Kfb across. You now have 16 sts.
4. Rows 3 to 6: Work in st st.
5. Row 7: K2tog across. You now have 8 sts.
6. Cut yarn, thread through sts, pull into a small round center, and flatten slightly.

Petals

1. With yellow yarn, pick up and knit 24 sts evenly around the brown center.
2. Row 1: Knit.
3. Row 2: K1, BO 1, repeat around to create small petal points.
4. Using yellow yarn, make 8 extra petals by CO 4 sts, knit 3 rows, then k2tog twice and BO.
5. Sew extra petals around the outer edge for a full sunflower look.

Bag Back and Strap

1. With yellow yarn, CO 18 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 12: Work in garter st.
3. BO all sts and sew behind the sunflower front, leaving a small opening at the top if desired.
4. For the strap, make a yellow I-cord over 3 sts for 14 inches.
5. Sew one strap end to each side of the bag.

Place the strap over the right shoulder and across the chest. The bag should rest on the lower left side of the dress, slightly overlapping the green cardigan edge.

Tiny Leaf Hair Clip

The small green leaf detail sits near the top of one brown ear. It adds the garden sweetness seen in the image.

1. With olive green yarn, CO 5 sts.
2. Row 1: Knit.
3. Row 2: K1, kfb, k1, kfb, k1. You now have 7 sts.
4. Row 3: Purl.
5. Row 4: K2tog, k3, ssk. You now have 5 sts.
6. Row 5: Purl.
7. Row 6: K2tog, k1, ssk. You now have 3 sts.
8. BO all sts.
9. Make a second smaller leaf by CO 4 sts and working the same shape with fewer middle stitches.
10. Sew both leaves together with one small brown knot at the base.

📌Thank you for reading the article

Straw Garden Hat

The hat in the image sits beside the doll, but you may make it wearable. It has a round crown, wide brim, and soft tan band.

Hat Crown

1. With tan yarn, CO 12 sts.
2. Row 1: Purl.
3. Row 2: Kfb across. You now have 24 sts.
4. Row 3: Purl.
5. Row 4: K1, kfb, repeat across. You now have 36 sts.
6. Rows 5 to 18: Work in st st.
7. Row 19: K4, k2tog, repeat across. You now have 30 sts.
8. Rows 20 to 24: Work even.
9. BO all sts.

Hat Brim

1. With tan yarn, CO 72 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 6: Knit every row.
3. Row 7: K6, k2tog, repeat across. You now have 63 sts.
4. Rows 8 to 10: Knit every row.
5. BO loosely.
6. Sew the brim around the base of the crown.
7. Make a 3-st I-cord in beige for 8 inches and sew around the crown as the hat band.

Seed Packets

Two tiny knitted seed packets are shown near the doll. Make one cream packet with green sprout embroidery and one tan packet with brown seed embroidery.

1. For each packet, CO 12 sts with cream or tan yarn.
2. Rows 1 to 16: Work in garter st.
3. BO all sts.
4. Fold in half, seam sides, and flatten.
5. On the cream packet, embroider a green sprout with one stem and two leaves.
6. On the tan packet, embroider three small brown seed shapes.

Garden Trowel

The trowel is made with a blue-gray blade and terracotta handle. It should look small and rounded, like the accessory beside the doll.

1. For the blade, with light blue-gray yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 4: Work in st st.
3. Row 5: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, kfb, k1. You now have 10 sts.
4. Rows 6 to 14: Work even.
5. Row 15: K1, k2tog, knit to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. You now have 8 sts.
6. Row 16: Purl.
7. Row 17: K2tog across. You now have 4 sts.
8. BO all sts and shape into an oval blade.
9. For the handle, with terracotta yarn, CO 10 sts.
10. Rows 1 to 18: Work in st st.
11. Seam into a small tube, stuff lightly, and sew to the blade.

Watering Can

The watering can is beige with a light blue stripe, rounded body, side spout, and curved handle. Knit it firmly and stuff lightly so it keeps its shape.

Can Body

1. With beige yarn, CO 24 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 6: Work in st st.
3. Change to light blue yarn for Rows 7 and 8.
4. Change back to beige yarn.
5. Rows 9 to 22: Work in st st.
6. Row 23: K2, k2tog, repeat across. You now have 18 sts.
7. Row 24: Purl.
8. Row 25: K1, k2tog, repeat across. You now have 12 sts.
9. Cut yarn, thread through sts, pull tight, seam the back, and stuff lightly.

Spout and Handle

1. For the spout, with beige yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 18: Work in st st.
3. Seam into a narrow tube and sew to one side of the can at an upward angle.
4. For the spout tip, with light blue-gray yarn, CO 6 sts, knit 4 rows, BO, and sew to the end.
5. For the handle, make a beige 4-st I-cord for 6 inches.
6. Curve the handle and sew both ends to the opposite side of the watering can.

Small Yellow Garden Tag

The yellow hanging tag has a tiny sunflower accent and green leaf embroidery. It is a flat accessory that can sit beside the doll or hang near the watering can.

1. With yellow yarn, CO 12 sts.
2. Rows 1 to 16: Work in garter st.
3. BO all sts.
4. With green yarn, embroider one short stem and two leaves on the front.
5. With dark brown yarn, stitch a small circle at the top edge.
6. Add yellow straight stitches around the brown circle to suggest a tiny sunflower.
7. Make a 2-st beige I-cord for 3 inches and sew as a loop.

📌Thank you for reading the article

Facial Placement

Correct placement creates the soft expression from the photo. Pin all details before sewing permanently. The eyes should sit wide apart, with the muzzle centered below them and the nose sitting high on the muzzle.

• Place eyes between Rows 20 and 23 of the head, about 10 stitches apart.
• The brown patches should frame the eyes, leaving a cream stripe down the forehead.
• Sew the muzzle from cheek to cheek, shaping it into a rounded heart-like lower face.
• The black nose should be centered and slightly oval, wider than it is tall.
• The smile should be thin, curved, and gentle, not too wide.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

1. Sew legs to the bottom of the stuffed body, checking that the doll can sit or lie neatly.
2. Slide the cream dress over the body and close the back seam neatly.
3. Place the green cardigan over the dress and sew the shoulders lightly to stop slipping.
4. Sew the arms to the sides, tucking the top edges under the cardigan sleeves.
5. Attach the head to the neck using strong stitches in a full circle. Repeat the seam twice for stability.
6. Sew the floppy ears to the sides of the head, angled downward and slightly forward.
7. Add safety eyes or sew-on eyes. Embroider the nose, smile, and tiny mouth line.
8. Sew the leaf clip near the top of one ear.
9. Add the sunflower bag strap across the body and secure the bag at the hip.
10. Place sandals around the feet and sew the straps securely underneath.

Care Notes

Spot clean the doll with cool water and mild soap. Avoid soaking if you used safety eyes, buttons, or firm stuffing. Gently press with a towel and let the doll air dry flat. Do not machine wash the straw hat or small accessories.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• The head is round, firm, and larger than the body.
• The cream face stripe is centered between brown patches.
• The ears hang low and evenly on both sides.
• The cardigan sits open over the cream dress.
• The daisies are embroidered on both cardigan fronts.
• The sunflower bag crosses the chest and rests at the hip.
• The sandals show cream toes at the front.
• The garden hat, seed packets, trowel, tag, and watering can are finished as matching props.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Keep the knitted doll away from direct sunlight for long periods, as pale green and yellow yarns may fade. Store the doll in a clean cotton bag or open display shelf where air can circulate. If dust gathers, use a soft brush and light strokes.

For long-term storage, remove pressure from the ears, hat, and bag strap so they do not flatten. Wrap the small accessories separately in tissue paper. Check buttons and embroidered pieces occasionally, especially if the doll will be handled often.