Homemade Nativity Scene: The Animals

Total Time Needed: 1 Hour

No créche is complete without a few creatures great and small. Your kids will quickly figure out how to adapt the basic shapes shown here into a splendid menagerie.

To get the instructions for making the entire manger, click here.

Materials

FOR THE SHEEP:

2 black pipe cleaners
Ruler
Scissors
Jumbo cotton ball, unrolled
About 7 feet of superbulky-weight white or off-white yarn (we used Wool-Ease Thick & Quick by Lion Brand; unravel it slightly for a fluffier look)

FOR THE CALF:

2 tan pipe cleaners
Ruler
Scissors
2 to 3 jumbo cotton balls, unrolled
15 to 20 feet of bulky-weight brown yarn (we used Homespun by Lion Brand)
Tacky glue
Fine-tip permanent black marker
5-mm sequin for eyes

Instructions

1. The Sheep:

Fold one pipe cleaner in half. Bend it to form a nose and ears. Twist the ends to secure.

2. Bend the folded pipe cleaner to form a ½-inch-long neck, a 1-inch body, and a tail (trim it to about ½ inch). Cut the second pipe cleaner in half. Wrap each piece around the body to create legs. Fold the ends up so each leg is about ¾ inch long.

3. Twist one end of an unrolled cotton ball into the base of the tail and wrap the body.

4. Tie one end of the yarn around the neck and wrap as shown, covering the cotton. To finish, knot the yarn over itself at the tail, trim, and tuck the end under the wrapping.

5. The Calf:

Create the same basic form as the sheep, but make the body and nose longer, use two 6-inch pieces for the legs, and bend each leg to form hooves.

6. Starting at the tail, wrap unrolled cotton balls around the body and once down the length of the nose.

7. Tie the yarn around the neck. Wrap the head, leaving the cotton tip of the nose and the tips of the ears exposed. Glue as needed.

8. Wrap the body and the legs, stopping at the hooves. Wrap extra layers around the back legs to create bulky haunches. Finish by wrapping the tail. Knot it tightly just before the tip, trim to 1 inch, and unravel the end.