He’s a global superstar with roots right here in Bristol, and now Shaun the Sheep is turning 30. To celebrate, Aardman is rallying fans around the world – and especially at home – for a good cause, launching ‘Can Ewe Knit It?’, a creative campaign for good, calling on crafters to knit or crochet Shaun-inspired squares, which will be turned into blankets for unhoused people.
From Bedminster to Bishopston, the city’s vibrant creative and maker communities are invited to take part in this feel-good global moment, designed to spread joy – and warmth – to those who need it most.
Aardman has teamed up with British Wool, Campaign for Wool and Craft Forward to unveil the new campaign and is asking Shaun’s Bristol fans and all wool enthusiasts to knit, weave or crochet a Shaun inspired blanket square. A public event hosted by not-for-profit Craft Forward in October will ewe-nite every woolly wonder to create Shaun the Sheep inspired blankets. Each blanket will be given to an unhoused person, bringing warmth to some of the most vulnerable in society.
A spokesperson for Aardman said: “Shaun is a global and cultural icon – but he’s Bristol born and bred! To mark his 30th birthday we want to use his fame for good and connect the craft and innovation of our studio to incredible organisations that use craft to uplift communities.
“Fans worldwide have produced incredible artworks and crafted creations featuring Shaun since he first appeared on our screens – now we’re putting a Bristol bleat out asking the city’s knitters, crocheters and craft enthusiasts to flock together, and join our global act of woolly kindness and creativity to help unhoused people.”
To take part, weave, knit or crochet a Shaun inspired 20 x 20cm blanket square either by downloading one of the free pattern designs, or by creating your own totally unique wool square inspired by the worldwide woolly star, and then simply send it to Craft Forward.
A spokesperson from Craft Forward said: “We’ve already produced 472 handmade blankets that are providing warmth and comfort to unhoused people. We’re so happy to be able to work with Aardman, British Wool, and the Campaign for Wool on this amazing project which will be the first rendition of Blankets for the World – an initiative to distribute warm, handmade blankets to different areas across the globe. ‘Can Ewe Knit It?’ is truly for everyone, whether you’re new to knitting or crocheting, or a seasoned crafting pro. We hope you enjoy making our patterns as much as we enjoyed designing them!”
Image - Shawn the Sheep
In Shaun the Sheep’s 30-year career he has won two BAFTA awards, an Emmy, and was voted the nation’s best loved BBC children’s TV character in a poll by the Radio Times. Whilst Shaun might be a giant across our screens, his model weighs just 100g and stands at 17cm tall. The Bristol team behind the stop motion superstar have used over 500 eyeballs, 300kg of clay and 10km of wire to keep Shaun’s stardom alive for three decades, creating 2000 mouth shapes for a flock of over 140 sheep, where just three seconds of animation is created every day of production.
As proud supporters of UK sheep farmers for 75 years, British Wool’s involvement in the campaign ensures that it’s as homegrown as it is heartwarming. By encouraging fans to use real wool in their creations, it brings them closer to the farms and farmers that the fibre came from – and is a direct nod to Shaun’s famously fleecy look.
How to take part:
- Download a square pattern (or make your own) via https://aard.mn/CanEweKnitIt
- Use real wool where possible to support UK sheep farmers
- Post your 20x20cm square to Craft Forward, 3 Space International House, 6 Canterbury Crescent, London, SW9 7QD by 30th September 2025
- Share your creations using #CanEweKnitIt and tag @aardmananimations
Related
Comments
Comments are disabled for this post.
