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Original poster

What is heavy but small and preferably has a hole in the middle?

136 replies

5foot5 · 10/10/2025 23:35

No, it isn't a riddle. I have a slight problem with a craft project and I was hoping the Mumsnet hive mind might have a genius solution.

I have started to crochet a Nativity scene. Tonight I completed the sheep. He looks great, but unfortunately his head is a bit too heavy so when I try to stand him up he just topples forwards. I really don't think there is any way I can dismantle him enough to lighten his head or put anything large and heavy in his back legs, so I am looking for a solution where I can attach something small and heavy to his tail or back feet that I can then cover or disguise with yarn.

I found that if I sellotaped a pound coin to his tail that was enough to keep him stable. Apparently a pound coin weighs 9g. So one solution is to find 9g worth of something I can thread on to the tail. My best thought so far is to dig out the Meccano and attach little nuts to the tail.

Initially I thought I could make and attach some additional back feet and weigh them down, but found that it will take more weight to work at the back feet than at the tail.

The other thought is to find something I can weave through the fleece at the back but it would need to be small.

Can anyone suggest a readily available substance to insert in to or attach to the back end of my sheep?

I won't be trying anything until tomorrow because it's late be and I have had a little wine.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
Hoppinggreen · 11/10/2025 13:37

I read the title and was going to respond "ME"
But I doubt I would be any use in the circumstances OP describes

MagpiePi · 11/10/2025 13:36

PickAChew · 11/10/2025 13:08

😂

Show quote history

I read ‘Next I crocheted a little sock…’ in the OP’s last post and thought OMG, she’s going for the full on ‘it’s a boy sheep’ option!

How could Mary be worried about such a cute little fella looking at her ?! I will be waiting for the finished scene..

PickAChew · 11/10/2025 13:12

5foot5 · 11/10/2025 11:38

So, I have engineered a solution! Shout out to the person who suggested nails up his bum. That's not quite what I did but it's not a million miles away.

After rooting around the house and garage I found a quite chunky screw which, when I sellotaped it to the sheep's rear end, seemed to do the trick. See attached image.

Next I crocheted a little sock to conceal the screw and then I threaded the whole lot over the existing skinny pink tail (sheep don't have skinny pink tails anyway, do they?) and sewed it to the sheep's bum.
Et voila! The sheep stands upright.

Here is a picture of him beside, but at a respectful distance from, the crib.

Thanks for all the advice and interest. I am going in to town now so I can buy more yarn to tackle the rest of the cast.

When I get on to the donkey I will bear this experience in mind and use some of the tips here to weight his body at the time of stuffing.

Result! And the chunky tail is much better proportioned for a cute, round sheep.

PickAChew · 11/10/2025 13:08

MagpiePi · 11/10/2025 09:29

If it is definitely a ram rather than a ewe, you could crochet two little bags, put a small spherical fishing weight in each one and attach them just under his tail. 😳

(…I do apologise for lowering the tone)

😂

notatinydancer · 11/10/2025 12:54

No solutions sorry , but he is fantastic.

NigelFaragesFakeRoarofLaughter · 11/10/2025 12:50

Also full marks for find a use for what looks like one of those incredibly annoying hexagonal screws which you inadvertently buy in packs of 50, then get home and discover they need their own special screwdriver. 👍

NigelFaragesFakeRoarofLaughter · 11/10/2025 12:45

Crochet is actual magic, isn't it?

You start with loose wool... then lo! it is a manger! And a sheep.

Awe, OP. I am in awe.

Baital · 11/10/2025 11:48

CameForAVacationStayedForTheRevolution · 11/10/2025 08:46

Someone I know crochets 3d vulvas and needs them to stand up so fills them with bags of play sand for weight. Could you do a tiny bag of sand and slit the sheep open, insert the sand and re stitch it back up?

You can't just throw this into the conversation and refuse to give further information...

3D vulvas that need to stand up...

Err... why....?

No judgement! Just curious!

UnNiddeRides · 11/10/2025 11:48

Very effective.
I don’t recommend using any foods for stuffing. We had a weevil infestation thanks to a wheat hot water bottle…

Original poster
5foot5 · 11/10/2025 11:38

So, I have engineered a solution! Shout out to the person who suggested nails up his bum. That's not quite what I did but it's not a million miles away.

After rooting around the house and garage I found a quite chunky screw which, when I sellotaped it to the sheep's rear end, seemed to do the trick. See attached image.

Next I crocheted a little sock to conceal the screw and then I threaded the whole lot over the existing skinny pink tail (sheep don't have skinny pink tails anyway, do they?) and sewed it to the sheep's bum.
Et voila! The sheep stands upright.

Here is a picture of him beside, but at a respectful distance from, the crib.

Thanks for all the advice and interest. I am going in to town now so I can buy more yarn to tackle the rest of the cast.

When I get on to the donkey I will bear this experience in mind and use some of the tips here to weight his body at the time of stuffing.

What is heavy but small and preferably has a hole in the middle?
What is heavy but small and preferably has a hole in the middle?
What is heavy but small and preferably has a hole in the middle?
OP posts:
Neighboursnumber1fan · 11/10/2025 11:30

5foot5 · 11/10/2025 00:15

@Neighboursnumber1fan how big are these fishing weights?

You can get all sorts of sizes, from tiny to massive

GingerPaste · 11/10/2025 11:24

PickAChew · 10/10/2025 23:39

A washer might do the trick. Or you could stick a couple of nails up its bum 😳

A lot of stuffies have poly beads in the base for weight.

😂 at nails up his bum…

AnchorWHAT · 11/10/2025 11:08

Whats he standing on? Could it be as. Simple as tacking him in place or are they meant to be played with?

AbzMoz · 11/10/2025 09:43

Lentils or dried peas or baking beads as the stuffing, with more in the back legs?

MagicLoop · 11/10/2025 09:41

5foot5 · 11/10/2025 09:30

Many good ideas and suggestions here so thank you for that. I am going to investigate my bits and bobs collection this morning to see what I can use. I feel weight on the tail will be more effective than under the feet but will keep an open mind.

If I find nothing in house then a visit to an angling shop might be required.

Funnily enough the only other time I have been in such a shop was for a previous crochet project. I needed fishing line for a hare's whiskers. I definitely got the impression these are shops where women don't often set foot. Everyone stopped talking when I went in and when I said what I was looking for the man behind the counter smiled indulgently and asked if it was for hanging Christmas cards with! When I said it wasn't he explained that "When ladies come in here for fishing line it is usually to hang up Christmas cards."

I will report back later.

Thanks for the kind comments about sheepy!

Good luck in the fishing shop. Yes, they are very male places Grin I reluctantly went to one to pick up a pint of maggots 🤢 for dh a while back. He's a keen fisherman. Not here right now, otherwise I'd ask him what kind of weight would be good.

TalulahJP · 11/10/2025 09:40

Velcro on the underside of his hind hooves and Velcro dot in the floor if the nativity scene where he should stand?

MagicLoop · 11/10/2025 09:37

Nothing more to add to the load of ingenious suggestions. Just wanted to say I'm loving this thread (especially the worries about Mary's first time mum reactions Grin) and your sheep is adorable!

I'm currently crocheting one of the 3 kings to add to a nativity set commissioned by my school, to be displayed every year at the carol service, and being made by a couple of very talented Y9 students in my knitting and crochet club. They have kindly deigned to let me make one of the characters! It won't be as good as theirs or as your sheep though - it's my first go at amigurumi-style crochet and I'm mostly a knitter!

Throwitawayagain · 11/10/2025 09:32

Some coins have holes in them - do you know anyone who has been in Japan, China or Peru recently? I'm sure there will be other countries as well as these.

Original poster
5foot5 · 11/10/2025 09:31

MagpiePi · 11/10/2025 09:29

If it is definitely a ram rather than a ewe, you could crochet two little bags, put a small spherical fishing weight in each one and attach them just under his tail. 😳

(…I do apologise for lowering the tone)

Wish we still had laugh reaction....

OP posts:
Original poster
5foot5 · 11/10/2025 09:30

Many good ideas and suggestions here so thank you for that. I am going to investigate my bits and bobs collection this morning to see what I can use. I feel weight on the tail will be more effective than under the feet but will keep an open mind.

If I find nothing in house then a visit to an angling shop might be required.

Funnily enough the only other time I have been in such a shop was for a previous crochet project. I needed fishing line for a hare's whiskers. I definitely got the impression these are shops where women don't often set foot. Everyone stopped talking when I went in and when I said what I was looking for the man behind the counter smiled indulgently and asked if it was for hanging Christmas cards with! When I said it wasn't he explained that "When ladies come in here for fishing line it is usually to hang up Christmas cards."

I will report back later.

Thanks for the kind comments about sheepy!

OP posts:
MagpiePi · 11/10/2025 09:29

If it is definitely a ram rather than a ewe, you could crochet two little bags, put a small spherical fishing weight in each one and attach them just under his tail. 😳

(…I do apologise for lowering the tone)

declutteringmymind · 11/10/2025 09:28

Can you stitch the head back with some really tight stitches at the neck?

Wallywobbles · 11/10/2025 09:22

shes beautiful - I’m a shepherd.

Original poster
5foot5 · 11/10/2025 09:22

CameForAVacationStayedForTheRevolution · 11/10/2025 08:46

Someone I know crochets 3d vulvas and needs them to stand up so fills them with bags of play sand for weight. Could you do a tiny bag of sand and slit the sheep open, insert the sand and re stitch it back up?

I mean, crocheting one 3d vulva sounds eccentric, but she makes a habit of it? Pray tell us more...

OP posts:
NigelFaragesFakeRoarofLaughter · 11/10/2025 09:20

I too now need to see the rest of the nativity scene.Grin

(Yes I know I could just Watch the Thread, but where's the fun in that?)