Cow Free Crochet Pattern – How to Make a Lil’ Bitty Cow

I’m so excited to introduce the next stuffed animal crochet pattern in the Lil’ Bitty series. Meet the Lil’ Bitty Cow Free Crochet Pattern! The Lil’ Bitty series has been designed to be a super quick project, with minimal sewing in mind (just like the Pocket Pal series and Flip Flop series). The series features a different way to crochet an open ended piece onto the body, this allows you to stuff the open ended piece after attaching.

Check out other Lil’ Bitty Animals

• Lil’ Bitty Bunny
• Lil’ Bitty Bear

The Lil’ Bitty Cow free crochet pattern has been designed using Premier Parfait Chunky (also shown in Hobbii Honey Bunny) to create an adorable 5″ friend. If you’ve never used these yarns for an amigurumi project, then you’re missing out. These chenille style super bulky weight (6) yarns (which works up similar to a bulky (5) weight yarn) makes some of the most soft, squishy lovable stuffies. The yarn can be found online at Herrschners.com or Premieryarns.com.

Find the Hobbii Honey Bunny Yarn Here!

Don’t have access to this yarn? No problem!

This pattern can be completed using ANY of your favourite amigurumi yarns as well. Just adjust the hook size accordingly and follow the pattern as written. The only thing that changes is the size of the safety eyes and finished product.

Check out this post for some guidelines on how to adjust your hook and yarn.

In addition to Yarn, you may also need…

– 5.0mm (H) Hook (I love the Clover Amour hooks best)
– 12mm Safety Eyes (I love the ones from Amazon!)
– Stitch Markers
– Yarn Needle
– Polyester Stuffing
– Scissors

All of these Materials can be found in my Amazon Storefront shops

For those of you wanting to sell or gift to kids under 3, the pattern also includes a video link for embroidering sleepy eyes or open eyes.

All the patterns in the New Lil’ Bitty Series work up super quickly and easily with minimal sewing required. The head and body are worked in one piece with a new way to crochet the limbs (and sometimes tail) in as you go. This means Lil’ Bitty Cow Pattern only requires the muzzle, ears, horns and optional flower to be sewn on and eye-highlights to be embroidered on.

Abbreviations:

ch	chain
dc	double crochet
FLO	front loop only
hdc	half double crochet
Puff St	puff Stitch
RS	right side
sc	single crochet
scdec	single crochet decrease
ss	slip stitch
st(s)	stich(es)
*to*	repeat the sequence between the ** the number of times indicated
YO	Yarn Over

Special Stitches & Techniques: 

Full Video Tutorial

Magic ring
No Sew Attaching Legs
No Sew Attaching Arms
Puff Stitch – *YO, insert hook into indicated st, YO, pull up loop* 3 times, YO, pull through all 7 loops on the hook.
Sleepy Eyes

Notes: 

• #sc, eg. (2sc, 3sc, etc) shows the number of scs to be completed in the indicated st
• Sts listed between brackets are all worked in the same st, eg. (hdc, dc)
• I highly recommend using a stitch marker to help keep track of the rounds for the body/head

Recommended Sequence for the Lil’ Bitty Cow Free Crochet Pattern: 

 It is highly recommended to complete the Lil’ Bitty Cow crochet pattern in the order the pattern is written. (especially if you are using the no-sew option for the limbs).

Start your Lil’ Bitty Cow Free Crochet Pattern:

Arms (make 2):

The arms are worked from the “hoof” to the body, in continuous rounds.  

Using Toffee, create a  Magic Ring

Round 1: 6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2:  *sc in the next st, 2sc* 3 times (9)
Round 3: sc in each st (9), change to White or Black
Round 4: *sc in the next st, scdec* 3 times (6)
Round 5-7: sc in each st (6)
Lightly stuff the arm, Flatten and sc through both sides.  (3sts)
End off leaving a 12 inch tail if sewing.

Legs (make 2):

The legs are worked from the “hoof” to the body, in continuous rounds.  

Using Toffee, create a Magic Ring

Round 1: 6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2: *2sc* 6 times (12)
Rounds 3-4: sc in each st (12), change to White or Black after Round 3
Round 5:  *scdec* 6 times (6) 
Stuff lightly, mark the last 3 worked stitches (these will be used to crochet on the legs)
End off, leaving a 12 inch tail. (Tail will be used for both attaching options)

Tail:

The tail is worked in 1 Row with a Puff St at the end of it.  

Using White or Black, ch 7

Round 1: sc in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next 5 chs (6)
End off, leaving a 12 inch tail.  (Tail will be used for both attaching options).  Using Black or White attach yarn to the end of the tail (the end without yarn tails), ch1, Puff St.  End off, weave in Puff St. ends.

Body/Head:

The body and head are worked in one piece from the bottom up in continuous rounds.  

Option 1: Sewing the Legs, Tail and Arms to the body
If you are sewing your legs and arms onto your body then ‘sc in each st’ for Rounds 4, 5 and 11.

Option 2:  Crochet Legs, Tail and Arms to the body
If you are crocheting your legs and arms onto your body please follow the pattern as written for the Body/Head.  For assistance in crocheting the limbs on see Videos: :

• Attaching Legs
• Attaching Arms

Using White or Black, create a Magic Ring

Round 1: 6sc in the ring (6)
Round 2: *2sc* 6 times (12)
Round 3: *sc in the next st, 2sc* 6 times (18)
Round 4:Option 1:  sc in each st (18)

Option 2: Hold your first leg in front of your work, flatten the top to find the ‘front 3’ and ‘back 3’ sts (marked sts).  Beginning in the ‘back (marked) st’ closest to the right (left if left handed), working through both the Leg (inserting the hook from the inside of the st to the outside) and Body (in the same direction as previous round), sc in the next 3 sts, working through the body only, sc in the next 3 sts,  Hold the second leg in front of your work, locate the ‘front 3’ and ‘back (marked) 3’ sts.  Beginning in the ‘back (marked) st’ closest to the right (left if left handed), working through both the Leg (inserting the hook from the inside of the st to the outside) and Body (in the same direction as body only sts), sc in the next 3 sts, working through the body only, sc in the next 4 sts,   Hold the tail in front of your work, working through both the base of the Tail and Body, sc in the next st, working through the body only, sc in the last 4 sts,  (18) Optional – Pull the yarn tails into the body on either side of the stitch used to crochet the tail on.  Tie on the inside of the body.

Round 5: Option 1:  sc in each st (18)

Option 2: Working through the ‘front sts’ of the 1st leg only, sc in the next 3 sts (skip the 3 sts connecting the back of the leg to the body), working through the body only, sc in the next 3sts, working through the ‘front sts’ of the 2nd leg only, sc in the next 3 sts (skip the 3 sts connecting the back of the leg to the body), working through the body only, sc in the next 9 sts, (18). Using the leftover tails of yarn from the legs, sew up the little holes created from crocheting the pieces on.

Rounds 6-7: sc in each st (18)
Round 8: *sc in the next 4 sts, scdec* 3 times (15)
Round 9: sc in each st (15)
Begin stuffing
Round 10: *sc in the next 3 sts, scdec* 3 times (12), end off if using Option 2
Round 11 Option 1: sc in each st (12)

Option 2:  Place the animal down on a hard surface with the body face ‘up’ and the legs facing you.  Locate the 3 centre front sts and mark them with a stitch marker (the arms will be placed on either side of these sts). Locate the far right marked st.  Count over 3 sts to the right of it and attach your yarn to the body.  (If left handed you will locate the left st and count over 3 sts to the left).  Place the first arm in front of the body to the right of the marked sts (left if you’re left handed).  Working through the first st of the arm and the stitch on the body you attached your yarn to, sc the 2 pieces together.  Continue working through both pieces and sc in the next 2 sts. Working through the body only, sc in the next 3 sts (these are your marked sts).  Place the second arm in front of your work.  Working through both the arm and the body, sc in the next 3 sts, working through the body only, sc in the last 3 sts (12).

Round 12: *sc in the next st, 2sc* 6 times (18)
Round 13: *sc in the next 2 sts, 2sc* 6 times (24)
Round 14: *sc in the next 3 sts, 2sc* 6 times (30)
Rounds 15-18: sc in each st (30)
Round 19: *sc in the next 3 sts, scdec* 6 times (24)
Round 20: *sc in the next 6 sts, scdec* 3 times (21)
Round 21: *sc in the next 5 sts, scdec* 3 times (18)
Add safety eyes to Round 17 on the front of the  head approximately 7 sts apart (6 sts showing between the eyes), continue stuffing.
Round 22: *sc in the next 4 sts, scdec* 3 times (15)
Round 23: *sc in the next 3 sts, scdec* 3 times (12)
Round 24: *scdec* 6 times (6)
Finish stuffing
End off leaving a 6 inch tail, cinch the last 6 sts together and weave in the end. 

Ears: (make 2 of each piece)

Made in continuous rounds in 2 pieces crocheted together in Round 2 of the outside piece.

Piece 1: Inside of the ear

Using Rose, create a Magic Ring

Round 1: RS – 10hdc in the ring (10)
End off Piece 1 by ss to the first st of the round.  Weave in ends.

Piece 2: Outside of the ear

Using White or Black, create a Magic Ring

Round 1: RS – 10hdc in the ring (10)
Round 2: With RS facing up for both pieces, place piece 1 on top of piece 2.  Working both pieces together for the entire round, *2sc* in each st (20).
End off Piece 2 by ss to the first st of the round, count over 6 sts, ss in 6th stitch (this will create the fold in the ear).  Leave a 12” tail for sewing.

Muzzle: The muzzle is worked in continuous oval rounds.  

Using Rose, ch 6

Round 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in the next 3 chs, 3sc in last ch, turn (rotate) and begin working in the other side of the ch, sc in the next 3 chs, 2sc (12)
Round 2:  sc in the next 5 sts, 2sc, puff st, sc in the next 3 sts, puff st, 2sc, (14)
End off leaving an 18” tail for sewing.  

Horns (make 2): The horns are worked in continuous rounds.  

Using Toffee, create a Magic Ring

Round 1: 4sc in Ring (4)
Round 2:  *sc in the next st, 2sc* twice (6) 
End off leaving a 6” tail for sewing.  

Flower:  (Optional)

Created in rounds.

Using Brown, create a Magic Ring

Round 1: 6sc in the ring, join to with ss to first st (6), change to Yellow (end off Brown leaving 12″ tail for sewing) 
Round 2: Working in the FLO *(hdc, ch2, hdc) in each st* 6 times, join with ss to first st (6 petals)
End off, weave in ends not used for sewing

Leaves (make 2):  (Optional) Created in 1 oval round.

Using Lime Green, ch 5

Round 1: dc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, (sc, ch2, sc) in last ch, turn (rotate), hdc in next ch, (dc, ch2, ss) in last ch (6), 
End off leaving 9” tail for sewing 

Sewing Placement – I highly recommend pinning ALL parts in place BEFORE sewing to make sure everything sits properly and is to your liking 🙂

Note:  Disregard sewing the legs, arms and tail if you’ve already crocheted them on. Legs: Place the legs at approx Rounds 4-5 of the body about 3 sts apart at the front of the animal.  Sew in place along Round 5 of the leg.

Arms: Place the arms at approx Round 11 of the body, approx 3 sts apart.  Sew in place.

Eyes: If needed, embroider on sleepy eyes. See video: Sleepy Eyes

Muzzle:   Place the muzzle centred between the eyes between Rounds 14-17.  Sew in place along round 2 of the muzzle, stuff if desired.

Facial Embroidery:   Follow video for embroidering the  eye highlights, eyelashes  and eyebrows (if desired). Video: Face Shaping and Embroidery

Ears:   Place the ears on each side of the head between Rounds 19-21. With the skipped sts facing forward on the head. Sew in place along the skipped Sts and then down the back of the ear (a few sts down).

Horns: Place the horns towards the inside of each ear (Rounds 22-23) of the head.  Sew in place along Round 2 of the horn.

Tail (disregard if you crocheted in the tail): Place the tail centred at the back of the cow at approx Rounds 4-5 of the body.  Sew in place along Round 2 of the tail. Flower/Leaves: Place as desired on the head.  Sew in place.

Congratulations!