Crochet Cow Pattern For Beginners

Please note that some of the links in my blog are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase via these links, but the price you pay is not affected

Crochet Cow Pattern for Beginners | Free Crochet Pattern

Today we welcome another guest designer, Christina of Creative Snugglies, who is sharing her Crazy Nelly the Cow crochet pattern so that we can create an Amigurumi Cow of our own to cuddle.

Christina created this cute crochet cow with a new pattern collection in mind and she is kindly sharing the 1st pattern with us right here.

Without further delay, I will hand you over to Christina so she can share more of her inspiration behind her crochet cow pattern along with her beautiful daughters story, all about Nelly the Crazy Cow.

Crochet Cow Pattern Inspiration | Nelly the Crazy Cow

Christina - "This year I wanted focus my crochet patterns with a theme and this year's collection will be farm animals and Nelly the Crazy Cow is the 1st pattern to be featured in this collection.

With each of my Amigurumi animals patterns that I create, there will be corresponding patterns to match including a security blanket, a pillow, and more.

If your children are anything like mine, they love just one type of animal, and want all the things featuring that animal.

My daughter, Bella, is a huge influence on my crochet patterns and she wanted to share a story about Nelly that tells you all about what this crochet cow gets up to:

"Nelly is a cow.  She is sweet and nice and well, CRAZY!  She loves to cuddle at night, and she will keep you company all the time.  She will love you no matter what and that’s Crazy Nelly.”

I simply love that Bella has her very own Nelly to cuddle at night - who will you be making a crochet cow for?

Purchase the Printable PDF Pattern

You can read of to see the full pattern or you can purchase a copy of the printable PDF of this crochet cow pattern designed by Creative Snugglies by clicking the button below to be taken to your preferred pattern shop.

Skill Level: Beginner

Materials:

• Worsted/Size 4 yarn - I used I Love This Yarn Solid (100% acrylic, 7 oz/199 grams, 355 yards/320 meters) in the following 2 shades
• Color A - White - 150 yds.
• Color B - Soft Blue - 90 yards,
• Size G/6, 4.0 mm crochet hook
• Polyfil (toy stuffing)
• Yarn needle to weave in ends and sew pieces together
• Stitch markers
• Scissors 
• Safety Eyes (optional) - if you are making this for a child under the age of 3 I would substitute the safety eyes and embroider eyes on before stuffing.

Abbreviations: US terms (UK in brackets)

St(s)                              Stitches

Ch                                  Chain

Sc (Dc)                         Single crochet (Double Crochet)

Sc2Tog (Dc2Tog)     Single Crochet 2 together (Double crochet 2 together) - This decrease stitch can be substituted with the Invisible Decrease

Sl st                               Slip stitch

MC                                 Magic circle (adjustable ring)

FO                                 Finish off

Gauge:

• is not essential but a consistent tension is recommended

Finished Size:

• 14” x 10” x 5” approximately

Pattern Notes:

• Read through the entire pattern first
• Snout & Head, Body, Arms/Legs, and Ears are all work in a spiral
• Place a stitch markers into your 1st first stitch in the round
• Large and Small Spots are worked in the round (joined with a slip stitch)
• Tail is worked flat
• Sl st DOES NOT count as a stitch throughout the pattern
• Ch1 at the beginning of the rows DOES NOT count as a stitch
• Repeat stitches between * and * around to end of the round
• Alternative to MC - Ch 2; work number of SC specified in the 2nd chain from the hook

Nelly the Crazy Cow | Crochet Cow Pattern Free

Snout & Head: 

Worked in continuous rounds

Round 1:  Using Color B. Ch 11; SC in the 2nd chain from the hook and in the next 8 chains; 2 SC in the last ch.  Turn 180 degrees, working into the opposite side of beginning ch,  SC in the next 7 chains; 2 SC in the last chain.  (20 sts)

Round 2:  2 SC in the next st; SC in the next 8 sts; 2 SC in each of the next 2 sts; SC in the next 8 sts; 2 SC in the last st.  (24 sts)

Round 3:  2 SC in the next st; 2 SC in the next st; SC in the next 9 sts; 2 SC in each of the next 2 sts; SC in the next 11 sts.  (28 sts)

Round 4-5:  SC in each st around, change to Color A in the last st of round 5 and FO Color B.  (28 sts) (2 rounds total)

Round 6-13:  Using Color A. SC in each st around.  (28 sts)  (8 rounds total)

Round 14:  Sc2tog twice; SC in the next 10 sts; Sc2tog twice; SC in the next 10 sts.  (24 sts)

Rnds 15-18:  SC in each st around.  (24 sts)

Insert safety eyes between Rounds 16 & 17 with 4 sts in between each eye and start stuffing

Round 19: *SC in the next 4 sts; Sc2tog.*  Repeat around.  (20 sts)

Round 20: *SC in the next 3 sts; Sc2tog.*  Repeat around.  (16 sts)

Round 21: *SC in the next 2 sts; Sc2tog.*  Repeat around. Add more stuffing. (12 sts)

Round 22:  Sc2tog around.  (6 sts)

FO with a 4” tail.  Using needle, weave tail in and out of the front loops to close the hole.  Hide tail.

Body | Crochet Cow Pattern

Round 1: Using Color A, create MC; 6 SC in the MC.  (6 sts) (Alternative to MC - Ch 2; work 6SC in the 2nd chain from the hook.)

Round 2: 2 SC in each st around.  (12 sts)

Round 3: *SC in the next st; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (18 sts)

Round 4: *SC in each of the next 2 sts; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (24 sts)

Round 5: *SC in each of the next 3 sts; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (30 sts)

Round 6: *SC in each of the next 4 sts; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (36 sts)

Rounds 7-12: SC in each st around.  (36 sts) (6 rounds total)

Round 13: *SC in each of the next 4 sts; Sc2tog.*  Repeat around. Begin Stuffing. (30 sts)

Rounds 14-15:  SC in each st around.  (30 sts) (2 total rounds)

Round 16: *SC in each of the next 3 sts; Sc2tog.*  Repeat around.  (24 sts)

Rounds 17-18: SC in each st around. Continue Stuffing. (24 sts) (2 total rounds)

Round 19: *SC in each of the next 2 sts; Sc2tog.*  Repeat around.  (18 sts)

Rounds 20-23: SC in each st around.  (18 sts) (4 total rounds)

Round 24: *SC in the next st; Sc2tog.*  Repeat around.  (12 sts) 

Rounds 25-26:  SC in each st around.  (12 sts) (2 total rounds)

Finish stuffing, FO with a 6” tail to sew to head.

Arms & Legs | Crochet Cow Pattern Free

Make 4 - Worked in a spiral without joining each round.

Round 1: Using Color B: MC; 6 SC in MC.  (6 sts) (Alternative to MC - Ch 2; work 6SC in the 2nd chain from the hook.)

Round 2: 2 SC in each st around.  (12 sts)

Round 3: *SC in the next st; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around.  (18 sts)

Round 4: SC in each st around. Change to Color A in last st and FO Color B.  (18 sts)

Rounds 5-8: Continuing in Color A. SC in each st around.  (18 sts) (4 total rounds)

****Start Stuffing.****

Round 9: *SC in the next st; Sc2tog.*  Repeat around.  (12 sts)

Rounds 10-17: SC in each st around.  (12 sts) (8 total rounds)

****Finish stuffing.****

Round 18: Sc2tog around.  FO with a 6” tail to sew to body.  Fold flat and sew arms/legs closed using tail and a needle.

Ears & Tail | Crochet Cow Pattern Free

Ears - Make 2 - Worked in a spiral without joining each round.

Round 1: Using Color A. Ch 6; 2 SC in the 2nd chain from the hook; SC in the next 3 chains; 4 SC in the last Ch.  Turn work 180 degrees, and work in the opposite side of beginning chain. SC in the next 3 ch; 2 SC in the last ch.  (14 sts)

Round 2: SC in each st around. Change to Color B in the last st and FO Color A.  (14 sts)

Round 3: SC in each st around.  (14 sts) FO with a 6” tail to ears to the head.

Tail - Make 1 - worked in 1 row.

Row 1: Using Color B. Ch 25; Sl st in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each chain across.  FO with a 6” tail to sew to the body. (24)

Cow Spots | Crochet Cow Pattern Free

Large Spots - Make 2 - worked in the round, slip stitch to join each round

Round 1: Using Color B: MC; 6 SC in MC; Sl st to the 1st st to join.  (6 sts) (Alternative to MC - Ch 2; work 6SC in the 2nd chain from the hook.)

Round 2: Ch 1; 2 SC in each st around; Sl st to the 1st st to join.  (12 sts)

Round 3: Ch 1; *SC in the next st; 2 SC in the next st.*  Repeat around; Sl st to the first st to join.  (18 sts)

Round 4: Ch 1; *SC in the next 2 sts; 2 SC  in the next st.*  Repeat around; Sl st to the first st to join.  (24 sts)

Round 5: Ch 1; SC in each st around; Sl st to the first st to join.  (24 sts)

FO with a 6” tail to sew to body where you like their placement.

Small Spots - Make 4 - worked in the round, slip stitch to join each round

Round 1: Using Color B. MC; 6 SC in MC; sl st to the first st to join.  (6 sts) (Alternative to MC - Ch 2; work 6SC in the 2nd chain from the hook.)

Round 2:  Ch 1; 2 SC in each st around; sl st to the first st to join.  (12 sts)

Rounds 3-4: Ch 1; SC in each st around; sl st to the first st to join.  (12 sts) (2 total rounds)

FO with a 6” tail to sew to body to body where you like their placement.

A huge thank you to Christina for sharing her lovely crochet cow pattern and for Bella telling us her a story of Nelly the Crazy Cow. 

To find out more about Christina and her Creative Snugglies, click here to visit her blog or follow her on Instagram or Facebook.

If you'd like to get your hands on a printable version of this crochet pattern, simply select which pattern shop you'd like to purchase from below.



*This pattern and its images are copyright protected and the sole property of Fiona Field/Cosy Rosie UK 2021. Please do not redistribute, transfer, sell the pattern, or alter it to claim as your own. *