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I had an embarrassing nickname growing up… 😳
Before I became Jess Huff, my last name was Barnard. On my elementary school playground, some clever 8-year-old thought to call me “Barnyard,” and my fate was sealed. I was mooed at for many a year!
When I got married, I wasn’t sad to ditch my maiden name. There are many reasons why I married my amazing husband, but taking his last name may have been reason enough. 😂
“Huff” is short, easy to spell, and to pronounce. As a bonus, I’ve officially left all that “Barnyard” nonsense behind me.
A whole collection of free farm animal crochet patterns!
I never thought I’d shake my negative association with barnyards and bovines, but I absolutely loved designing Caroline the Cow.
Of all the animal crochet patterns I’ve created, Caroline might be my favorite. Be sure to check out her pal Heidi the Horse. I look forward to creating the rest of her farm friends!
A quick note on horns
There has been a hot debate over this crochet cow! I just want to confirm that yes, Caroline the Cow is a girl. Horns are common on both male and female cows, especially in dairy breeds.
Many dairy farmers dehorn their cows, but I made the artistic choice to include Caroline’s horns. You are welcome to omit them if you prefer.
Caroline the Cow
Height: 14" standing
Skill level: Intermediate
Ravelry: Caroline the CowCaroline loves grazing in the pasture, smelling the daisies, and frolicking in the sunshine with all her farm friends. Happy cows make the best milk!
Skill level: Intermediate
Ravelry: Caroline the CowCaroline loves grazing in the pasture, smelling the daisies, and frolicking in the sunshine with all her farm friends. Happy cows make the best milk!
Supplies
Yarn (acrylic, weight 4) – 277 total yards
- Pink – 29 yards (I used I Love This Yarn! – Soft Pink)
- White – 194 yards (I used I Love This Yarn! – White)
- Black – 19 yards (I used I Love This Yarn! – Black)
- Gray – 35 yards (I used I Love This Yarn! – Gray Mist)
Notes
Abbreviations
General Instructions
Recommended Sequence
Here are the steps to create your cow, in order:
Crochet Video Tutorials
Assembly Tutorials
Finishing the Ears
Head: Round 9 – Additional Stitches
Head: Round 18 – Marking Stitches for the Eyes
Head: Round 27 – Marking Stitches for the Horns
How to Indent the Eyes
How to Crochet the Tail Tuft
How to Make Cloven Hooves
- ch – chain
- slst – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- inc – complete two single crochets within the same stitch
- dec – combine two stitches into one with an invisible decrease
- BLO – crochet in the back loop only
- *sc x* – repeat the instructions between asterisks(*) the indicated number of times. If the pattern doesn’t tell you how many times to repeat, then repeat the sequence until you reach the end of the round.
- (x + y) – complete the stitches listed in the parenthesis in the same stitch. For example, if the pattern says (hdc + sc), you would do a half double crochet and a single crochet in the same stitch.
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- 2dc – complete two double crochets in the same stitch
General Instructions
- Work all stitches in both loops unless the pattern instructs otherwise.
- This pattern is worked in one continuous spiral. Do not join rounds unless the pattern indicates otherwise (in other words, do not slip stitch and chain to start a new round).
- Use a stitch marker to keep track of where one round ends and the next begins. I prefer to place my stitch marker in the last stitch of the round.
Recommended Sequence
Here are the steps to create your cow, in order:
- Crochet the Horns
- Crochet the Ears – Bottom Side
- Crochet the Ears – Top Side
- Combine the Tops & Bottoms of Ears
- Crochet the Head
- Attach the Horns to the Head
- Attach the Ears to the Head
- Crochet the Body
- Crochet the Arms
- Crochet the Legs
- Crochet the Tail
- Crochet the Spots
- Attach the Head to the Body
- Attach the Legs to the Body
- Attach the Arms to the Body
- Attach the Tail to the Body
- Sew the Spots to the Body
- Add “cloven” details to Arms & Legs
Crochet Video Tutorials
Assembly Tutorials
- How to attach the head to the body
- How to attach the legs to the body
- How to attach the arms to the body
- How to attach the tail to the body
Finishing the Ears
Note: The video shows alternate colors and refers to the project as a tail, but the technique is the same!
Take a pink circle (the “Bottom Side”) and a black or white circle (the “Top Side”) and put the wrong sides together. Attach them by single crocheting around (see video tutorial).
This sc round should be done through both loops of each Top Side (black or white) stitch and only the front loop of each Bottom Side (pink) stitch, with the black or white side facing up.
Once you’ve crocheted around, do not fasten off. Fold the ear in half like a taco. We’re going to partially slip-stitch it closed: slst 4 times to attach the first four stitches in the round with the last four stitches in the round.
Fasten off. Using a yarn needle, thread the tail under the slip stitches and pull it through so it’s ready to be attached to the head.
Head: Round 9 – Additional Stitches
At the end of round 9, continue to single crochet until your most recent stitch is centered above your chain 7 start, as pictured. This ensures your color join will be on the bottom of the head.
These additional stitches are not included in the stitch count for round 9 nor for round 10.
Move your stitch marker to the last stitch you made and continue on with round 10 as normal.
Head: Round 18 – Marking Stitches for the Eyes
Between rounds 17 and 18, you are going to insert 2 markers, showing you where to insert the eyes at a later step.
Center the markers above the snout with 18 stitches in between (counted on row 17), as shown in the photo.
Note that the eye markers should be on the opposite side of your color join.
You will leave the eye markers in place as you crochet rounds 19 – 32, so I recommend using strands of yarn to mark these stitches, ensuring they’re easy to crochet around.
Use a yarn needle to insert each strand to mark your stitches.
Head: Round 27 – Marking Stitches for the Horns
Between rounds 26 and 27, you are going to insert 2 markers, showing you where to attach the horns at a later step.
Center the horn markers above the eye markers with 16 stitches in between (counted on row 26), as shown in the photo.
You will leave the stitch markers in place as you crochet the remaining rounds of the head, so I recommend using strands of yarn to mark these stitches, ensuring they’re easy to crochet around.
Use a yarn needle to insert each strand to mark your stitches.
Note: You will attach the ears right beside each horn (see slider photos to get a better idea of placement).
If your cow will not have any horns, you can either start attaching the ears at the horn markers, or a few stitches lower on each side. Do whatever you feel looks best!
How to Indent the Eyes
Note: This video shows a unicorn, but the technique is the same for all of my patterns.
Cut a strand of yarn approximately 18″ long. Tie a large, secure knot in one end and thread the other end through your yarn needle.
Insert your needle through the back opening of the head and sew between the two spots where you’ll be placing your safety eyes (marked with strands of yarn).
Pull your strand of yarn taut, which will create indents. Fasten off with a knot and hide your yarn tail inside the head.
How to Crochet the Tail Tuft
Note: The video shows alternate colors, but the technique is the same!
With black yarn, create a slip knot on your hook. slst into the first stitch, chain 6, then slst into the same stitch.
Repeat this process in the 2 remaining stitches across: slst into the next stitch, chain 6, then slst into the same stitch.
Fasten off and hide the yarn tails inside the work with a yarn needle.
How to Make Cloven Hooves
Note: The video shows alternate colors, but the technique is the same!
At this point your arm/leg should be stuffed and slip-stitched closed. In fact, I recommend doing this step very last, after your arms and legs are attached, so you can make sure the cloven part faces out.
Start with an 18″ strand of gray yarn and attach one end to a yarn needle.
Pass the needle through the magic ring in the center of your hoof, then through the top of the hoof (above the last round of gray). Repeat this process a few times, pulling the yarn taut each time.
When you’re satisfied with the look, attach the starting tail to the ending tail with a secure knot. Hide both tails inside the work.
Instructions
Horns (make 2)
01. start 3 sc into a magic ring [3]02. inc in each st around [6]03. inc, sc 4, inc [8]04. sc in each st around [8]05. inc, sc 6, inc [10]06. sc in each st around [10]07. inc, sc 8, inc [12]08. sc in each st around [12]
Ears – Bottom Side (make 2)
Ears – Top Side (make 2 – one white, one black)
For detailed instructions and a video tutorial on how to finish the ears, see "Finishing the Ears" in the Notes section of the pattern.
Head
Body
Arms (make 2)
Legs (make 2)
Small Spots (make 2)
Large Spots (make 2)
Tail
