Caroline the Cow Free Amigurumi Pattern

Make this for the cow lover in your life and they’ll be over the moon! (Or was that the cow?) This crochet cow is 14 inches tall when crocheted with a 3.5mm hook & worsted-weight yarn.

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free cow crochet pattern

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.

Speaking of barnyards, did you know I have a whole collection of farm animal crochet patterns? If you like making Caroline the Cow, you’ll love making her farm friends like Paisley the Pig and Heidi the Horse!

crochet cow free amigurumi pattern

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 - free crochet pattern

Video Tutorials


Caroline the Cow

Height: 14 inches (36 cm) standing
Skill Level: Intermediate
Terms: US 🇺🇸
Caroline loves grazing in the pasture, smelling the daisies, and frolicking in the sunshine with all her farm friends. Happy cows make the best milk!

277 yards of acrylic (weight 4) yarn:

  • Gray – 35 yards (32m / 19g)
  • Pink – 29 yards (27m / 16g)
  • White – 194 yards (177m / 108g)
  • Black – 19 yards (17m / 11g)

Notes

Abbreviations
  • ch – chain
  • dc – double crochet
  • 2dc – complete two double crochets in the same stitch
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • sc – single crochet
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • 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
  • FLO – crochet in the front loop only
  • *sc x* – repeat the instructions between asterisks(*) the indicated number of times
  • [sc x, *x* 2 times] – complete the stitches listed in the brackets the indicated number of times in order(sc x) – attach a body part while completing the stitches inside parentheses as instructed by the pattern
  • {x, y} – complete the stitches listed in curly brackets within the same stitch
General Instructions
  • This pattern is worked in continuous rounds without joining.
  • Use a stitch marker to mark the end of each round. Move the marker up each round.
  • Work all stitches in both loops unless the pattern instructs otherwise.
  • Before starting the project, review the video tutorials section.
Steps to complete this pattern
  1. Crochet the Horns
  2. Crochet the Top Side of Ears
  3. Crochet the Bottom Side of Ears
  4. Crochet together both sides of Ears
  5. Crochet the Head
  6. Sew the Horns to the Head
  7. Sew the Ears to the Head
  8. Crochet the Legs
  9. Crochet the Arms
  10. Crochet the Body
  11. Sew the Body to the Head
  12. Add cloven detail to the Hooves
  13. Crochet the Spots
  14. Sew the Spots to the Body
  15. Crochet the Tail
  16. Sew the Tail to the Body
Video Tutorials
I’ve made lots of video tutorials that will be referenced throughout this pattern. They will be marked with a clickable play button symbol. A full list of tutorials can be found in the video tutorials section of the pattern.

Instructions

Horns (make 2)


  • With gray yarn:

    01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
    02. sc 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]

    Fasten off, leaving an 18-inch (46 cm) yarn tail. Stuff the horns firmly. The horns are now ready to sew onto the head at a later step.

Bottom Side of Ears (make 2)


  • With pink yarn:

    01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
    02. inc in each st around [12]
    03. *sc, inc* 6 times [18]
    04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
    05. *sc 3, inc* 6 times [30]
    06. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]

    Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch (15 cm) yarn tail. Create an Invisible Finish, then secure the remaining yarn tail to the back of the work. Trim each yarn tail short (~1 in / ~2.5 cm).

Top Side of Ears (make 2)


  • Ear 1 – with white yarn; Ear 2 – with black yarn:

    01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
    02. inc in each st around [12]
    03. *sc, inc* 6 times [18]
    04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
    05. *sc 3, inc* 6 times [30]
    06. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]

    Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch (15 cm) yarn tail. Create an Invisible Finish, then secure the remaining yarn tail to the back of the work. Trim each yarn tail short (~1 in / ~2.5 cm).

Crochet the Bottom & Top Side of Ears Together


  • Ear 1 – with white yarn; Ear 2 – with black yarn:

    Take (one) Top Side of Ear and (one) Bottom Side of Ear and place wrong sides together. With yarn in the same color as Top Side of Ear, attach the pieces together by placing one sc through both loops of Top Side of Ear and FLO of Bottom Side of Ear in each st around.

    Fasten off, leaving an 18-inch (46 cm) yarn tail. Fold the ear in half and Slip Stitch Closed through 4 sts. Leave remaining tail. The ears are now ready to sew to the head at a later step.

    To view a tutorial, watch my Round Folded Ears video. It shows how to create a deer tail but the construction is the same.

Head


  • With pink yarn:

    01. Chain 7 Start: inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 4, sc 5 in the last ch. Working on opposite side of chain base, sc 4, sc 3 in the last ch [18]
    02. inc, sc 6, *inc* 3 times, sc 6, *inc* 2 times [24]
    03. inc, sc 8, *inc* 2 times, sc, inc, sc 8, *inc* 2 times, sc [30]
    04. [inc, sc 10, *inc, sc* 2 times] 2 times [36]
    05. [inc, sc 12, inc, sc 2, inc, sc] 2 times [42]
    06. [inc, sc 14, *inc, sc 2* 2 times] 2 times [48]
    07. [inc, sc 16, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 2] 2 times [54]
    08. [inc, sc 18, *inc, sc 3* 2 times] 2 times [60]
    09. sc in each st around [60]

    10. sc 15, switch to white yarn: sc 45 [60]

    11. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
    12. sc in each st around [54]
    13. *sc 7, dec* 6 times [48]
    14. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
    15. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
    16. *sc 7, inc* 6 times [54]
    17. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
    18. sc in each st around [60]

    Marking Stitches for the Eyes: Insert two strands of yarn 18 stitches apart between rounds 17 & 18 (see Figure 1). These strands show you where to place your safety eyes at a later step.

    19 – 27. sc in each st around [60]

    Marking Stitches for the Horns: Insert two strands of yarn 16 stitches apart between rounds 26 & 27 (see Figure 2). These strands show you where to sew your horns at a later step.

    28. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
    29. *sc 7, dec* 6 times [48]
    30. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
    31. *sc 5, dec* 6 times [36]
    32. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]

    Stuff head ¾ full and create the eye indents. Insert safety eyes and secure backings. To view a tutorial, watch my Indent Eyes video.

    33. *sc 3, dec* 6 times [24]
    34. sc, dec, *sc 2, dec* 5 times, sc [18]
    35. *sc, dec* 6 times [12]

    Finish stuffing.

    36. *dec* 6 times [6]

    Close with an Ultimate Finish.

    Sewing the Horns to the Head: Using the attached yarn tails and a yarn needle, sew the horns to the head at the marked stitches. Hide the remaining yarn tail inside the work.

    Sewing the Ears to the Head: Using the attached yarn tails and a yarn needle, sew the ears to the head, right next to the horns. If your cow does not have horns, use the marked stitches of horns for ear placement. Hide the remaining yarn tail inside the work.

Legs (make 2)


  • With gray yarn:

    01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
    02. inc in each st around [12]
    03. *sc, inc* 6 times [18]
    04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
    05. *sc 3, inc* 6 times [30]
    06. BLO: sc in each st around [30]
    07 – 08. sc in each st around [30]

    09. switch to white yarn: sc in each st around [30]

    10. sc 14, dec, sc 14 [29]
    11. sc 27, dec [28]
    12. sc 13, dec, sc 13 [27]
    13. sc 25, dec [26]
    14. sc 12, dec, sc 12 [25]
    15. sc 23, dec [24]
    16. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
    17. sc 21, dec [22]
    18. sc 10, dec, sc 10 [21]
    19. sc 19, dec [20]
    20. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
    21. sc 17, dec [18]
    22. *sc 7, dec* 2 times [16]
    23. *sc 2, dec* 4 times [12]

    Fasten off and leave a 12-inch (30 cm) yarn tail. Stuff the leg. Press the final round together and Slip Stitch Closed, then hide the remaining yarn tail inside the work.

    The legs are now ready to attach as you crochet the body at a later step.

Arms (make 2)


  • With gray yarn:

    01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
    02. inc in each st around [12]
    03. *sc, inc* 6 times [18]
    04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
    05. BLO: sc in each st around [24]
    06 – 07. sc in each st around [24]

    08. switch to white yarn: sc in each st around [24]

    09. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
    10. sc in each st around [23]
    11. sc 21, dec [22]
    12. sc in each st around [22]
    13. sc 10, dec, sc 10 [21]
    14. sc in each st around [21]
    15. sc 19, dec [20]
    16. sc in each st around [20]
    17. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
    18. sc in each st around [19]
    19. sc 17, dec [18]
    20. sc in each st around [18]
    21. sc 8, dec, sc 8 [17]
    22. sc in each st around [17]
    23. sc 15, dec [16]
    24 – 25. sc in each st around [16]
    26. *sc 2, dec* 4 times [12]

    Fasten off and leave a 12-inch (30 cm) yarn tail. Stuff the arm. Press the final round together and Slip Stitch Closed, then hide the remaining yarn tail inside the work.

    The arms are now ready to attach as you crochet the body at a later step.

Body


  • With white yarn:

    01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
    02. inc in each st around [12]
    03. *sc, inc* 6 times [18]
    04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
    05. *sc 3, inc* 6 times [30]
    06. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]

    Attaching the Legs: Attach the legs as you crochet the next round. To view a tutorial, watch my Attach Legs video.

    07. attach the first leg: (sc 5, inc), sc 5, inc, attach the second leg: (sc 5, inc), *sc 5, inc* 3 times [42]

    08. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
    09. *sc 7, inc* 6 times [54]
    10. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
    11 – 17. sc in each st around [60]
    18. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
    19. sc in each st around [54]
    20. *sc 7, dec* 6 times [48]
    21. sc in each st around [48]
    22. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
    23 – 24. sc in each st around [42]
    25. *sc 5, dec* 6 times [36]
    26 – 27. sc in each st around [36]
    28. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
    29. sc in each st around [30]

    Attaching the Arms: Attach the arms as you crochet the next round. To view a tutorial, watch my Attach Arms video.

    30. sc, attach the first arm: (sc 6), sc 8, attach the second arm: (sc 6), sc 9 [30]

    At the end of round 30, the arms should appear centered above the legs. If your arms appear off center, redo the round and adjust the placement of the arms as necessary.

    Stuff the body.

    31. *sc 3, dec* 6 times [24]

    Fasten off and leave a tail the length of your arm span (~65 in / ~165 cm).

    Sewing the Body to the Head: To view a tutorial, watch my How to Sew Body to Head video.

    Finishing the Hooves: To view a tutorial, watch my Cloven Hooves video.

Small Spot (make 2)


  • With black yarn:

    01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
    02. inc in each st around [12]
    03. hdc, 2dc in same st, hdc, {sl st, hdc} in same st, dc, 2dc in same st, hdc,
    {sl st, hdc} in same st, dc, 2dc in same st, dc, {hdc, sl st} in same st [18]

    Fasten off, leaving an 18-inch (46 cm) tail. The Small Spots are now ready to sew to the body at a later step.

Large Spot (make 2)


  • With black yarn:

    01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
    02. inc in each st around [12]
    03. *sc, inc* 6 times [18]
    04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
    05. sc, hdc 2, 2dc in same st, dc 2, hdc, {hdc, sc} in same st, sl st, hdc, dc, 2dc in same st, hdc, sl st, hdc, 2dc in same st, dc 3, {hdc, sc} in same st, inc, sc 2, sl st [30]

    Fasten off, leaving an 18-inch (46 cm) tail.

    Sewing on the Spots: Using the photos at the top of the pattern as an example, pin (one) Small Spot and (one) Large Spot to the front of the body. Sew each spot in place. Repeat for back of body. To view a tutorial, watch my Invisible Stitching video.

Tail


  • With white yarn:

    01. start 6 sc into a Magic Ring [6]
    02 – 08. sc in each st around [6]

    Fasten off and leave a 12-inch (30 cm) yarn tail. Press the final round together and Slip Stitch Closed. Using a yarn needle, thread the yarn tail through the tail and out the magic ring.

    Adding the Tail TuftWith black yarn, on end of tail that was slip stitched closed:

    01. join with a sl st to first st, ch 6, sl st into same st
    02. *sl st in next st, ch 6, sl st in same st* repeat across

    Fasten off. Hide the black yarn tails inside the work.

    Sewing on the Tail: Using the attached yarn tail, sew on the tail centered over round 11 on the back side of the body. Secure with a knot. Hide the remaining yarn tail inside the work.

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