Knitted Cow Doll by Sarah Keen (Free Pattern)

HOW TO MAKE COW:

Sew up all row-end seams on the right side using mattress stitch one stitch in from the edge unless otherwise stated; a one-stitch seam allowance has been allowed.

BODY:
 
Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 36 sts.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: K1, (k8, m1, k1, m1, k8) twice, k1 (40 sts).
Rows 3 to 9: Beg with a p row, work 7 rows in st-st. Join yarn B and the second ball of yarn A and work in intarsia, twisting the yarn on the wrong side when changing colors to avoid a hole.
Row 10: Yarn A-k12, yarn B-k10, yarn A (second ball)-k18. Knit next row to mark waist:
Row 11: Yarn A-k18, yarn B-k10, yarn A-k12.
Row 12: Yarn A-k12, yarn B-k10, yarn A-k18.
Row 13: Yarn A-p18, yarn B-p10, yarn A-p12.
Row 14: Yarn A-k13, yarn B-k8, yarn A-k19.
Row 15: Yarn A-p19, yarn B-p8, yarn A-p13.
Row 16: Yarn A-k14, yarn B-k6, yarn A-k20.
Row 17: Yarn A-p20, yarn B-p6, yarn A-p14.
Row 18: Yarn A-k15, yarn B-k4, yarn A-k21.
Row 19: Yarn A-p21, yarn B-p4, yarn A-p15. Cont in yarn A, and dec:
Row 20: K1, (k8, k3tog, k8) twice, k1 (36 sts).
Row 21 and foll
alt row: Purl.
Row 22: K1, (k7, k3tog, k7) twice, k1 (32 sts).
Row 24: K1, (k6, k3tog, k6) twice, k1 (28 sts).
Row 25: Purl.
Cast off.
 
Note:
Sew up the side edges of the body with this seam at the center back, over-sew cast-on stitches. Stuff body leaving neck pen.

HEAD:
 
Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 28 sts.
Rows 1 to 3: Beg with a p row, work 3 rows in st-st.
Row 4: K3, (m1, k2) to last st, k1 (40 sts).
Rows 5 to 13: Work 9 rows in st-st.
 
Join yarn B, and the second ball of yarn A and work in intarsia, twisting the yarn on the wrong side when changing colors to avoid a hole.
 
Row 14: Yarn A-k25, yarn B-k4, yarn A (second ball)-k11.
Row 15: Yarn A-p9, yarn B-p8, yarn A-p23.
Row 16: Yarn A-k22, yarn B-k11, yarn A-k7.
Row 17: Yarn A-p6, yarn B-13, yarn A-p21.
Row 18: Yarn A-k20, yarn B-k15, yarn A-k5.
Row 19: Yarn A-p4, yarn B-p16, yarn A-p20.
Row 20: Yarn A-k20, yarn B-k17, yarn A-k3.
Row 21: Yarn A-p2, yarn B-p18, yarn A-p20.
Row 22: Yarn A-k5, (k2tog, k1) 4 times, k3, yarn B-k4, (K2tog, k1) 4 times, k4 (32 sts).
Row 23: Yarn B-p16, yarn A-p16.
Row 24: Yarn A-k4, (k2tog) twice, k1, (k2tog) twice, k3, yarn B-k3, (k2tog) twice, k1, (k2tog) twice, k4 (24 sts).
Row 25: Yarn B-p5, p3tog, p4, yarn A-p4, p3tog, p5 (20 sts).
Cast off in colors as set.
 
Note:
Sew up the side edges of the head with this seam at the center back, and sew across cast-off stitches at the top. Stuff the head and sew the lower edge of the head to the neck of the body, making a horizontal stitch from the head over one stitch, then a horizontal stitch from the body over one stitch, and do this alternately round.

SNOUT:
 
Using the long tail method and yarn C, cast on 24 sts.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: K3, (m1, k2) to last st, k1 (34 sts).
Rows 3 to 7: Work 5 rows in st-st.
Row 8: K4, (k2tog, k1) 4 times, k3, (k2tog, k1) 4 times, k3 (26 sts).
Row 9: Purl.
Row 10: K3, (k2tog) 4 times, k4, (k2tog) 4 times, k3 (18 sts).
Cast off kwise.
 
Note:
Sew up the side edges of the snout with this seam at the center of the lower half, and sew across cast-off stitches. Stuff snout and pin and sew snout to head.

TROTTERS AND LEGS: (make 2)
 
Using the long tail method and yarn B, cast on 8 sts.
Row 1 and foll alt row: Purl.
Row 2: (Kfb) to end (16 sts).
Row 4: (Kfb, k1) to end (24 sts).
Rows 5 to 9: Work 5 rows in st-st.
Row 10: (K2tog, k1) to end (16 sts).
Row 11: Knit.
Rows 12 to 23: Change to yarn A, and beg with a k row, work 12 rows in st-st.
Cast off.
 
Note:
Gather round cast-on stitches of trotters, pull tight, and secure. Sew up side edges of trotters and legs and stuff trotters and legs. Pin legs to the body, leaving a ¾in (2cm) gap at the crotch, and sew in place. To shape trotters, sew a tight piece of black yarn twice around the trotters' dividing the trotters in half, pull tight, and secure.

TROTTERS AND FOREARMS: (make 2)
 
Using the long tail method and yarn B, cast on 8 sts.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: (Kfb) to end (16 sts).
Rows 3 to 7: Work 5 rows in st-st.
Row 8: K1, k2tog, (k4, k2tog) twice, k1 (13 sts).
Row 9: Knit.
Rows 10 to 21: Change to yarn A, and beg with a k row, work 12 rows in st-st.
Row 22: K1, (k2tog, k1) to end (9 sts). Break yarn, thread through sts on needle, and leave loose.
 
Note:
 
Gather round cast-on stitches of trotters, pull tight, and secure. Sew up side edges of trotters and forearms and stuff. Pull stitches on a thread tight and secure. Sew forearms to Cow at both sides. To shape trotters, use matching yarn and sew a double stitch around the middle of the trotters' dividing the trotters in half, pull tight, and secure.

SKIRT, STRAPS, AND BUTTONS:
 
SKIRT:
 
Using the long tail method and yarn D, cast on 65 sts and beg in g-st.
Rows 1 and 2: Work 2 rows in g-st.
Rows 3 to 12: Beg with a k row, work 10 rows in st-st.
Row 13: K1, (k2tog, k2) to end (49 sts).
Rows 14 and 15: Work 2 rows in g-st, ending with a RS row.
Cast off in g-st.
 
STRAPS: (make 2)
 
Using the long tail method and yarn D, cast on 33 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Cast off kwise.

Note:
"SKIRT, STRAPS, AND BUTTONS"
 
Sew up the side edges of the skirt and place it on the Cow. Sew cast-off stitches of the skirt to the row above the waist using a backstitch. Sew ends of straps to the front of the skirt, take straps over shoulders, cross over, and sew to the back waist. Add two buttons to the front of the skirt.

EARS: (make 2)
 
Note: Make 1 ear using yarn A, and one ear using yarn B. Using the long tail method and yarn A or B, cast on 16 sts.
Rows 1 to 7: Beg with a p row, work 7 rows in st-st.
Row 8: (K2tog) to end (8 sts).
Row 9: Purl. Break yarn and thread through sts on needle, pull tight and secure by threading yarn a second time through sts.
 
Note:
Sew up the side edges of the ears with the seam at the center back, and press flat. Fold cast-on stitches of ears in half, sew in place, and sew ears to head.

HORNS: (make 2)
USING THE LONG TAIL METHOD AND YARN E, CAST ON 11 STS.
 
Rows 1 to 3: Beg with a p row, work 3 rows in st-st.
Row 4: K4, k3tog, k4 (9 sts).
Rows 5 and 6: P 1 row, then k 1 row.
Row 7: P3, p3tog, p3 (7 sts).
Row 8: K2, k3tog, k2 (5 sts). Break yarn and thread through sts on needle, pull tight and secure by threading yarn a second time through sts.
 
Note:
Sew up the side edges of the horns and pull the seam tight to curl the horns. Stuff horns with tweezers or the tip of scissors and sew horns to the head.

FEATURES:
 
Mark the position of the eyes with two pins and embroider eyes in black, making a vertical chain-stitch for each eye, then a second chain-stitch on top of the first. Embroider eyebrows using grey and nostrils in black using straight stitches.

Excerpted with permission from Knitted Farm Friends: 20 Adorable Animals to Make by Sarah Keen.