Find out how to knit this cute cow from the book, Spud and Chloe at the Farm.

Every farm needs a big brown cow! This big but babyish cow makes the perfect companion for Spud’s adventure. If you’re a novice as far as knitting toys goes, this straightforward project is the perfect place to begin.

See a larger image of the finished craft here.

Finished measurements
8 inches tall, 4 1/2 inches wide, 5 inches long from the front to the back of the body

Yarn
Spud & Chloë Sweater (55% superwash wool, 45% organic cotton; 100 grams/160 yards), 1 hank each in Ice Cream #7500, Root Beer #7503, and Watermelon #7512

Needles
U.S. size 6 (4 mm) double-pointed needles (set of four) or size needed to obtain gauge
U.S. size 6 (4 mm) 16-inch circular needle (optional)

Notions

• Stitch markers
• Ruler or tape measure
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Plastic pellets (optional—do not use for young children or babies, as they pose a choking hazard)
• Polyester fiberfill

Gauge
5-1/2 sts per inch in stockinette stitch

Body
Underside of Body
Starting at the underside of the body, cast on 5 sts with Ice Cream. Use two dpns to work back and forth.
Row 1: K1, m1, knit to the last st, m1, k1.
Row 2: Purl.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 until there are 19 sts. Work in stockinette stitch until the underside measures 3 inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a purl row.

Decrease Rows
Row 1: K1, ssk, knit to the last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 2: Purl. Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 5 sts rem, ending with a row 2.
Next row: K1, ssk, k2tog – 3 sts rem.
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K1, k2tog, pass the first st over the second st and off the needle – 1 st rem.

Top of Body
Switch to Root Beer, and continue picking up stitches around the edge of the underside of the body. On Needle 1 (same needle that is holding the 1 st), pick up 20 sts. On Needle 2, pick up 20 sts. On Needle 3, pick up 19 sts, and transfer the first st in Ice Cream from Needle 1 to Needle 3 – 60 sts total. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch on the first needle. Continue working in the round.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: K1, (k3, m1) six times, k1; repeat on each needle – 26 sts per needle, 78 sts total.
Place a stitch marker on Round 2 and leave it there. At this point, you can work onto a 16-inch circular needle or continue on the dpns. Knit every round until the body measures 3 inches above the marker.


Decrease rounds
If you switched to a circular needle, work back onto the dpns, distributing 26 sts per needle.
Rnd 1: (k11, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 24 sts per needle, 72 sts rem.
Rnd 2: (k10, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 22 sts per needle, 66 sts rem.
Rnds 3 and 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: (k9, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 20 sts per needle, 60 sts rem.
Rnd 6: (k8, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 18 sts per needle, 54 sts rem.
Rnd 7: (k7, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 16 sts per needle, 48 sts rem.
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: (k6, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 14 sts per needle, 42 sts rem.
At this point, fill the bottom of the body with a layer of plastic pellets and stuff the rest with fiberfill or stuff only with fiberfill. Continue to stuff the body with fiberfill until the end.
Rnd 10: (k5, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 12 sts per needle, 36 sts rem.
Rnd 11: (k4, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 10 sts per needle, 30 sts rem.
Rnd 12: (k3, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 8 sts per needle, 24 sts rem.
Rnd 13: Knit.
Rnd 14: (k2, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 6 sts per needle, 18 sts rem.
Rnd 15: (k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.

Finish any remaining stuffing. Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole. Take a few stitches to secure, pull the end to the inside of the body, and trim.

Head
Starting at the back of the head with Ice Cream, cast on 9 sts, placing 3 sts on each of three dpns. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: Kfb in each st – 6 sts per needle, 18 sts total.
Rnds 3 and 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: Kfb in each st – 12 sts per needle, 36 sts total.
Rnds 6 and 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: (k2, kfb); repeat to the end of the round – 16 sts per needle, 48 sts total.

Place a stitch marker on round 8 and leave it there. Knit every round until the head measures 2 inches above the stitch marker.

Decrease rounds
Rnd 1: On Needle 1, ssk, knit to the last 2 stitches, k2tog – 14 sts rem. On Needles 2 and 3, (k2, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 12 sts per needle; 38 sts rem.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: On Needle 1, ssk, knit to the last 2 stitches, k2tog – 12 sts rem. On Needles 2 and 3, (k1, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 8 sts per needle; 28 sts rem.
Rnds 4–10: Knit.
At this point, thread the end from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and take some stitches to close the hole, pulling up tight. Pull the end to the inside of the head and trim. Stuff the head with fiberfill, and continue to add stuffing through the final rounds.
Rnd 11: (k2, k2tog); repeat to the end of the round – 21 sts rem.
Rnd 12: Knit.
Rnd 13: On Needle 1, (k1, k2tog) 3 times – 6 sts rem. On Needles 2 and 3, knit – 18 sts rem.
Rnd 14: (k1, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round – 4 sts per needle, 12 sts rem.

Finish any final stuffing. Then place the first 6 sts on one dpn and the last 6 sts on a second dpn. Cut the yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail, and thread the tail on a yarn needle. Use the Kitchener stitch to graft the tip of the nose together. Pull the end to the inside of the head and trim.

With a length of Ice Cream threaded on a yarn needle, whipstitch the head to the front top of the body. The face should point in the same direction as the point on the underside. Pull the end to the inside of the head or body and trim.

Ears (Make 2)
Outer ear
Cast on 7 sts with Root Beer. Using two dpns, work back and forth in stockinette stitch until the outer ear measures 1½ inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a purl row.

Next row: Ssk, k3, k2tog – 5 sts rem.
Next row: P2tog, p1, p2tog – 3 sts rem.

Bind off. Cut the yarn and pull the end through the remaining st.

Inner ear
Cast on 5 sts with Watermelon. Using two dpns, work back and forth in stockinette stitch until the inner ear measures 1¼ inches from the cast-on edge, ending with a purl row.
Next row: Ssk, k1, k2tog – 3 sts rem.
Next row: Purl.

Bind off. Pull the end through the remaining st.

Place the inner ear on the outer ear with the purl sides together. Thread an end from the inner ear on a yarn needle and whipstitch the outer and inner ears together. Pull the end between the layers and trim.

Thread the cast-on end of the outer ear on a yarn needle and whipstitch the cast-on sides of the outer ear together, starting at the bottom and taking up a couple of stitches from the cast-on edge. Whipstitch the ear to the side of the head, using the photo on page 44 as a guide.

Legs (Make 4)
Cast on 15 sts with Root Beer, placing 5 sts on each of three dpns.
Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Place a stitch marker on the first stitch.
Rnds 1–9: Knit.
Switch to Ice Cream.
Rnds 10–15: Knit.
Rnd 16: (k3, k2tog); repeat on each needle – 4 sts per needle, 12 sts rem.
Rnd 17: (k2, k2tog); repeat on each needle – 3 sts per needle, 9 sts rem.

Cut the yarn, thread it on a yarn needle, and draw it through the remaining sts, pulling tight to close the hole. Pull the end to the inside, weave in, and trim.

Fill the leg about one-third full with plastic pellets and stuff the rest with fiberfill or stuff only with fiberfill. Thread the end from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and whipstitch the leg to the underside of the body. Pull the end to the inside of the leg or body and trim.

Tail
Cast on 4 sts with Root Beer. Use two dpns to work in I-cord until the tail measures 1 inch from the cast-on edge.

Next row: K2tog twice – 2 sts rem.
Next row: K2tog – 1 st rem.

Cut the yarn and pull the end through the remaining st.

With Ice Cream, make a 1-inch tassel with 8 wraps. Use the ends to attach the tassel to the pointy end of the tail. Thread the end from the cast-on sts on a yarn needle and whipstitch the tail to the back end of the body. Pull all ends to the inside of the body and trim.

Face
Eyes
With a length of Root Beer threaded on a yarn needle, take 3 small split stitches for the eyelid. For the eyelashes, take 3 tiny straight stitches.

Nostrils
With a length of Root Beer threaded on a yarn needle, take 2 small straight stitches for each nostril.

 

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Excerpted from Spud & Chloe at the Farm, copyright 2011 by Susan B. Anderson, $16.95. Used by permission of Thomas Allen & Son.