Meet the Cottage Garden Cow – a sweet cream cow in a yellow floral dress, soft green cardigan, matching garden hat, brown Mary Jane shoes, and two accessories: a little basket and a tall sunflower ready for a sunny walk in the garden.
Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- MR – magic ring
- ch – chain
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- inc – increase (2 sc in same st)
- dec – invisible decrease (sc 2 sts together through front loops only)
- BLO – back loop only
- FLO – front loop only
- FO – fasten off
All rounds are worked in continuous spirals unless otherwise stated. Use a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.
Materials
- Sport or light DK weight yarn in:
- Cream (main cow body, ears, tail, part of dress base)
- Light pink/peach (muzzle, inner ears, cheeks if embroidered)
- Medium brown (horns, shoe tops, basket, sunflower center)
- Leaf green (cardigan, hat, dress leaves)
- Soft yellow (dress, hat band, sunflower petals)
- Dark green (sunflower stem and leaves, optional)
- Small amounts of orange or coral (tiny flowers on dress)
- Black embroidery thread or yarn (eyelids, smile, optional spots)
- 8 mm black safety eyes (pair)
- Crochet hook 2.5–2.75 mm (or size that gives tight stitches)
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
- Tapestry needle and pins
- Stitch markers
- Small buttons for cardigan (3 pieces) – or embroider button dots with yarn
Finished size: about 22–24 cm (8.5–9.5 in) tall.
Gauge & Notes
Gauge is not critical, but your stitches must be firm so stuffing doesn’t show. With sport yarn and a 2.5 mm hook, you’ll get around 5–5.5 sc per 1 inch as a reference.
The doll is built in separate pieces:
- Legs joined together and worked up into the body
- Head, ears, horns, arms, and tail attached
- Clothes and accessories are removable
Stuff firmly and evenly, especially head and body, for a stable, standing cow.
Construction Overview
- Crochet legs, join them and build the body.
- Make head, muzzle, ears, horns, arms, and tail.
- Assemble the cow and embroider facial details/patches.
- Make the yellow floral dress and the green cardigan.
- Add the brimmed garden hat and brown Mary Jane shoes.
- Finish with basket and sunflower.
Cow Body
Use cream yarn unless otherwise stated.
Legs (make 2)
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Rounds 5–6: sc around (24) – foot.
Round 7: (4 sc, dec) x 4 (20)
Round 8: (3 sc, dec) x 4 (16)
Rounds 9–15: sc around (16)
Stuff leg firmly. FO first leg only. For second leg, work to Round 15, keep yarn attached.
Join Legs & Body
Round 1: From second leg, ch 3, join to first leg with sc into any st on inner side.
Sc 15 more sts around first leg (16 total), sc 3 along opposite side of ch, sc 16 around second leg. (35 sts)
Round 2: (6 sc, inc) x 5 (40)
Rounds 3–6: sc around (40)
Round 7: (6 sc, dec) x 5 (35)
Round 8: (5 sc, dec) x 5 (30)
Rounds 9–10: sc around (30)
Round 11: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
Round 12: sc around (24)
Round 13: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
Stuff body firmly, shaping a gentle belly.
FO, leaving a tail if you want to use it when sewing the head.
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Head
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
Round 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
Round 7: (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
Rounds 8–13: sc around (42)
Insert safety eyes between Rounds 10 and 11, about 6–7 sts apart.
Round 14: (5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)
Round 15: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
Round 16: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
Round 17: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
Stuff firmly, shaping cheeks and forehead.
Round 18: (sc, dec) x 6 (12)
Round 19: dec around (6)
FO, close opening, leave a long tail for sewing.
Muzzle
Use light pink.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: (sc, inc) x 3 (9)
Round 3: (2 sc, inc) x 3 (12)
Round 4: (3 sc, inc) x 3 (15)
Round 5: sc around (15)
FO leaving long tail. Lightly stuff.
With darker pink or brown yarn, embroider two small nostrils and a short line between them if desired. Position the muzzle centered under the eyes, with the top touching or just below Round 11. Sew all around, shaping it slightly oval.
Use black thread to embroider a small smile under the muzzle.
Ears (make 2)
Outer ear: cream. Inner ear: light pink.
Outer ear
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: (sc, inc) x 3 (9)
Round 3: (2 sc, inc) x 3 (12)
Round 4: (3 sc, inc) x 3 (15)
Rounds 5–6: sc around (15)
FO leaving tail.
Inner ear (flat)
With pink, ch 6.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (5). Turn.
Row 2: ch 1, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog (3). Turn.
Row 3: ch 1, sc3tog (1). FO.
Sew inner ear triangle to inside of outer ear. Slightly fold base of ear and stitch to give a gentle curve. Attach ears to sides of head between Rounds 6–8, with front edges slightly forward.
Horns (make 2)
Use medium brown.
Round 1: 4 sc in MR (4)
Round 2: (sc, inc) x 2 (6)
Rounds 3–6: sc around (6)
Lightly stuff. FO with long tail. Sew horns on top of head, slightly in front of the ears and angled outward.
Arms (make 2)
Use cream.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: (sc, inc) x 3 (9)
Round 3: (2 sc, inc) x 3 (12)
Rounds 4–6: sc around (12)
Round 7: (2 sc, dec) x 3 (9)
Rounds 8–14: sc around (9)
Stuff lightly. FO leaving tail. Attach arms to sides of body around Round 11–12, angled slightly forward.
Tail
Use cream.
Round 1: 5 sc in MR (5)
Rounds 2–7: sc around (5)
FO, lightly stuff or leave flexible. Sew low on the back, pointing downward.
Facial Patches & Blush
With medium brown yarn, embroider small patches on forehead and near eyes using surface stitches or tiny flat patches (for example, ch 4, sc 3 rows) sewn down. Use pink yarn or blush powder to add soft cheeks beneath eyes.
Final Assembly of Cow
- Sew head to body, aligning center front with belly.
- Check that the cow stands straight and that arms hang evenly.
- Weave in any remaining ends securely.
Now dress your cow.
Clothing
Floral Garden Dress
Dress base is yellow with embroidered tiny flowers.
Use soft yellow.
Skirt
Round 1: ch 54, join with sl st (54)
Round 2: ch 1, sc in each st around (54)
Round 3 (BLO): sc around (54)
Rounds 4–10 (BLO): sc around (54)
Round 11 (waist shaping): (7 sc, dec) x 6 (48)
Round 12 (BLO): sc around (48)
FO, seam at center back.
Bodice
Find 18 sts centered on front.
Row 1: Attach yellow yarn in first of these 18 sts, ch 1, sc 18. Turn.
Rows 2–5: ch 1, sc 18, turn.
Row 6: ch 1, sc2tog, sc 14, sc2tog (16). Turn.
Row 7: ch 1, sc 16. FO.
Straps (make 2)
Attach yarn at each top corner of bodice.
Strap: ch 18–20 (enough to go over shoulder to back), FO. Sew end to back waistline roughly above the leg. Repeat for other strap, crossing them slightly at the back.
Flower Embroidery
With cream yarn, embroider tiny daisy shapes around the skirt:
- For each flower, make French knot or small straight stitch center in orange.
- Work 4–5 short cream stitches around center to form petals.
Scatter flowers evenly, leaving some yellow showing between them.
Green Cardigan
Use leaf green. The cardigan is worked flat.
Body
Ch 38.
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across (37). Turn.
Rows 2–7: ch 1, sc across (37). Turn.
Row 8 (armholes):
sc 8 (right front), ch 4 (skip 4), sc 13 (back), ch 4 (skip 4), sc last 8 (left front). Turn.
Row 9: ch 1, sc 8, sc 4 into armhole ch, sc 13, sc 4 into next armhole ch, sc 8 (37). Turn.
Rows 10–13: ch 1, sc across (37). FO.
This gives a short cardigan that ends just above the dress waist.
Sleeves (make 2)
Attach green yarn at underside of an armhole.
Round 1: sc around armhole evenly (18 sts).
Rounds 2–5: sc around (18)
Round 6: (4 sc, dec) x 3 (15)
Round 7: sc around (15)
FO and weave in ends. Repeat for the other sleeve.
Add three small buttons along right front edge, or embroider little green or brown circles as faux buttons.
Garden Sun Hat
Use leaf green.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Round 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
Round 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
Rounds 7–9: sc around (36) – crown sides.
Brim:
Round 10 (FLO): (5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)
Round 11: (6 sc, inc) x 6 (48)
Round 12: sc around (48)
FO and weave in. The brim should be soft and gently curve downward. Place hat over the horns and ears so the front brim frames the face.
Brown Mary Jane Shoes (make 2)
Use medium brown.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
Round 5: sc around (24)
Round 6: (6 sc, dec) x 3 (21)
Round 7: (5 sc, dec) x 3 (18)
Round 8 (upper): sc 5, ch 6 (strap), skip 4 sts, sc in remaining 9 (18).
Round 9: sc around, including 1 sc in each ch of strap (18).
FO and weave in. Slip onto feet; you can secure strap with a tiny stitch to keep it in place.
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Accessories
Basket
Use medium brown.
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
Round 4: BLO sc around (18)
Rounds 5–7: sc around (18)
Round 8: FLO sl st around (18) for a neat rim. FO.
Handle:
Ch 18, sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. FO. Sew each end inside basket rim so it arches nicely. Place basket in one hand or tack with a few stitches.
Sunflower
Center: medium brown. Petals: yellow. Stem/leaves: dark green.
Center
Round 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
Round 2: inc around (12)
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
FO leaving tail.
Petals
Attach yellow to any st on Round 3. Repeat around:
(sl st, ch 3, dc in same st, ch 3, sl st in next st)
You’ll get a ring of long petals. FO and weave in.
Stem
With dark green, ch desired stem length (about 10–12 cm).
Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and across. FO.
Leaves (make 2)
Ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next, dc in next, hdc in last, FO. Sew along stem about 1/3 and 2/3 down.
Sew top of stem to back of sunflower center. Tack bottom of stem into cow’s hand so she “holds” the flower.
Final Styling
- Dress the cow in the floral yellow dress, closing the back seam if needed with a few stitches or a snap.
- Put on the green cardigan and button or leave slightly open.
- Slide brown Mary Janes onto her feet.
- Place the garden hat over her head, letting horns and ears peek out.
- Put the basket in one hand and the sunflower in the other, stitching lightly so they stay in place for display.
Your Cottage Garden Cow is now ready to stand on a wooden bench, beside a sofa, or in your favorite plant corner – a perfectly pastel crochet friend that looks just like a handmade photo-ready toy.
