Her attire is inspired by traditional milkmaid costumes. She wears a striking Royal Blue corset-style dress, detailed with embroidery lacing on the bodice. Underneath, she sports a white blouse with distinct puffy sleeves and a square neckline. To keep her hair tidy while she works, she wears a classic white Mob Cap with a ruffled brim. She walks comfortably in practical brown flat shoes. She is fully equipped for her chores with a shoulder yoke carrying two small pails and a large silver milk churn. She is never alone; a faithful Tabby Cat with striped fur trails behind her, eagerly hoping for a splash of fresh milk. This pattern is designed for intermediate crocheters who love detailed costumes and storytelling accessories.

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
• sc – Single Crochet
• hdc – Half Double Crochet
• dc – Double Crochet
• tr – Treble Crochet
• sl st – Slip Stitch
• inc – Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
• dec – Decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• st(s) – Stitch(es)
• rnd – Round
• row – Row
• BLO – Back Loop Only
• FLO – Front Loop Only
• Bobble St – Used for thumbs or textures (optional)
• FO – Fasten Off

Materials Needed

• DK or Sport weight yarn in Cream (Cow Body)
• DK weight yarn in Chocolate Brown (Spots, Hooves, Shoes, Yoke buckets)
• DK weight yarn in Royal Blue (Dress)
• DK weight yarn in White (Blouse sleeves, Mob Cap)
• DK weight yarn in Silver/Grey (Milk Churn)
• DK weight yarn in Tan/Beige and Brown (Tabby Cat)
• Orange or Rust yarn (Corset lacing embroidery)
• 2.5 mm crochet hook (for amigurumi parts)
• 3.0 mm crochet hook (for clothing)
• Pair of 10mm black safety eyes (Cow)
• Pair of 5mm safety eyes or beads (Cat)
• Dark brown embroidery thread (Nostrils, Mouth)
• A small wooden dowel or skewer (approx 15cm) for the Yoke
• Fiberfill stuffing
• Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers, pins
• Cardboard for shoe soles and milk churn base

Gauge & Finished Size

Work tightly in continuous spiral rounds for the cow body so the stuffing does not show. Using DK yarn and a 2.5mm hook, the finished cow stands approximately 28 cm (11 inches) tall. The clothing is removable to allow for washing or changing outfits.

Construction Overview

The cow is constructed in pieces. The head is a large sphere with a sewn-on muzzle and horns. The brown spots can be crocheted as part of the colorwork or made as separate flat patches and sewn on (this pattern uses patches for easier placement). The body is pear-shaped. The white puffy sleeves of the shirt are integrated into the arm pattern. The Royal Blue dress is a separate garment. The accessories (churn, yoke, cat) are detailed miniatures.

Body Parts

Head

Use Cream yarn and 2.5mm hook.

• Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6)
• Rnd 2: inc around (12)
• Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) repeat around (18)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) repeat around (24)
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) repeat around (30)
• Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) repeat around (36)
• Rnd 7: (5 sc, inc) repeat around (42)
• Rnd 8: (6 sc, inc) repeat around (48)
• Rnd 9: (7 sc, inc) repeat around (54)
• Rnd 10–21: sc around (54) (12 rounds).
• Rnd 22: (7 sc, dec) repeat around (48)
• Rnd 23: (6 sc, dec) repeat around (42)
• Rnd 24: (5 sc, dec) repeat around (36)

Insert safety eyes between Rnds 16 and 17, spaced about 10 stitches apart.

• Rnd 25: (4 sc, dec) repeat around (30)
• Rnd 26: (3 sc, dec) repeat around (24)
• Rnd 27: (2 sc, dec) repeat around (18).

Stuff firmly. FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Muzzle

Use Cream or a slightly lighter shade if preferred.

• Rnd 1: Ch 6. Start 2nd ch from hook: inc, sc 3, 4 sc in last ch. Turn: sc 3, inc (14).
• Rnd 2: inc, sc 5, 2 inc, sc 5, inc (18).
• Rnd 3: sc, inc, sc 5, inc, sc 2, inc, sc 5, inc, sc (22).
• Rnd 4–6: sc around (22).

FO. Sew to the face below the eyes. Stuff lightly. Embroider nostrils with brown thread.

Ears (Make 2)

Use Cream (and Brown for one if you want a spotted ear).

• Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc.
• Rnd 2: (1 sc, inc) around (9).
• Rnd 3: (2 sc, inc) around (12).
• Rnd 4: (3 sc, inc) around (15).
• Rnd 5–8: sc around (15).
• Rnd 9: (3 sc, dec) around (12).

Flatten and sew to the sides of the head.

Horns (Make 2)

Use Beige/Light Brown.

• Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc.
• Rnd 2: (1 sc, inc) around (6).
• Rnd 3–4: sc around. FO. Sew near ears.

Brown Spots (Make 3-4 of various sizes)

Use Chocolate Brown yarn.

• Small Spot: MR 6 sc. FO.
• Medium Spot: MR 6, inc to 12. FO.
• Large Spot: MR 6, inc to 12, (1 sc, inc) to 18. FO.
• Sew these randomly onto the head and body. Ideally, place one large spot over one eye or on the cheek.

Legs (Make 2)

Start with Chocolate Brown (Hooves).

• Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc.
• Rnd 2: inc around (12).
• Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) around (18).
• Rnd 4–6: sc around.
• Change to Cream.
• Rnd 7: (BLO) sc around (18).
• Rnd 8–20: sc around (18).

Stuff firmly. FO first leg. Do not cut yarn on second leg.

Body

Join legs: From second leg, ch 4, join to first leg with sc.

• Rnd 21: sc 18 (leg 1), sc 4 in ch, sc 18 (leg 2), sc 4 in ch (44).
• Rnd 22: (10 sc, inc) repeat around (48).
• Rnd 23–30: sc around (48).
• Rnd 31: (6 sc, dec) repeat around (42).
• Rnd 32–34: sc around (42).
• Rnd 35: (5 sc, dec) repeat around (36).
• Rnd 36–38: sc around (36).
• Rnd 39: (4 sc, dec) repeat around (30).
• Rnd 40–42: sc around (30).
• Rnd 43: (3 sc, dec) repeat around (24).
• Rnd 44: sc around.

Stuff firmly. FO. Sew head to body.

Arms with Puffy Sleeves (Make 2)

Start with Chocolate Brown (Hooves).

• Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc.
• Rnd 2: inc around (12).
• Rnd 3–4: sc around.
• Change to Cream.
• Rnd 5–12: sc around (12).
• Change to White (Sleeve).
• Rnd 13: (FLO) inc around (24). (Puff start).
• Rnd 14–16: sc around (24).
• Rnd 17: dec around (12). Stuff lightly.
• Rnd 18: sc around.

FO. Sew arms to the body. The white puff should look like a shirt sleeve under the dress.

The Milkmaid’s Wardrobe

Royal Blue Corset Dress

Use Royal Blue yarn and 3.0mm hook. Worked waist-down.

• Waist: Ch 40 (check fit). Join. sc around (40).
• Rnd 2: (BLO) (4 sc, inc) around (48).
• Skirt:
• Rnd 3–15: dc around (48). Work until skirt is mid-calf length.
• Rnd 16: (sc, ch 1, skip 1) around for hem. FO.
• Corset Bodice: Join Blue yarn to front waist loops.
• Row 1: sc 16 (centered on front). Turn.
• Row 2–6: sc across (16).
• Straps: Ch 20 from corners of bodice. Sew to back of waistband.
• Lacing: Use Orange/Rust yarn. Embroider “X” shapes (cross-lacing) on the front of the blue bodice to mimic a corset.

White Mob Cap

Use White yarn.

• Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc.
• Rnd 2: inc around (12).
• Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) around (18).
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) around (24).
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) around (30).
• Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) around (36).
• Rnd 7: (5 sc, inc) around (42).
• Rnd 8: (6 sc, inc) around (48).
• Rnd 9–13: sc around (48).
• Rnd 14: (4 sc, dec) around (40). (Tighten slightly).
• Rnd 15 (Ruffles): (FLO) 3 dc in each st around.
• Rnd 16: sc around the ruffles. FO.
• Place on head, tilting slightly forward.

Brown Flat Shoes (Make 2)

Use Brown yarn.

• Rnd 1: Ch 8. Oval start: sc 6, 3 sc in last, sc 5, inc (16).
• Rnd 2: inc, sc 5, 3 inc, sc 5, 2 inc (22).
• Rnd 3: (BLO) sc around (22).
• Rnd 4–5: sc around.
• Rnd 6: sc 7, 4 dec, sc 7 (18). FO.

Dairy Farm Accessories

Silver Milk Churn

Use Silver/Grey yarn.

• Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc.
• Rnd 2: inc around (12).
• Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) around (18).
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) around (24).
• Rnd 5: (BLO) sc around (24).
• Rnd 6–15: sc around (24). (Body).
• Rnd 16: (2 sc, dec) around (18). (Neck).
• Rnd 17–18: sc around (18).
• Rnd 19: (2 sc, inc) around (24). (Rim).
• Rnd 20: sc around. FO.
• Insert a cardboard circle in the bottom. Stuff firmly. Make a small lid (MR 6, inc to 18) and sew on top.

Shoulder Yoke & Buckets

• The Yoke (Stick): Take your wooden dowel. Wrap it tightly with Brown yarn. Secure ends with glue.
• Buckets (Make 2): Use Brown yarn.
  Rnd 1: MR 6 sc.
  Rnd 2: inc around (12).
  Rnd 3: (BLO) sc around (12).
  Rnd 4–7: sc around.
  Rnd 8: sc around, ch 10 (handle), skip 6, sc. FO.
• Assembly: Hang the buckets from the ends of the yoke using short chains or yarn strings. Place the yoke across the cow’s shoulders (behind the neck) and tack stitch the arms to hold it if needed.

Tabby Cat

Use Tan (Main) and Brown (Stripes).

• Body: MR 6, inc to 12. sc 5 rounds (switch colors every 2 sts to create stripes). dec to 6. Close.
• Head: MR 6, inc to 12. sc 3 rounds. dec to 6. Sew to body.
• Legs: Ch 3, sc 2. Sew 4 legs to body.
• Tail: Ch 8. Sew to back.
• Ears: Ch 2, sc in 2nd ch. Sew to head.
• Embroider a pink tongue licking its lips.

Assembly

1. Dress the cow in the Royal Blue Corset Dress.
2. Put on the Brown Shoes.
3. Place the Mob Cap on her head.
4. Position the Yoke across her shoulders with buckets hanging down.
5. Stitch the Milk Churn to one of her hands or place it on the ground.
6. Place the Tabby Cat by her feet, looking up at the milk.

Your Vintage Milkmaid Cow is ready for the morning milking! Enjoy the countryside vibes.