Transport yourself to the rolling green pastures of the Alps with this charming “Swiss Heidi” Cow. Inspired by the romantic Swiss country style, this pattern features a sweet brown and white dairy cow dressed in a traditional Dirndl costume. She embodies the spirit of the mountains, ready for a festival or a day in the meadows.

Her outfit is a masterpiece of detail: a full red skirt banded in black, a crisp white apron, and a black velvet-style bodice laced up the front. Underneath, she wears a white blouse with classic puff sleeves. Her accessories are equally delightful, featuring a wide-brimmed straw hat adorned with alpine flowers, embroidered black ballet flats, and a rustic bronze cowbell. To complete the scene, she is accompanied by a pristine white Edelweiss flower and a tiny mountain goat friend. This project is a wonderful way to celebrate folklore and traditional dress.

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
• inc – Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
• dec – Decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• sl st – Slip Stitch
• BLO – Back Loop Only
• FLO – Front Loop Only
• st(s) – Stitch(es)
• rnd – Round
• […] – Total stitch count at the end of the round

Materials Needed

• Yarn: DK or Sport weight cotton yarn in the following colors:
  • Chocolate Brown (Cow patches, arms, ears)
  • White (Cow face, legs, blouse, apron, Edelweiss)
  • Red (Skirt)
  • Black (Bodice, Shoes, Hooves, Skirt trim)
  • Beige/Straw (Hat)
  • Bronze/Gold (Cowbell)
  • Light Pink (Snout)
  • Grey/Tan (Small Goat)
  • Scrap yarn in Green, Yellow, Pink (Hat flowers, embroidery)
• Hook: 2.5 mm (for the doll and miniatures) and 3.0 mm (for the hat/dress if needed).
• Eyes: 10mm Black Safety Eyes (for Cow), 6mm eyes or beads (for Goat).
• Embroidery Floss: Red, Green, White (for shoe embroidery).
• Stuffing: High-quality polyester fiberfill.
• Tools: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch markers, pins.

Gauge & Size

The finished cow stands approximately 28 cm (11 inches) tall including the hat. The gauge should be tight for the body parts to prevent stuffing from showing. The dress is removable, so check the fit as you work.

Pattern Instructions: The Cow

Head (Brown and White)

Work in a continuous spiral. We will use color changes to create the white blaze on the face.

• Rnd 1: (White) 6 sc in MR. [6]
• Rnd 2: (White) inc in each st around. [12]
• Rnd 3: (White) (sc 1, inc) x 6. [18]
• Rnd 4: (White) (sc 2, inc) x 6. [24]
• Rnd 5: (White) (sc 3, inc) x 6. [30]
• Rnd 6: (White) (sc 4, inc) x 6. [36]
• Rnd 7: (White) (sc 5, inc) x 6. [42]
• Rnd 8: (White) (sc 6, inc) x 6. [48]
• Rnd 9–11: (White) sc around. [48]
• Begin color changes for the brown sides of the head.
• Rnd 12: (Brown) sc 15, (White) sc 18, (Brown) sc 15. [48]
• Rnd 13: (Brown) sc 16, (White) sc 16, (Brown) sc 16. [48]
• Rnd 14: (Brown) sc 17, (White) sc 14, (Brown) sc 17. [48]
• Rnd 15–19: (Brown) sc 18, (White) sc 12, (Brown) sc 18. [48]
• Rnd 20: (Brown) sc 19, (White) sc 10, (Brown) sc 19. [48]
• Insert safety eyes between Rnds 17 and 18, on the border of the white/brown section.
• Rnd 21: (Brown) (sc 6, dec) x 6. [42] (You can switch entirely to Brown here for the back of the head/neck area if preferred, or continue the blaze down). Let’s switch to all Brown.
• Rnd 22: (sc 5, dec) x 6. [36]
• Rnd 23: (sc 4, dec) x 6. [30]
• Rnd 24: (sc 3, dec) x 6. [24]
• Stuff the head firmly.
• Rnd 25: (sc 2, dec) x 6. [18]
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Snout (Light Pink)

• Rnd 1: Ch 6. Start in 2nd ch. 4 sc, 3 sc in last ch. Turn. 3 sc, inc. [12]
• Rnd 2: inc, 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 2 inc. [18]
• Rnd 3: sc 1, inc, 4 sc, (sc 1, inc) x 3, 4 sc, (sc 1, inc) x 2. [24]
• Rnd 4–5: sc around. [24]
• Fasten off. Sew to the white section of the face below the eyes. Stuff lightly. Embroider two nostrils with dark brown thread.

Horns (Make 2 – Brown or Beige)

• Rnd 1: 4 sc in MR. [4]
• Rnd 2: (sc 1, inc) x 2. [6]
• Rnd 3: sc around. [6]
• Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) x 2. [8]
• Rnd 5: sc around. [8]
• Fasten off. Sew to the top of the head.

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Ears (Make 2 – Brown)

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
• Rnd 2: (sc 1, inc) x 3. [9]
• Rnd 3: (sc 2, inc) x 3. [12]
• Rnd 4: (sc 3, inc) x 3. [15]
• Rnd 5–8: sc around. [15]
• Rnd 9: (sc 3, dec) x 3. [12]
• Flatten and sew to the sides of the head below the horns.

Legs (Make 2)

Start with Black (Shoes).

• Rnd 1: Ch 6. sc 4, 3 sc in last. Turn. sc 3, inc. [12]
• Rnd 2: inc, 3 sc, 3 inc, 3 sc, 2 inc. [18]
• Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc), 3 sc, (sc 1, inc) x 3, 3 sc, (sc 1, inc) x 2. [24]
• Rnd 4: BLO sc around. [24]
• Rnd 5–6: sc around. [24]
• Rnd 7: sc 6, dec x 6, sc 6. [18]
• Change to White (Socks/Skin).
• Rnd 8: BLO sc around. [18]
• Rnd 9–20: sc around. [18]
• Fasten off first leg. Do not fasten off second leg.

Body

Continue with White yarn.

• Rnd 21: Ch 3, join to first leg. sc 18 around leg 1, sc 3 on chain, sc 18 around leg 2, sc 3 on chain. [42]
• Rnd 22: (sc 6, inc) x 6. [48]
• Rnd 23–28: sc around. [48]
• Rnd 29: (sc 6, dec) x 6. [42]
• Rnd 30–31: sc around. [42]
• Rnd 32: (sc 5, dec) x 6. [36]
• Rnd 33–35: sc around. [36]
• Rnd 36: (sc 4, dec) x 6. [30]
• Rnd 37–39: sc around. [30]
• Rnd 40: (sc 3, dec) x 6. [24]
• Rnd 41: sc around. [24]
• Rnd 42: (sc 2, dec) x 6. [18]
• Fasten off. Stuff firmly. Sew head to body.
• Shoe Strap: With Black yarn, ch 12 and sew across the top of the foot. Embroider small flowers on the toe of the shoe using pink/red/green floss.

Arms (Make 2)

Start with Black (Hooves).

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
• Rnd 2: inc around. [12]
• Rnd 3: BLO sc around. [12]
• Change to Chocolate Brown.
• Rnd 4–15: sc around. [12]
• Stuff lightly. Pinch close and sc across. Sew to shoulders.

The Traditional Dirndl Outfit

White Blouse (Top)

This creates the puff sleeves and neckline under the dress. Use White yarn.

• Rnd 1: Ch 24, join. sc around. [24]
• Rnd 2: (sc 3, inc) around. [30]
• Rnd 3: (sc 4, inc) around. [36]
• Rnd 4 (Sleeves): sc 5, ch 3, skip 8 (armhole), sc 10, ch 3, skip 8, sc 5. [20 sts + 6 ch]
• Rnd 5–7: sc around. Fasten off.
• Puff Sleeves: Join yarn to armhole. (inc) in each st around to double the count. Sc 3 rounds. (dec) in each st around to gather. sc 1 round. Fasten off.
• Put this on the cow before the dress (or sew it as part of the body if preferred).

Dirndl Dress

The dress consists of the skirt and the black bodice. Worked from waist down first.

Skirt (Red):

• Row 1 (Waist): Ch 32 (measure around waist over blouse). sc across. [31]. Join to form ring.
• Rnd 2: Ch 2, dc inc in each st around. [62]
• Rnd 3: (dc 1, inc) around. [93]
• Rnd 4–12: dc around. [93]
• Change to Black.
• Rnd 13: sc around.
• Rnd 14: sc around.
• Change to Red.
• Rnd 15: sc around. Fasten off.

Bodice (Black):

• Join Black yarn to the foundation chain of the skirt (waist).
• Row 1: sc 12 across the front center. Turn.
• Row 2–6: sc across [12].
• Straps: Ch 15 from top corners, cross at back, and sew to the back waistband.
• Lacing: Use White yarn to embroider criss-cross “corset” lacing on the front black panel.

White Apron

Use White yarn. Worked flat.

• Row 1: Ch 14. sc in 2nd ch and across. [13]. Turn.
• Row 2: inc, sc 11, inc. [15]. Turn.
• Row 3: inc, sc 13, inc. [17]. Turn.
• Row 4–10: sc across [17].
• Row 11: (sc, ch 2, sc) in each st for a ruffled hem. Fasten off.
• Ties: Join yarn to top corners, Ch 30 for ties. Tie around the waist over the red skirt.

Straw Hat

Use Beige/Straw yarn.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. [6]
• Rnd 2: inc around. [12]
• Rnd 3: (sc 1, inc) around. [18]
• Rnd 4: (sc 2, inc) around. [24]
• Rnd 5: (sc 3, inc) around. [30]
• Rnd 6: (sc 4, inc) around. [36]
• Rnd 7–9: sc around. [36]
• Rnd 10 (Brim): FLO. (sc 2, inc) around. [48]
• Rnd 11: (sc 3, inc) around. [60]
• Rnd 12: (sc 4, inc) around. [72]
• Rnd 13: sc around. Fasten off.
• Decoration: Crochet small flowers (Red, Yellow, White) and sew them to the band of the hat.

Miniature Items & Accessories

Cowbell

Use Bronze/Gold yarn.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR.
• Rnd 2: inc around [12].
• Rnd 3–6: sc around [12].
• Rnd 7: (sc 3, inc) around [15].
• Rnd 8: sc around. Fasten off.
• Handle: Ch 6, attach to top. Hang around the cow’s neck with a ribbon or hold in hand.

Edelweiss Flower

Use White and Yellow yarn.

• Center: Yellow. 5 sc in MR. Sl st join.
• Petals: White. Join to center. *Ch 4, dc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in next, sc in next, sl st in same center st*. Repeat 5-6 times to make pointy, fuzzy petals.

Small Goat

Use Grey/Tan yarn.

• Body: 6 sc in MR, inc to 12, sc 4 rounds, dec to 6. Stuff.
• Head: 6 sc in MR, inc to 12, sc 3 rounds, dec to 6. Sew to body.
• Legs: Ch 3, sc back. Sew 4 legs.
• Horns: Tiny ch 2 points on head.
• Beard: Tiny loop of white yarn under chin.

Assembly

1. Put the blouse and dress on the cow. Lace up the bodice.
2. Tie the apron around the waist.
3. Place the straw hat on the head (one horn might poke through or sit between ears).
4. Place the cowbell in one hand.
5. Set the Edelweiss and the little goat at her feet.

Your “Swiss Heidi” Cow is ready for the Alps! This beautiful pattern captures the essence of traditional Swiss folklore.