Holstein Cow Amigurumi
A black-and-white amigurumi cow, about 6 inches (16 cm) tall, with cream horns, black ears and hooves, and a pink udder. The head and body are one stuffed piece worked in a continuous spiral of single crochet; the legs, horns, ears, tail and the four black patches are made separately and sewn on, so you decide where her markings go. It is a longer make, 22 pieces in all, but every piece is a simple stuffed shape.
3D Preview
Every stitch drawn in its own colour. Please use the instructions below.
Materials
Yarn
Crochet Hooks
Additional Notions
Gauge
10 sts × 10 rows = 5cm × 4.3cm
in single crochet, worked tight enough that the stuffing does not show through
One sc is 5 mm wide and 4.3 mm high. Check against a swatch of 10 sc and change the hook until it matches.
Stitch Glossary
4 stitchesAbbreviations and descriptions for all stitches used in this pattern
Instructions
Head and body
2434 stitches. The base piece, closed at the end. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to cream.
R2: inc ×6
R3: (sc, inc) ×6
R4: (sc ×2, inc) ×6
R5: (sc ×3, inc) ×6
R6: (sc ×5, inc) ×5
R7: (sc ×6, inc) ×5
R8: (sc ×19, inc) ×2
R9: (sc ×13, inc) ×3
R10: (sc ×14, inc) ×3
R11: (sc ×23, inc) ×2
R12: (sc ×24, inc) ×2
R13: sc ×51, inc
R14: sc ×53
R15: sc ×53
R16: sc ×53
R17: sc ×52, inc
R18: sc ×53, inc
R19: sc ×55
R20: sc ×55
R21: sc ×54, inc
R22: sc ×54, dec
R23: sc ×55
R24: sc ×55
R25: sc ×53, dec
R26: sc ×52, dec
R27: sc ×51, dec
R28: sc ×50, dec
R29: sc ×49, dec
R30: sc ×49, inc
R31: sc ×50, inc
R32: sc ×51, inc
R33: sc ×53
R34: sc ×53
R35: sc ×53
R36: sc ×51, dec
R37: (sc ×24, dec) ×2
R38: (sc ×23, dec) ×2
R39: sc ×46, dec
R40: sc ×47
R41: sc ×47
R42: sc ×47
R43: sc ×47
R44: sc ×45, dec
R45: (sc ×21, dec) ×2
R46: (sc ×9, dec) ×4
R47: (sc ×18, dec) ×2
R48: (sc ×17, dec) ×2
R49: (sc ×16, dec) ×2
R50: sc ×32, dec
R51: sc ×31, dec
R52: (sc ×14, dec) ×2
R53: (sc ×8, dec) ×3
R54: (sc ×7, dec) ×3
R55: (sc ×2, dec) ×6
R56: (sc, dec) ×6
R57: dec ×6
Assembly Notes
Stuff firmly, then fasten off and close the gap.
Left ear
107 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to black.
R2: sc ×5, inc
R3: sc ×6, inc
R4: (sc ×3, inc) ×2
R5: sc ×10
R6: sc ×9, inc
R7: sc ×11
R8: sc ×11
R9: sc ×11
R10: sc ×9, dec
R11: (sc ×3, dec) ×2
R12: dec ×4
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points left, at the top, 97 mm up, on the left, towards the front; its 4 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Right ear
107 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to black.
R2: sc ×5, inc
R3: sc ×6, inc
R4: (sc ×3, inc) ×2
R5: sc ×10
R6: sc ×9, inc
R7: sc ×11
R8: sc ×11
R9: sc ×11
R10: sc ×9, dec
R11: (sc ×3, dec) ×2
R12: dec ×4
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points right, at the top, 96 mm up, on the right, towards the front; its 4 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Front left leg
361 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to cream.
R2: inc ×6
R3: (sc ×3, inc) ×3
R4: (sc ×4, inc) ×3
R5: sc ×17, inc
R6: sc ×18, inc
R7: sc ×20
R8: sc ×20
R9: sc ×19, inc
R10: sc ×21
R11: sc ×20, inc
R12: sc ×22
R13: sc ×21, inc
R14: sc ×23
R15: sc ×23
R16: sc ×21, dec
R17: (sc ×9, dec) ×2
R18: (sc ×3, dec) ×4
R19: (sc ×2, dec) ×4
R20: dec ×6
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points down, at the bottom, 22 mm up, on the left, towards the front; its 6 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Front right leg
361 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to cream.
R2: inc ×6
R3: (sc ×3, inc) ×3
R4: (sc ×4, inc) ×3
R5: sc ×17, inc
R6: sc ×18, inc
R7: sc ×20
R8: sc ×20
R9: sc ×19, inc
R10: sc ×21
R11: sc ×20, inc
R12: sc ×22
R13: sc ×21, inc
R14: sc ×23
R15: sc ×23
R16: sc ×21, dec
R17: (sc ×9, dec) ×2
R18: (sc ×3, dec) ×4
R19: (sc ×2, dec) ×4
R20: dec ×6
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points down, at the bottom, 22 mm up, on the right, towards the front; its 6 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Back left leg
455 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to cream.
R2: inc ×6
R3: (sc ×2, inc) ×4
R4: (sc ×3, inc) ×4
R5: sc ×19, inc
R6: sc ×21
R7: sc ×20, inc
R8: sc ×21, inc
R9: sc ×22, inc
R10: sc ×23, inc
R11: sc ×25
R12: sc ×24, inc
R13: sc ×25, inc
R14: sc ×26, inc
R15: sc ×28
R16: sc ×26, dec
R17: sc ×25, dec
R18: (sc ×11, dec) ×2
R19: (sc ×4, dec) ×4
R20: (sc ×3, dec) ×4
R21: (sc ×2, dec) ×4
R22: dec ×6
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points down, low, 27 mm up, on the left, towards the back; its 6 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Back right leg
458 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to cream.
R2: inc ×6
R3: (sc ×2, inc) ×4
R4: (sc ×3, inc) ×4
R5: sc ×19, inc
R6: sc ×21
R7: sc ×20, inc
R8: sc ×21, inc
R9: sc ×22, inc
R10: sc ×23, inc
R11: sc ×25
R12: sc ×24, inc
R13: sc ×25, inc
R14: sc ×26, inc
R15: sc ×28
R16: sc ×26, dec
R17: sc ×25, dec
R18: (sc ×11, dec) ×2
R19: (sc ×6, dec) ×3
R20: (sc ×5, dec) ×3
R21: (sc, dec) ×6
R22: dec ×6
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points down, low, 25 mm up, on the right, towards the back; its 6 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Left horn
48 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to pale buff.
R2: sc ×6
R3: sc ×5, inc
R4: sc ×6, inc
R5: sc ×7, inc
R6: sc ×7, dec
R7: dec ×4
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points up, at the top, 111 mm up, on the left, towards the front; its 4 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Right horn
51 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to pale buff.
R2: sc ×6
R3: sc ×5, inc
R4: sc ×6, inc
R5: sc ×7, inc
R6: sc ×9
R7: (sc, dec) ×3
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points up, at the top, 111 mm up, on the right, towards the front; its 6 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Left eye rim
42 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to cream.
R2: sc ×5, inc
R3: sc ×6, inc
R4: sc ×7, inc
R5: sc ×7, dec
R6: dec ×4
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points left, high, 92 mm up, on the left, towards the front; its 4 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Right eye rim
42 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to cream.
R2: (sc ×2, inc) ×2
R3: sc ×7, inc
R4: sc ×9
R5: (sc, dec) ×3
R6: (sc, dec) ×2
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points right, high, 93 mm up, on the right, towards the front; its 4 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Patch A (large)
146 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to black.
R2: (sc ×2, inc) ×2
R3: (sc ×3, inc) ×2
R4: (sc ×4, inc) ×2
R5: (sc ×5, inc) ×2
R6: sc ×13, inc
R7: sc ×15
R8: sc ×15
R9: sc ×13, dec
R10: sc ×12, dec
R11: sc ×11, dec
R12: (sc, dec) ×4
R13: dec ×4
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points up, high, 72 mm up, on the left; its 4 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Patch B
77 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to black.
R2: inc ×6
R3: (sc ×5, inc) ×2
R4: sc ×14
R5: sc ×12, dec
R6: sc ×11, dec
R7: dec ×6
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points up, about halfway up, 62 mm up, on the right; its 6 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Patch C
104 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to black.
R2: (sc ×2, inc) ×2
R3: (sc, inc) ×4
R4: sc ×11, inc
R5: sc ×12, inc
R6: sc ×14
R7: sc ×12, dec
R8: sc ×11, dec
R9: (sc, dec) ×4
R10: dec ×4
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points up, about halfway up, 66 mm up, on the right, towards the back; its 4 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Patch D
68 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to black.
R2: (sc ×2, inc) ×2
R3: (sc ×3, inc) ×2
R4: sc ×9, inc
R5: sc ×11
R6: sc ×9, dec
R7: (sc ×3, dec) ×2
R8: dec ×4
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points left, low, 37 mm up, on the left, towards the back; its 4 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Tail
84 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 7 stitches
R1: 7 sc in a magic ring Change to cream.
R2: sc ×7
R3: sc ×7
R4: sc ×7
R5: sc ×7
R6: sc ×7
R7: sc ×7
R8: sc ×7
R9: sc ×7
R10: sc ×7
R11: sc ×7
R12: sc ×7
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points down, high, 73 mm up, towards the back; its 7 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Udder
182 stitches. Sewn to Head and body. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (this round runs through 3 lobes of the part: work it as 3 rings of 4, 1 and 1 stitches, one after the other in that order, and carry the yarn inside the stuffing from one ring to the next) Change to pink.
R2: inc ×6 (this round runs through 3 lobes of the part: work it as 3 rings of 5, 4 and 3 stitches, one after the other in that order, and carry the yarn inside the stuffing from one ring to the next)
R3: (sc, inc) ×6 (this round runs through 4 lobes of the part: work it as 4 rings of 6, 5, 4 and 3 stitches, one after the other in that order, and carry the yarn inside the stuffing from one ring to the next)
R4: (sc ×2, inc) ×6 (this round runs through 4 lobes of the part: work it as 4 rings of 7, 6, 6 and 5 stitches, one after the other in that order, and carry the yarn inside the stuffing from one ring to the next)
R5: (sc ×2, dec) ×6
R6: sc ×16, dec
R7: sc ×16, inc
R8: (sc ×8, inc) ×2
R9: sc ×18, dec
R10: sc ×2, dec, (sc ×3, dec) ×3
R11: (sc, dec) ×5
R12: dec ×5
Assembly Notes
Sew to Head and body, so that it points down, at the bottom, 3 mm up, towards the back; its 5 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Head and body.
Front left hoof
132 stitches. Sewn to Front left leg. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to black.
R2: inc ×6
R3: sc ×11, inc
R4: sc ×12, inc
R5: sc ×13, inc
R6: sc ×15
R7: sc ×15
R8: sc ×15
R9: (sc ×3, dec) ×3
R10: (sc ×4, dec) ×2
R11: dec ×5
Assembly Notes
Sew to Front left leg, so that it points front, at the bottom, 9 mm up; its 5 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Front left leg.
Front right hoof
133 stitches. Sewn to Front right leg. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to black.
R2: inc ×6
R3: sc ×11, inc
R4: sc ×12, inc
R5: sc ×13, inc
R6: sc ×14, inc
R7: sc ×14, dec
R8: sc ×13, dec
R9: sc ×12, dec
R10: (sc, dec) ×3, sc ×2, dec
R11: (sc, dec) ×3
Assembly Notes
Sew to Front right leg, so that it points front, at the bottom, 9 mm up; its 6 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Front right leg.
Back left hoof
132 stitches. Sewn to Back left leg. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (this round runs through 2 lobes of the part: work it as 2 rings of 4 and 2 stitches, one after the other in that order, and carry the yarn inside the stuffing from one ring to the next) Change to black.
R2: inc ×6
R3: sc ×11, inc
R4: sc ×12, inc
R5: sc ×13, inc
R6: sc ×14, inc
R7: sc ×14, dec
R8: sc ×13, dec
R9: (sc ×5, dec) ×2
R10: (sc ×2, dec) ×3
R11: (sc, dec) ×3
Assembly Notes
Sew to Back left leg, so that it points front, at the bottom, 8 mm up; its 6 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Back left leg.
Back right hoof
132 stitches. Sewn to Back right leg. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring (this round runs through 2 lobes of the part: work it as 2 rings of 5 and 1 stitches, one after the other in that order, and carry the yarn inside the stuffing from one ring to the next) Change to black.
R2: inc ×6
R3: sc ×11, inc
R4: sc ×12, inc
R5: sc ×13, inc
R6: sc ×14, inc
R7: sc ×14, dec
R8: sc ×13, dec
R9: (sc ×5, dec) ×2
R10: (sc ×2, dec) ×3
R11: (sc, dec) ×3
Assembly Notes
Sew to Back right leg, so that it points front, at the bottom, 8 mm up; its 6 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Back right leg.
Tail tuft
96 stitches. Sewn to Tail. Work in a spiral (do not join rounds) and mark the first stitch of the round.
Starting with 6 stitches
R1: 6 sc in a magic ring Change to black.
R2: (sc ×2, inc) ×2
R3: (sc ×3, inc) ×2
R4: (sc ×4, inc) ×2
R5: sc ×11, inc
R6: sc ×13
R7: sc ×11, dec
R8: (sc ×4, dec) ×2
R9: (sc ×3, dec) ×2
R10: dec ×4
Assembly Notes
Sew to Tail, so that it points down, at the bottom, 5 mm up, towards the back; its 4 open stitches go all round. Stuff, leave open and sew to Tail.
Pattern Notes
What you are making: a standing cow about 16 cm (6.3 in) tall in worsted-weight yarn with a 4 mm hook. Everything is worked in single crochet in a spiral, with a magic ring at the start of each piece, so there are no turning chains and no seams to join in the round. The head and body are one piece (the largest, 2,434 stitches); the other 21 pieces are smaller, and each is a plain stuffed cap or tube. Make the head and body first, then the legs, and sew the legs on before you add anything else, because the cow has to stand and the legs decide that.
Yarn: you need roughly 90 yd of cream for the head, body, legs and tail, about 26 yd of black for the ears, hooves, tail tuft and patches, and only a few yards each of pink (udder and nostrils) and pale buff (horns). These are estimates from the stitch counts, so buy a little extra. Any smooth worsted yarn works; cotton gives the firmest cow and acrylic is easiest to find. Black embroidery for the eyes and mouth uses leftover black yarn.
Stuffing: the head and body and the legs carry the whole cow, so stuff them firmly. The test is that you press a finger into the finished piece and it pushes back; if it dents, add more. Stuff each leg right down into the hoof end before you sew it on, and keep the stuffing in small pieces so the fabric stays smooth and no fibre shows between the stitches. A hook one size smaller than the yarn label suggests (4 mm here) keeps the stitches tight enough to hide it.
Putting her together: sew a black hoof onto the open end of each leg first, then pin all four legs under the body, the front pair under the chest and the back pair slightly further back, and stand her on a table. If she tips, move the legs before you sew. Then pin the horns on top of the head, the ears at the sides of the top of the head and the eye rims and embroidered eyes on the face, and the udder underneath towards the back. Sew with the same colour as the piece you are attaching, using a yarn needle and small stitches, and go round twice on the legs because they take the weight.
The black patches: the four patches (A to D) are separate stuffed pieces sewn flat against the body, A the largest. Pin them on and look at the cow from the front, the back and both sides before you sew: cows look best with patches of different sizes and an uneven spread. The positions given in the instructions are where this design has them (A high on the left side, B and C on the right, D low on the left towards the back); move them if you prefer.
If the cow is for a child under three, do not use safety eyes or buttons. The eyes, nostrils and smile here are embroidered for that reason. Sew every piece on securely, and check the horns, ears and legs for looseness before giving the toy away.
Changing the size: the stitch counts are for worsted yarn with a 4 mm hook, and one single crochet is about 5 mm wide. The same pattern in a thinner yarn gives a smaller cow (roughly 13 cm in DK weight on a 3.5 mm hook) and in a thicker yarn a larger one (roughly 20 cm in bulky weight on a 5.5 mm hook). Use the same hook-to-yarn pairing for every piece so they fit together, and expect to use less or more yarn than stated.
Is this a beginner pattern? Not quite. You should be comfortable with a magic ring, single crochet, increases and decreases, and with sewing parts onto a stuffed body. None of the pieces is hard on its own, but there are 22 of them and the head and body run to 57 rounds, so it suits someone who has made a few amigurumi already. A first-timer could start with a simpler animal and come back to this one.
Care: spot clean with a damp cloth. If she needs a wash, put her in a pillowcase, wash by hand or on a delicate cycle in cool water, press the water out in a towel and let her dry flat. Dry her completely before she goes back on a shelf, because damp stuffing can smell.
Checking your work: the interactive 3D preview on this page shows the finished cow and lets you turn her round, so you can see which way each piece faces and where it sits before you sew. Each leg, ear and horn section below says which piece it is sewn to and where.
Make the parts in the order of the sections. A part is sewn to the one it names, which is always made before it.
Stuff firmly before closing or sewing a part: it should be full and hold its shape. Pin each part in place and check the look from the front before sewing; weave the ends in.
Left eye on Head and body, black, about 13 mm across, high, 92 mm up, on the left, towards the front: embroider it, or sew on a small piece of felt or yarn. Add it last, after the stuffing and sewing, so you can place it by eye.
Right eye on Head and body, black, about 13 mm across, high, 92 mm up, on the right, towards the front: embroider it, or sew on a small piece of felt or yarn. Add it last, after the stuffing and sewing, so you can place it by eye.
Left nostril on Head and body, pink, about 10 mm across, high, 75 mm up, towards the front: embroider it, or sew on a small piece of felt or yarn. Add it last, after the stuffing and sewing, so you can place it by eye.
Right nostril on Head and body, pink, about 10 mm across, high, 75 mm up, towards the front: embroider it, or sew on a small piece of felt or yarn. Add it last, after the stuffing and sewing, so you can place it by eye.
Smile on Head and body, black, about 32 mm across, about halfway up, 64 mm up, towards the front: embroider it, or sew on a small piece of felt or yarn. Add it last, after the stuffing and sewing, so you can place it by eye.
The yarn amounts are an estimate from the stitch count; buy a little extra.