All those spring babies are starting to make their appearance and some even earlier than expected in some cases! That means its time to whip up some quick baby gifts that can easily become heirlooms if loved in a special way.
So, today I am going to share with you the pattern for making my "Cow Lovey" pattern that has a beautiful waffle stitch base and a unique textured border that accents it perfectly!
How adorable would this look in cow, country, or farmhouse-themed nurseries? The best part is it works up quickly and it is easy to customize by changing up the color schemes.
If you decide you like this lovey and want to make a baby blanket or twin size of the blanket base, you can follow my "Mommy and Me Waffle Blanket" pattern to make adjustments!
It even has a very similar border so you will not have to worry about trying to adjust the lovey pattern to match. The "slanted puff stitch," as I call it, is the base of both borders and that is what gives it the textured look.
Because the Mommy and Me Waffle blanket is larger, the border is a little wider than on the lovey, but the same stitches are used to create the textured look -- they will still complement one another perfectly!
I did try the same border that was on the lovey on the blanket, but it was a little too thin for my liking and I wanted it framed a little more. You are welcome to use either border.
Before we make the lovey, I want to show you one more thing if you are really trying to go all out for baby! ha ha
If you haven't figured it out already, I love the waffle stitch, so if you REALLLLYYYY want to do a full set, I also have a pattern for a Cocoon that is also crocheted with the waffle stitch, for the precious little one to snuggle in!
If you find that you love the lovey pattern and would like a copy of the ad-free pdf, you can grab it from one of my three shops: Orchid and Bee's Shop, Etsy Shop, Ravelry Shop.
So it is time to get to the pattern! Here is how you make the "Cow Lovey" for the precious new little one in your life:
“Baby Cow Lovey”
Crochet Pattern
Materials:
Worsted Weight 4 yarn
400 - 600 yds white (or choice of color) - I worked from 2 skeins of craft smart white, 354 yds / 7 oz / 198 g per skein
Less than 285 yds of a primary accent color for border, snout, flower - I worked from 1 skein of Loops and Threads Impeccable Coral - 285 yds / 4.5 oz / 127.5 g per skein
Less than 100 yards of secondary accent color for hooves/border - I used Loops and Threads Impeccable Classic Gray
Black if crocheting eyes
Hooks
H or 5mm for main sections
If you would like to make the lovey smaller you can use a G 4mm
3mm for flower
E or 3.5mm if making eyes
Needle
Scissors
Stitch Marker
Safety Eyes - I used 2 - .39in (10mm)
Poly fill
Hot Glue - optional for extra security when using safety eyes
Needles:
Darning Needle
Curved Tapestry Needle *optional but very useful when attaching the ears and flower
Stitches:
Ch - chain
Sc - single crochet
Sl st - slip stitch
Dc - double crochet
Sk - skip a stitch/space
FPDC - front post double crochet
BLO - Back Loop Only
Inv Dec - Invisible decrease - in front loop only sc2tog
Sp - space
#st - complete # number of sts in same space
St # - complete stitch in next # number of spaces
( ) - do all in the same stitch
Special Stitches
Waffle Stitch - The waffle stitch makes a wonderful textured stitch that looks just like a waffle! The Dc stitch and the FPDC stitch is used to create this look. You will simply follow the instructions in the “main blanket section” to create the waffle look. I have included pictures to help and there are also YouTube tutorials available with a simple google search.
Puff Stitch - For this pattern you will yarn over, insert your hook in the space you are working in, yarn over and pull through. You will pull up your loop to the height of your DC stitch and do this for a total of 5 times.
“Slanted” Puff Stitch - when I was learning the “Braided Puff Stitch,” which you guessed looks like a braid, I loved how it looked when made all in the same direction as opposed to opposite directions. I modified the stitch by omitting the ch 1 between the puff stitch and the next dc stitch. By doing this it creates the slanted/angled look that you see on the border of this blanket. To achieve this look, you “sk a stitch, dc, and then work a puff stitch into the skipped stitch.” So you are working forwards and then backwards. You repeat this to the end and then sl st to join. Note, your puff stitch will cover the dc stitch. You can see the pictures in the next column for assistance. On the corners of the blanket you will add a ch between the puff stitch and the next dc to make an increase. This ch 1 will help keep your edges from curling up. If your edges still curl up you can either block your blanket or try adding an additional ch 1.
Pattern Info - The blanket section of the lovey is approx. 15 inches x 15 inches. The Cow including the hooves is approx. 6 inches wide and 4 inches tall. The head from ear to ear is approx 5 inches wide. To make the blanket and cow smaller you can go down to a G 4mm hook size and stop at desired length. Foundation chain is multiples of 3 + 2.
Skill Level / Language - Comfortable Beginner/Intermediate. If you are unsure of any stitches, YouTube is a great resource. Written in American Standard Terms.
Pattern Instructions
Note: Beginning/Turning chs count as a stitch
Blanket (main section): H 5mm hook
Begin: With white or choice of color, ch 50.
Row 1: Dc in 3rd ch from hook, dc next 47, ch 2. (48st)
Row 2: Turn, *FPDC, dc 2*, repeat *to* 14 more times, FPDC, dc, ch 2. (48st) *see photo for assistance
Row 3: Turn, *dc, FPDC 2*, repeat *to* 14 more times, dc in last two sts, ch 2. (48st) *see photo for assistance
Row 4 - 27: Repeat rows 2 & 3
Row 28: Repeat row 2, ch 1, sc around all four sides of the blanket adding two increases in each corner, you will need to end with an even number. I recommend doing 46 stitches on the 4 sides and have two increases (a total of 4) in each corner. This will give you an end number of 200 stitches, sl st to join, fasten off.
Note: On the corners do a chain 1 after each puff stitch to make a total of 2 increases.
Row 29: Join new color at any stitch on an edge, not a corner, ch 3, sk 1, dc, working backwards in the skipped stitch make a puff stitch, sk 1, *dc, work a puff stitch in the skipped stitch, sk 1*, repeat *to* until end, sl st to join to top of ch 3, fasten off. (208st)
Row 30: Join new color, ch 1, sc 208 around, sl st to join, fasten off. (208st)
Cow Head: H 5mm hook
Note: you will be working in continuous rounds, place and move stitch marker to last stitch of each round
Note: crochet tightly with a tight tension
Begin: With Coral or choice of color, MR, ch 1.
Round 1: Sc 5 in MR, pull tight to close, sl st to join. (5st)
Round 2: 2sc in each stitch around. (10st)
Round 3: *Sc, 2sc*, repeat *to* around. (15st)
Round 4: *Sc 2, 2sc*, repeat *to* around. (20st)
Round 5: *Sc 3, 2sc*, repeat *to* around. (25st)
Round 6 - 10: Sc 25, change color to white before finishing the last stitch. (25st) *weave in the tail from your MR before proceeding to Round 11
Round 11 & 12: Sc 25. (25st)
Round 13: *Sc 4, 2sc*, repeat *to* around. (30st)
Round 14: *Sc 5, 2sc*, repeat *to* around. (35st)
Round 15: *Sc 6, 2sc*, repeat *to* around. (40st)
Round 16: Sc 40. (40st)
Round 17: *Sc 6, inv dec*, repeat *to* around. (35st)
Round 18: Sc 35. (35st)
Round 19: *Sc 5, inv dec*, repeat *to* around. (30st)
Round 20: *Sc 4, inv dec*, repeat *to* around. (25st)
Round 21: *Sc 3, inv dec*, repeat *to* around. (20st)
Note: if using safety eyes add those now before proceeding to round 22. I placed mine 1 inch above the nose section and 1.5 inches apart from one another.
Note: if someone requests, I use safety eyes on a baby item I make sure I take extra safety measures by applying non-toxic hot glue to the back of the eyes. I make sure some adheres to the fibers of the yarn around the edges as well to give it extra security.
Note: if you would like to crochet your eyes and attach before proceeding then here is the instructions for doing such:
Eye Alternative: E 3.5mm hook - make 2
Begin: With black or choice of color, MR, ch 1.
Round 1: Sc 4 in MR, pull tight to close, sl st to join, fasten off. (4st)
Highlight: With darning needle and white yarn sew about a 1/8th inch stitch.
Attach: follow the attachment instructions in the safety eye section
Head Section continued:
Round 22: *Sc 2, inv dec*, repeat *to* around. (15st)
Round 23: *Sc, inv dec*, repeat *to* around. (10st)
Note: Stuff with poly fill to desired fullness before proceeding to Round 24, massage head to get desired shape
Round 24: *Sc, inv dec*, repeat *to* around, fasten off leaving a tail. (5st)
Close: With needle and yarn tail, weave through one loop of each stitch, pull tight to close the circle and weave in the tail.
Cow Legs: H 5mm hook
Note: you will be working in continuous rounds, place and move stitch marker to last stitch of each round
Note: crochet tightly with a tight tension
Begin: With Gray or choice of color, MR, ch 1.
Round 1: Sc 5 in MR, pull tight to close, sl st to join. (5st)
Round 2: 2sc in each stitch around. (10st)
Round 3: *Sc, 2sc*, repeat *to* around. (15st)
Round 4: BLO sc 15. (15st)
Round 5 - 6: Sc 15. (15st)
Round 7: Sc 15, change colors to white before finishing the last stitch. (15st)
Round 8 - 21: Sc 15, fasten off, leave a long tail.
Finish: Stuff with poly fill. Put more towards the hooves and taper off as you get to the opening. Sew the openings shut with needle and yarn tail.
Cow Ears Option 1: H 5mm hook - make 2
Begin: With white or choice of color, ch 7.
Round 1: Sl st, sc, (hdc, dc), (dc, hdc), sc, sl st, continuing around to unworked side of ch, sl st, sc, (hdc, dc), (dc, hdc), sc, sl st, sl st to join to first st of around.
Attach to head: Using curved needle or darning needle sew to head approx. 1 inch behind eyes. I positioned my ears at the outer edges my eyes.
Cow Ears Option 2: H 5mm hook
Outer Ears: For thicker ears, make 4 of option 1.
Inner Ear - make 2:
Begin: With Coral or choice of color, ch 5.
Round 1: Sl st, sc, hdc, sc, continuing around to unworked side of ch, sc, hdc, sc, sl st, sl st to join to first st, fasten off.
Assemble: Sew one inner ear to one of the outer ears and repeat once more. Next, sew the last two outer ears to the back side of the units you just completed.
Flower: 3.5mm hook
Begin: With Gray or choice of color, MR, ch 1.
Round 1: Sc 5, change colors to coral or choice of color before finishing the last stitch, pull tight to close, sl st together. (5st)
Round 2: *(Ch 2, dc2, ch 2, sl st to join, all in same sp)*, sl st in next st, repeat *to* 4 more times, sl st to join to bottom of first ch, fasten off.
Attach: Using curved needle or darning needle sew to desired position on cow. I chose to sew to the bottom of the right ear.
Final Assembly:
Begin: With darning needle sew head to the center of the lovey facing either a corner or side of preference. Next, sew legs under the head to desired position.
And that's all there is to it! I hope you found this to be as easy as I tried to make it to be, lol! It is my goal to make my patterns as easy as possible, and I always try to make them as beginner-friendly as I can.
Don't forget if you love this lovey pattern and would like a copy of the ad-free pdf you can grab it from one of my three shops: Orchid and Bee's Shop, Etsy Shop, Ravelry Shop.
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Thanks again for stopping by and I look forward to seeing your projects! Have a great week!
Blessings,
Karen E.
Orchid and Bee's