Free crochet pattern for this adorable softie – Lalo the Longhorn Cow is crocheted in the round in Super Bulky yarn so he works up quickly and is very durable. Weight the hooves as I did here so he stands easily on his own, or simply use polyester stuffing so he is cuddly soft!
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Finished Size: 10” tall at top of head x 13” long tail to snout, not including horn
Click over to Ravelry to add Lalo to your queue, or purchase an ad-free PDF.
Materials: Super Bulky (CYCA 6, Super Bulky) acrylic or acrylic blend yarn in four colors. Model shown in Lion Brand ® Hometown (affiliate link) (100% acrylic; 81 yds; 100g) 2 skeins Stowe Sugar Maple #135-13 (MC), I skein each Dallas Gray #135-149K (CC1), and Houston Cream #135-098P (CC2)
Crochet hook size K/10 1/2/6.5mm or size needed to create a tight fabric
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
Polyester stuffing
1 yd millinery wire
Optional: Small amount poly pellets and dollar store panty hose to weight the hooves and belly
Safety eyes if desired
Gauge: 9 sts x 11 rows = 4” in sc slightly stretched/stuffed
Special Stitches:
BLO – work in back loop only
Notes:
I use cut up pantyhose to make small bags to hold poly pellets, so they don’t come out of the crochet fabric. Double knot a section of leg, fill with desired amount of pellets, double knot the other side and cut off from the pantyhose. I got 5 bags (four feet and 1 belly) out of one leg of pantyhose with some left over.
Legs: Make 4:
With CC1, work a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. Tighten up to work in the rnd, place marker in first st in rnd and move it up for each subsequent rnd. 6 sc
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around. 12 sc
Rnd 3: Working BLO, sc in each sc around.
Rnd 4: Sc in each sc around.
Rnds 5 – 11: With MC, sc in each sc around. At end of Rnd 11, ch 1, turn to work in rows.
Row 1: Sl st in next sc, sc in each of next 5 sc, sl st in next sc. Ch 1, turn. 5 sc + 2 sl st
Row 2: Sk 1st sl st, sl st in next sc, sc in each of next 3 sc, sl st in next sc. Ch 1, turn. 3 sc + 2 sl st
Row 3: Sk 1st sl st, sl st in next sc, sc in next sc, sl st in next sc. End off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Body:
With MC, work a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in ring. Tighten up to work in the rnd, place marker in first st in rnd and move it up for each subsequent rnd. 6 sc
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around. 12 sc
Rnd 3: *2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc. Rep from * around. 18 sc
Rnd 4: *2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 2 sc. Rep from * around. 24 sc
Rnd 5: *2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 3 sc. Rep from * around. 30 sc
Rnd 6: *2 sc in next sc, sc in each of next 4 sc. Rep from * around. 36 sc
Work even on these sts until work measures 7” from top of Rnd 6.
Stuff the body, allowing the back end to protrude a little.
OPTIONAL: I made a little weighted belly pouch with the poly pellets, holding about a half cup of pellets, and being about the length of my palm. Again, if you want Lalo to be more snuggly you can omit the pellets and just overstuff!
Decrease Section:
Rnd 1: *Sc2tog, sc in each of next 4 sc. Rep from * around. 30 sc
Rnd 2: *Sc2tog, sc in each of next 3 sc. Rep from * around. 24 sc
Rnd 3: *Sc2tog, sc in each of next 2 sc. Rep from * around. 18 sc
Add any additional stuffing to the body you might need before you close it up.
Rnd 4: *Sc2tog, sc in next sc. Rep from * around. 12 sc
Rnd 5: *Sc2tog. Rep from * around. End off leaving a long tail for sewing. 6 sc
Head:
With CC1 work a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 8 sc in ring. 8 sc
Rnd 2: Change to MC, working in BLO, 2 sc first sc, place marker in first sc and move it up for each subsequent round, sc in next sc, 2 sc in each of next 3 sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc. 14 sc
Rnds 3 – 5: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 6: Sc in each of next 7 sc, hdc in each of next 7 sc. 7 sc + 7 hdc
Rnd 7: Sc in each of next 7 sc, ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch (ear made), hdc in each of next 7 hdc, ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of next 4 ch (ear made). 17 sc + 7 hdc
Rnd 8: Sc in each of next 7 sc, sc across foundation ch of 5 ear sc, sc across top of 5 ear sc, 7 sc across next hdc, sc across foundation ch of 5 ear sc, sc across top of 5 ear sc. 34 sc
Rnd 9: Sc in each of next 7 sc, sk 10 ear sc, sc in each of next 7 sc, leave remaining ear sc unworked. End off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Neck:
With MC ch 15, placing your slip knot 12” – 15” away from the cut end to leave a long tail for sewing . Set up to work in the round with a sl st in first sc being careful not to twist.
Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in same ch as rnd join and in each ch around. Place marker in first st of rnd and move it up on subsequent rnds. 15 sc
Rnds 2 – 3: Sc in each sc around. End off after Rnd 3, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Horns:
With CC2, work a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 4 sc in ring. Place marker for first st of rnd and move it up for each subsequent rnd. 4 sc
Rnd 2 – 5: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 6: 2 sc in first sc, sc in each sc around. 5 sc
Rnds 7 – 12: Sc in each sc around.
Rnds 13 – 19: Rep Rnds 6 – 12. 6 sc
Rnds 20 – 26: With MC sc in each sc around.
Rnds 27 – 33: With CC2, sc in each sc around.
Rnd 34: Sc2tog, sc in each sc around. 5 sc
Rnds 35 – 40: Sc in each sc around.
Rnd 41 – 45: Rep Rnds 34 – 38. End off. 4 sc
Finishing and Assembly:
For the legs, stuff each leg, using a poly pellet bag containing ¼ cup of pellets. Stuff any remaining space with polyester stuffing.
For the body, thread the ending tail in a tapestry needle. Weave in and out of the final round (6 sc), draw it up tight to close, end off and weave in that end.
Sew each leg to body as shown in photo, with the taller edge of the top of the leg to the outside of the cow belly.
Cut 4 strands of yarn approximately 16” long. Thread them together around the top center stitch of the back end. Braid the strands (2 groups of 3, 1 group of 2) until it is approximately 5 ½” long. Tie in an over hand knot at the bottom of the braid, and trim ends evenly 1 ½” below the knot.
For the head – embroider two eyes, or use safety eyes if you prefer. Lightly stuff the head, and use the end tail to sew the top closed.
Cut 5 strands MC 8” long. Fold each strand in half and loop it through the stitches closing the top of the head. Untwist the plies of the yarn, and cut on an angle from bottoms right to top left as shown in photo.
Sew one side of neck band to back of head. Stuff, then sew other side of neckband to body as shown in photo.
For horns, fold millinery wire into a 17” loop and twist the cut ends to close. Fold loop in half.
Insert wire into the horns piece, and close the open end using a tapestry needle and the tail yarn to weave in and out of the final stitches and draw it tight.
With MC, sew the center of the horns casing to the back of the head, under the line of the fringe. Use the wire to arrange the horns in the desired shape.
