My mum asked if I’d make a Highland cow for her to give as a gift. I had a good look round and settled on the Highland Cow pattern (Etsy link) by Knot Nook.
I bought a skein of chunky orange tweed in a charity shop that I thought would be perfect. After several false starts, I accepted that it was too thick, and with heavy heart I picked up a skein of Utopia Crafts Perfect DK (Amazon link) in russet. I had black and beige in stash already.
Once I got going, it was pretty straightforward to make. The very first instruction tripped me up: it calls for you to work in rounds, which isn’t the same as ‘in the round’. The piece starts out flat with you crocheting all the way round your initial chain, both sides, making an oval. Though his wee nose didn’t stay very oval in the end.
I had some beads for eyes, and since his nose was a different shape than intended I decided against giving him nostrils, even though the pattern picture had some and they were very cute.
Getting the legs in the right place took three attempts. He’s a bit front-heavy and they need to be a bit splayed out so he can stand up. I fretted over them longer than I’d have liked but looking at them now they’re just fine!
Look at that wee tail! At this stage I thought he looked more like a reindeer or a springbok or something. But I knew he still had his fur to go on…
I went in a bit heavy on the fur. The pattern calls for you to just thread short lengths through, but they’d only get pulled straight out again the first time someone picked him up. And everyone’s going to want to do that! Instead I folded my shirt lengths of yarn in half, pulled the loops under stitches on the body, then pulled the ends through that loop in what I’m reliably informed is called a larks head knot. The cute wee tail got completely lost but it’ll be a fun discovery for anyone paying attention.
I gave him two haircuts, trying to give him some shape and let his little feet peek out. I think I may need to revisit the head. The pictures are like when a kid (or indeed ill-advised adult) cuts their own fringe. I actually quite like how he was with his hair over his eyes!
I really wanted the orange yarn to work, and tried it as hair. As you can see it was not correct:
This wee guy took me longer than I was expecting, and at one point I did say he was, and I quote, ‘doing my head in’. It was getting the hair right that gave me the most problems. Any time there aren’t precise placement instructions for something, I find that challenging. Eyes and eyebrows are the worst, but long hair turns out also to be difficult!
He doesn’t look like the pattern picture… but he’s pretty cute all the same.
Update: I gave him a different fringe and I think he looks even more adorable.
The Crafty Yarnster 