The Cow Squish is a cuddly, moo-velous, and very squishy crochet pattern on Moogly! Featuring Bernat Blanket O'Go, grab this pattern by the horns and make your own - it's udderly fun!
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Part of the 2022 Softie Crochet Along on #CALCentralCrochet!
How the 2022 Softie CAL Works
Every Monday from April 4 to June 20, 2022, we’ll share a free crochet pattern for a softie. Fairfield World has generously provided Poly-Fil to all participating designers! You can make these softies to keep, for gifts, or to donate to charity while chatting with other crocheters in our groups and sharing your projects to win giveaway prizes!
We’ve partnered with GlassEyesOnline, Gurumi Supply, and Hooked for Life to bring you some great prizes in our end-of-CAL giveaway. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway in this post on Underground Crafter by Sunday, June 26, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
How To Join the 2022 Softie CAL
- You can join in by crocheting the patterns as you have time.
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- If you’d like to chat with other crocheters, join the CAL Central Facebook group or visit this thread in the CAL Central Ravelry group.
- By the end of the CAL, you’ll have up to 12 awesome softies to cuddle with!
Visit Underground Crafter to learn more about the prizes, enter the end-of-CAL giveaway, and to get links to each Softie CAL post as it is released.
All the Colors You Need in Bernat Blanket O'Go
I love using Bernat Blanket for my large amigurumi squishes, but this one called for lots of colors - so it was Bernat Blanket O'Go to the rescue! I was able to use bits of three skeins, and I have some great bits left over to use for other projects. This specific yarn is discontinued - please substitute standard Bernat Blanket in the colors you like!
And of course, Fairfield provided the Fiberfill to stuff him with! Fiberfill is perfect for all sorts of stuffed projects!
Cute and Cuddly for Kids and Adults
This crochet cow pillow is fun to make - and pet and squeeze! I used safety eyes, but this pattern has not been tested for safety for children under 3 years of age. If you are crocheting it for a baby or toddler, you may wish to embroider on the face and make sure that the pieces are sewn on quite securely. If using it as a photo prop, be sure not to leave the toy with a baby unattended.
Cow Squish
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8.0 mm hook, Susan Bates
350 yds Bernat Blanket (6 - Super Bulky; 100% polyester; 300g/10.5 oz; 201 m/220 yds)
A: White
B: Black
C: Light Pink
E: White
F: Light Gray
10" Microbead Pillow Ball or Fairfield Poly-fil
Gauge: 5"/10cm across after Rnd 3.
Size: approx 10" across/tall excluding ears, feet, and horns
HELPFUL LINKS AND TUTORIALS
NOTES:
Rnds are worked in a spiral.
Do not ch 1 at the beginning of a rnd or join any rnds with a sl st unless specifically directed in the pattern.
Move a stitch marker along the first st of each rnd as you work to keep track of your progress.
When changing colors, finish the last stitch of the previous color with the new color.
Please note that some pieces switch between Rows and Rounds.
COW SQUISH INSTRUCTIONS:
Body - Colors A, B, and E
NOTE: For the Body, crochet OVER color A, but BREAK color B and rejoin for each round.
Rnd 1: With A, make a magic circle, ch 1, sc in the ring, 9 hdc in the ring. (10 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 hdc in each st around. (20 hdc)
Rnd 3: *Hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st; rep from * around. (30 hdc)
Rnd 4: [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts] 6 times, with B [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts] 2 times, with A [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts] 2 times. (40 hdc)
Rnd 5: [Hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st] 5 times, hdc in the next 2 sts, with B hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, [hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st ] 2 times, hdc in the next 3 sts, with A 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st. (50 hdc)
Rnd 6: [Hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts] 5 times, with B [hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts] 4 times, with A hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts. (60 hdc)
Rnd 7: Hdc in the next 5 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, [hdc in the next 9 sts, 2 hdc in the next st] 2 times, hdc in the next 4 sts, with B hdc in the next 5 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 9 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 8 sts, with A hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in last 4 sts. (66 hdc)
Rnd 8: [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 10 sts] 3 times, with B [2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 10 sts] 2 times, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts, with A hdc in the last 7 sts. (72 hdc)
Rnd 9: Hdc in the next 8 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 17 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 11 sts, with B hdc in the next 6 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 17 sts, 2 hdc in the next st, with A hdc in the last 9 sts. (76 hdc)
Rnd 10: Hdc in the next 42 sts, with B hdc in the next 23 sts, with A hdc in the last 11 sts.
Rnd 11: Hdc in the next 44 sts, with B hdc in the next 19 sts, with A hdc in the last 13 sts.
Rnd 12: Hdc in the next 46 sts, with B hdc in the next 15 sts, with A hdc in the last 15 sts.
Rnd 13: Hdc in the next 50 sts, with B hdc in the next 7 sts, with A hdc in the last 19 sts.
Rnd 14: Hdc in the next 49 sts, with B hdc in the next 7 sts, with A hdc in the last 20 sts.
Rnd 15: Hdc in the next 48 sts, with B hdc in the next 4 sts, with A hdc in the last 24 sts.
Rnd 16: Hdc in the next 11 sts, with B hdc in the next 6 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in the next 3 sts, with A hdc in the next 14 sts, hdc2tog, [hdc in the next 17 sts, hdc2tog] 2 times. (72 sts)
Rnd 17: Hdc in the next 10 sts, with B hdc2tog, hdc in the next 10 sts, hdc2tog, hdc in the next 3 sts, with A hdc in the next 7 sts, hdc2tog, [hdc in the next 10 sts, hdc2tog] 3 times. (66 sts)
Rnd 18: Hdc in the next 5 sts, with B hdc2tog, [hdc in the next 9 sts, hdc2tog] 2 times, hdc in the next 2 sts, with A hdc in the next 7 sts, hdc2tog, [hdc in the next 9 sts, hdc2tog] 2 times, hdc in the last 4 sts. (60 sts)
Rnd 19: Sc in next st, sl st in next st, break yarn and finish off with seamless join.
Tail - Color B and E
Rnd 1: With B, make a magic circle, ch 1, 6 sc in the ring finishing last st with E. (6 sts) Break Color B.
Rnds 2 - 4: With E, sc in each st around. After Rnd 4, break yarn leaving a long tail for sewing, and seamless join,
Snout - Color C
Row 1: Ch 6, skip ch closest to the hook, hdc in last 5 chs; turn. (5 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1, hdc in the next 5 sts, 4 hdc in skipped ch, hdc in base of next 5 sts, 4 hdc in side of last st of Row 1; break yarn leaving a long tail for sewing, and seamless join.
Ears (make 2) - Colors E, B, and C
PIECE #1 - Make 1 in E and 1 in B
Row 1: Ch 8, skip ch closest to hook, sc in next ch, dc in next 5 chs, sc in last ch; do NOT turn. (7 sts)
Rnd 2: Hdc in foundation chain of last st, hdc in next 6 foundation chains, 3 hdc in turning chain, hdc in next 7 sts. (17 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc in next 8 sts, 3 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts, sl st in first sc; break yarn leaving long tail for sewing.
PIECE #2 - Make both in C
Row 1: Ch 8, skip ch closest to hook, sc in next st, dc in next 5 sts, hdc in last st; break yarn leaving long tail for sewing. (7 sts)
Assemble the Ears: Insert Ear Piece #2 into Piece #1, and use the long tail of Piece #2 to sew it on. Be sure to stitch so that Color C does not show on the other side of the ear.
Horns (make 2) - Color F
Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, ch 1, 3 sc in the ring. (3 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in the next st, hdc in the next st, 2 sc in the last st. (5 sts)
Rnd 3: Sc in the next st, (sc, hdc) in the next st, hdc in the next st, (hdc, sc) in the next st, sc in the last st. (7 sts)
Rnd 4: 2 sc in the next st, sc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, sc in the last 2 sts (10 sts)
Rnd 5: Sl st in next st, break yarn and finish off with seamless join leaving a long tail for sewing.
Ear, Snout, Horns, and Tail to Body Assembly
NOTE: Orient the "face" so that the change from A to B in Rnd 18 is centered, as shown below.
1 - Sew on Horns: Using the long tails, sew the Horns to opposite sides around Rnds 4 and 5.
2 - Sew on Ears: Use the long tails of Piece #1 to sew the Ears to opposite sides, around Rnds 7 and 8.
3 - Add Nostrils: Add smaller safety eyes to snout, as shown in the photo below.
4 - Sew on Snout: Use the long tail to sew the Snout to the front, around Rnds 14 - 16.
5 - Add Safety Eyes: Add larger safety eyes to body, around Rnds 13 and 14.
6 - Sew on Tail: Using its long tail, sew the Tail opposite the face, around Rnd 17.
Feet (make 4) - Color F
Rnd 1: Make a magic circle, ch 1, sc in the ring, 6 hdc in the ring. (7 sts)
Rnd 2: 2 hdc in each st around. (14 sts)
Rnd 3: Hdc in next st, sc in next 5 sts, hdc in next 2 sts, sc in the next 5 sts, hdc in next st. (14 sts) Tip: Weave in your first end now.
Row 4: Fold piece flat, ch 1, sc through next st and last st, sc through next 6 sets of sts; turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc in each st across; break yarn and finish off.
Belly - Colors B and E
NOTE: For the Belly, crochet OVER color B, but BREAK color E and rejoin for each round.
Rnd 1 - 4: With Color B, rep Rnd 1 - 4 of Body. (40 hdc)
Rnd 5: [Hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st] 4 times, with E [hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the next st] 5 times, with B hdc in the next 3 sts, 2 hdc in the last st. (50 hdc)
Add Feet: Place stitch markers at st #3 and 9 (first foot), 15 and 21 (second foot), 28 and 34 (third foot), and 40 and 46 (fourth foot). Use these stitch markers to attach the last row of each foot to the RS of the belly.
Rnd 6: Working through both layers as needed, [hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts] 3 times, hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 2 sts, with E hdc in the next st, *hdc in the next st, 2 hdc in the next st, hdc in the next 3 sts; rep from * around, finishing last st with B. (60 hdc) Break E leaving a long tail for sewing.
Rnd 7: With B, sc in next st, sl st in next st, break yarn and seamless join, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Final Cow Squish Assembly
1 - Insert stuffing into body.
2 - Use stitch markers to attach Belly to Body, with long tails in the front and colors matched (B with B, E with E). S
3 - Using long tails of Belly, sew Belly to Body with whip stitch in matching colors.
Ready to moo-ve on to the next Squish pattern?
Check out the Octopus Squish, Narwhal Squish, Squid Squish, Jellyfish Squish, Bunny Squish, Lamb Squish- and their cousin the Mushroom Stuffie! Looking for something else? Check out the Moogly Free Patterns Page or Ravelry!
If the Cow Squish pattern inspires you to make your own project, and you post a photo on social media, be sure to tag #CALCentralCrochet and me @mooglyblog or #mooglyblog so I can check it out too!
THE FINE PRINT
Follow Moogly on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram! Thank you to Yarnspirations for providing the materials shown in this post. Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2022, all rights reserved. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please do link to this page to share this pattern with others.
If you wish to make items for sale from this pattern or translate it to another language, please visit the About page for details.
Julie says
OMG! I must make this. ADORABLE!! Thank you, Tamara 😍
Tamara Kelly says
♥ Thank you so much!!
Sue says
Oooo...if I have to buy bernst blanket...white, black, a beige and pink? Will that be good or am I missing a color?
Kimber says
I am hitting a snag on Rnd 6 of my squish . I have frogged so many times and cannot find my mistake. I am short a few stitches at the end.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Kimber! Are you keeping a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round? That might help!
Meggan Lloyd says
Oh my gosh! I love all the squishes but this one is so adorable! Can't wait to make it.
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much! ♥
Brenda S says
Hello. I'm working on the cow squish pattern. I'm working on the belly and it says repeat round 1 through 4 of body and at the end it says 50 stitches. But on round four of the body it is 40 stitches it's not till the end of round five before there's 50. Looking for some advice
Tamara Kelly says
You are right, there was a typo there! I've fixed it now - Rnd 4 should have only 40 sts!
Brenda says
Having fun so far with the cow squishy. The belly says round four should have 50 stitches. But in the body it only says 40 stitches at the end of round four. Am I missing around
Tamara Kelly says
My apologies for my typo! Thank you for letting me know, I'll fix it now! ♥
msfish309 says
Thay's the cutest thing I've seen in a long time!
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much! ♥
Alexandra says
Aww! So darn cute!
Pukuls says
THE CUTEST THING EVERRRRR
Tamara Kelly says
♥♥♥
Sam says
It’s so cute, I did decide not to add the feet but that was only due to personal preference, it worked out and it is one of my favorites!
Tamara Kelly says
Yay, I'm so glad to hear it!
Kim says
Is there a way to stitch the eyes instead? I want my grandson (1) to have this. Thanks!
Tamara Kelly says
Yes! There are lots of "eye" patterns out there, some more fancy than others. Here are some fun ones:
https://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2023/07/crochet-cartoon-eyes.html
https://noetic-arts.com/f/crescent-moon-happy-eyes-crochet-pattern
https://crochetbits.com/crochet-eyes-pattern/
Kim says
Thank you!!!
Pam Karls says
I'm new to making stuffed animals - I'm wondering what this statement means: NOTE: For the Body, crochet OVER color A, but BREAK color B and rejoin for each round.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Pam! Rather than breaking color A after switching to B, we hold the strand of A along the top of the row, enclosing it in the color B sts. This tutorial might explain best: https://www.mooglyblog.com/tapestry-crochet/
Pam Karls says
Thank you! The video helps a lot!
Tamara Kelly says
I'm so glad to hear it! 🙂
Kathy says
Is it possible to do it all in white and sew on black spots? If so would I just follow the pattern without color changes?
Tamara Kelly says
Yes, you could definitely do it that way! 🙂
Renay says
I’m so excited to make this!! Can you give a breakdown for the amount of white and black I would need? I have some already but not sure if it’s enough.
Tamara Kelly says
Approximately 70 yds of each! 🙂
Sss says
Thank you for this adorable pattern!
Lauren Wheeler says
Love this! Made it for my daughter for Christmas. Can't wait to see her open it.
Not if only you had a dragon.... 😂
Tamara Kelly says
Thank you so much, Lauren! It's definitely on the list!
Jodi D says
Hello and thank you for this pattern! I found this pattern a while ago as I have been waiting for 3 long years and finding out that my son and his wife are not able to conceive on their own but now we just got news that they are adopting a baby come June 2024! So I have a use for this pattern and I am more than excited to make this squish! However I am running into the issue of the white showing though on the outside of the fabric. Any suggestions as to how I can fix this without frogging it all? As I crochet, right handed, is the ‘inside ‘ of the squish facing me or away from me? I get confused about the right and wrong side of the fabric. Sorry lol. But any guidance would be much appreciated! Also I really like your blog by the way. It is usually my go to blog if I ever need questions answered so thank you for the content it is very helpful! God bless!
Tamara Kelly says
As you crochet, the right side is facing you. Sometimes when making 3D objects, they'll curl up into a bowl shape so that it looks like we're on the inside of the bowl, but you can just "flip it" so you're right side out again. 🙂
As for the white, I'm not sure if you're referring to the stitching itself of the stuffing. If it's the stitching, you can cut the yarn and rejoin it instead of working over it for the cleanest color changes. If it's the stuffing, you can try lining the animal with fabric between the crochet and the stuffing, or using something like pantyhose.
Cathy Porlier says
Hello, Tamara~
The Cow is my third squish of your collection, all made this month. I did notice a color designation that is incorrect. When making the tail, it says to use colors B & F (black & grey). Yet in your photos the tail is white with the tip being black. The colors should be A & B..
Also, it gives instructions for a disc, but your tail looks tubular.
If I’m wrong, please explain.
Thanks for a great pattern,
Cathy Porlier says
PS I figured out the instructIons for the tail make it become a tube. 🤦🏼♀️ 😆
Cathy says
Now I'm making the belly, using B & E (black & tan) as the pattern states. But the photos show black & white. I must be loosing my mind, since no one else sees the colors incorrectly.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Cathy! I am so glad you figured out the tail! 🙂 If you look again, the tail calls for colors B and E.
Lea Ann Allen says
I am working on the Squishy Cow. Rwd 6 has me confused. It says Hdc in the next stich, 2 hdc in the next and then hdc in the next 3. Should it be 4 hddc then 2hdc?
so is 1-2-3-2-1-2 or 4-2-4-2-4-2? should the row start with 4 or the one stich.
Thanks
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Lea Ann! That repeat moves the increase to a new place in the round, to avoid creating a piece with straight sides. So you could read it as:
Rnd 6: A:(1-2-1-1-1) 5 times, B: (1-2-1-1-1) 4 times, A: 1-2-1-1-1.
Miriya says
Is there by chance a video tutorial of making the body and not the other peices?
I'm confused on Row 5. I'm new to Crocheting, and I'm trying to figure out when to stop with A and start B and end with B to start A again in the same row.
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Miriya! Not for this pattern specifically, but I'm happy to try to help walk you through it!
with A:
hdc in the first 3 sts
2 hdc in the next st
hdc in the next 3 sts
2 hdc in the next st
hdc in the next 3 sts
2 hdc in the next st
hdc in the next 3 sts
2 hdc in the next st
hdc in the next 3 sts
2 hdc in the next st
hdc in the next 2 sts, finishing the last st with B.
with B:
hdc in the next st
2 hdc in the next st
hdc in the next 3 sts
2 hdc in the next st
hdc in the next 3 sts
2 hdc in the next st
hdc in the next 3 sts, finishing the last st with A.
With A:
2 hdc in the next st
hdc in the next 3 sts
2 hdc in the last st.
Sharon says
Hi, How difficult would it be to turn this pattern into a Highland Cow?
Tamara Kelly says
Ooo, switch to all the one color and use the loop stitch! Add a couple of rounds to the horns to make them longer and I think that would do it!
Stephen Lobbes says
Round 7 of the body is only adding up to 65
Tamara Kelly says
Hi Stephen! It sounds like you missed a stitch somewhere - I'm sorry I can't really say where from here!
Stephen Lobbes says
Per the instructions there are only 65 Hdc said to be made for round 7 but it is listed as 66 I tried the round 4 times before counting it, than recounted it several times before posting because I was sure that I was the one messing up.
Stephen Lobbes says
Nevermind I found the line I overlooked a dozen times.
Tamara Kelly says
Ah, been there! ♥ I'm glad it makes sense now!