Facebook marketing works… I saw this pattern for highland cow amigurumi dolls promoted in my feed, and after an inquiry, I purchased it from Cottontail & Whiskers. Said inquiry was ‘Would you like me to make these?’ I aimed to crochet all three over three months, in time for a certain person’s birthday at the beginning of April. After several false starts (it was the first time I had done anything similar), I managed to get the largest (Tunnock) done in time.

The pattern

The pattern uses American terms – this is stated on it, but if you’re ever unsure, look for ‘sc’ (single crochet). If it’s there, it’s American terms. Each part of the coo is explained clearly, with helpful photographs for the more complicated bits. All three sizes follow the same pattern, using different hook sizes and yarn thicknesses. Yarn requirements and accessories (such as safety eyes) are also included.

The process

Keep doing stitches round and round and round! Make sure you have a stitch marker handy to mark the finish of a round/start of the next. As you are working in a spiral, it’s otherwise very hard to know where you are. Count the stitches in each round, particularly as you start the straggly bits – I found it very easy to inadvertently add stitches, leading to a couple of hours of fruitless labour and a lot of muttering. Take time to understand how the next round of stitches tuck behind the previous straggly bits.

Stuffing – there’s a fine line between packing it tightly enough for the shape to be maintained and the stitches to stretch and make the stuffing visible. A fair amount of squidging and pulling was required to get my coo to stand straight.

A complementary card – but maybe not complimentary?

I made this DL-size card to complement the crocheted piece. Drawn from reference material, I had to use the DL card in landscape to fit on the horns! The layers were traced in Illustrator, and then I sent them to my laser (xTool P2S) to cut out. I shaded with distress inks and added detail with Polychromos coloured pencils. Using sticky foam pads emphasised the 3D look. One reviewer seemed to have the view that the sentiment was less than complimentary, but the recipient appreciated she was not, in fact, the holy cow in question…

The hooks are back out

After the gift was presented, another inquiry was made: ‘Would you like the other two?’ And so the labour of love continues, with the next size down (Haggis) now having two legs…