How to crochet a toy cow, calf, bull

Crocheting is an interesting and useful activity. Anyone can learn it, it is not difficult at all. From soft and beautiful yarn you can knit wonderful toys: dolls and animals. Crocheted toys are a tender and touching gift for loved ones. They seem to keep the warmth of the knitter's hands. Such a gift will bring much more joy than a store-bought one.

Materials and tools for crocheting a bull

Crochet bulls are crochet toys that can be knitted using the amigurumi technique from quality yarn. You can even knit a whole family of cows, bulls and calves, dress them in beautiful dresses, and decorate them with crocheted flowers.

To make a beautiful toy, you need to choose good quality materials. It is advisable to choose acrylic or wool yarn. It is very convenient to knit from semi-wool, which is half acrylic and half wool. Skilled and experienced craftsmen can work with mohair threads. The best option is plush yarn.

What you will need:

• yarn of several different colors;
• crochet hook No. 2, No. 2.5 or No. 3 (depending on the thickness of the thread and the size of the toy);
• floss threads;
• beads for eyes;
• threads for sewing together parts of the product;
• sewing needle;
• scissors.

Knitting rules

Knitted toys (bull and any other animals) are made using the amigurumi technique: the fabric is knitted in a spiral without lifting loops.

When knitting, hang the thread on your index finger and hold it with your ring and little fingers. It should not slide. You can hold the hook either like a table knife or like a pencil.

A beginner knitter should be able to make basic elements:

• initial loop - the thread is folded into a loop, put on the hook, and then one end of the thread is hooked and pulled through the loop;
• air loop - another end of the thread is pulled through the initial loop with a hook;
• single crochet - the thread is pulled through two loops at once;
• increase - two stitches are knitted from one stitch;
• decrease - one loop is made from two loops.

You need to constantly recalculate the number of loops in each row. It is indicated in all master classes.

Knitting the body of a bull

You need to start with the bull's body. All other parts will be sewn to this part: the head and legs.

Step by step instructions:

1. Cast on 4 chain stitches and roll into a ring. Then weave 6 single crochet stitches (SC) and close them into a ring.
2. In the first row, make increases (two are knitted from each column). In total, you will get 12 loops.
3. In the 2nd row, increases are made in every second column (every other one). Total 18 loops.
4. Increase in every third column (every two). Total 24 loops.
5. 2 sc in every fourth column of the previous row (through three). You will get 30 sc.
6. Increase in every fifth column (after 4). Result: 36 P.
7. Rows 6–11: 36 sc.
8. In the 12th row you need to make a decrease: knit the 5th and 6th sc together. Repeat this in a circle. The result is 30 sts.
9. In the 13th column, tie columns 4 and 5 into one. Repeat in a circle. Total 24 P.
10. Rows 14–20 knit 24 sc.
11. In the 21st row, tie together every 3rd and 4th column in a circle. Total 18 P.

Fill the body with holofiber, synthetic padding or cotton wool. Close the opening.

Knitting the head

One of the most important elements of crocheting a bull toy is the head. It consists of two parts: the base (head) and the muzzle.

How to tie a bull's head:

1. Cast on 6 stitches and form them into a ring.
2. Make 6 increases: make two from each loop.
3. You need to make a combination: 1 single crochet (sc) + increase. Repeat this combination 6 times. You get 18 loops (L).
4. Another combination: *2 sc + increase* (six times) = 24 sts.
5. Combination: *3 sc + increase* (six times) = 30 sts.
6. Combination: *4 tbsp. bn + increase * (6 times) = 36 P.
7. Perform the combination: *5 sc + increase* (six times) = 42 sts.
8. In rows 8–13, you need to knit 42 sc.
9. In the 14th row, first you need to knit 5 sc, and then make a decrease (two loops are combined into one). Repeat these steps 6 times. Total 36 P.
10. For the 15th: *4 sc + decrease* (6 times) = 30 sts.
11. In the 16th: *3 sc + decrease* (six times) = 24 sts.
12. Seventeenth: *2 sc + decrease* (six times) = 18 sts.
13. Final (18th): *4 sc + decrease* (three times) = 15.

The head is ready. Secure the thread and cut it off. Now you need to sew on the beads (eyes) and embroider the eyebrows.

The cow's muzzle is knitted separately. For this, threads of a different color are selected. Pink is perfect.

Description of the course of action:

1. Cast on 7 chain stitches. Start the next row with the second stitch in the row.
2. In the first row, make an increase, and then 4 dc. In the last loop, knit another 4 dc. Then the product is turned over and knitted on the other side: there you need to make 4 dc and an increase. In total, you will get 16 P.
3. In the second: 2 increases + 4 dc + 4 increases + 4 dc + 2 increases = 24 sts.
4. Third: 1 sc + increase + 7 sc + *1 sc + increase* (repeat twice) + 8 sc + increase + 1 sc + increase = 29 sts.
5. In rows 4–5, you need to knit 29 sc.

After this, secure the thread and fill the product with stuffing. On the muzzle, you need to embroider the nostrils with floss. Then sew the muzzle to the head.

Knitting paws

Many needlewomen try to knit 4 identical paws. But there are master classes that recommend making the legs shorter and thicker than the arms. It looks beautiful and elegant. For knitting, you will need two skeins of yarn of different colors, for example, brown and white. This is necessary to highlight the hooves.

Upper legs:

1. First, knit with brown threads (or any other dark color). Make 6 single crochets and roll them into an amigurumi ring.
2. Make 6 increases (two from one loop). There will be 12 sts in the row.
3. In the third row, repeat the combination twice: *5 sc + increase*. Total 14 sts.
4. In the fourth row, knit 14 sts without yarn over.
5. The hooves are ready. Now you need to take white (or light) yarn. In the fifth row, knit 14 sts without a yarn over again.
6. In the sixth row, first knit 5 sc, then make a decrease (two loops into one). Repeat this combination 2 times. The result will be 12 P.
7. In rows 7–8, knit 12 sc.
8. For the ninth: 5 sc + decrease + 5 sc = 11 sts.
9. In the tenth: 4 sc + decrease + 5 sc = 10 sts.
10. Rows 11–19: 10 sc each.
11. Secure the thread and stuff the handles with cotton wool.

Legs:

1. You will need brown (or dark) yarn. Knit 6 single crochet stitches and roll them into an amigurumi ring.
2. Perform 6 increases = 12 sts.
3. Combination: *1 sc + increase* (6 times) = 18 sts.
4. Combination: *2 sc + increase* (six times) = 24 sts.
5. Knit 24 sc.
6. In the sixth row: 2 decreases + 6 sc + 4 decreases + 6 sc = 18 sts.
7. From the seventh row, knitting continues with white (light) threads. Algorithm of actions: decrease + 5 sc + 3 decreases + 5 sc = 14 P.
8. Eighth: 5 sc + 2 decreases + 5 sc = 12 sts.
9. From the 9th to the 11th rows inclusive, you need to knit 12 sc.
10. In the 12th row: *5 sc + increase* (twice) = 14 sts.
11. For the 13th: *6 sc + increase* (2 times) = 16 sts.
12. Fourteenth: 16 sc.
13. Tighten the thread and put the stuffing. For reliability, you can fasten the legs together using two air loops.

The finished paws need to be sewn to the body. It is advisable not to sew up the hole in each paw, but to sew along the edges.

Horns for a bull crochet

It is best to knit horns from yarn of two different colors. For example, from brown and beige. It is important that the colors do not contrast too sharply with each other.

Progress of work:

1. Take brown yarn and knit 2 air loops, then weave 6 single crochets into one of them.
2. In the second row, knit 1 dc and make an increase. Repeat this combination three times. You get 9 loops.
3. In the third row, knit 9 st. bn in a circle.
4. In the fourth, the combination will change slightly: *1 sc + decrease*. Repeat it three times. Total 6 P.
5. Then take beige or cream yarn and knit rows 5–7 in a circle. Each of them should have 1 single crochet.
6. Fasten the thread and leave its end at 20 cm. The horns need to be filled with stuffing and sewn to the head.

In addition to the horns, the cow should have ears. For this, yarn of the same color as the head will do.

How to knit ears:

1. Collect 2 air loops and knit 4 single crochets into one of them.
2. In the second row, the combination *1 sc + increase* is performed twice. You will get 6 sts.
3. In the 3rd: *1 sc + increase* (three times) = 9 sts.
4. For 4th: *2 sc + increase* (three times) = 12 sts.
5. In the 5th: *1 tbsp. bn + increase * (6 times) = 18 P.
6. In rows 6–9, knit 18 sc.
7. In the tenth, make 12 decreases. You should get 6 P.
8. Tighten the thread and then sew the ears to the head.

Knitting patterns

Visual knitting patterns are a great help for beginners. They are a great help for those who do not know how to knit a bull toy. All patterns with detailed descriptions can be found in any master classes. The patterns indicate all types of loops, columns and other knitting elements.

Even an inexperienced knitter can make a cute cow that can be a great gift. Such knitted toys are especially relevant in the year of the bull. If desired, the calf can be decorated with additional elements and knit flowers, a dress, a hat and other decorations for it.