Introduction: Cow Tipping, the Humane Way

By NeedleNoodles
About: Hi! I dream of someday becoming a mad scientist. …or a llama farmer. …or a mad llama scientist. For now, I craft and write patterns. … It could be said that I pursue my goals by odd means. :)
It's Saturday night and you're bored.  We've all been there: your friends have tried to float idea after idea, but nothing really seems to appeal.  Then, in desperation, someone says, "let's go cow tipping!" and you have a brief chuckle.

...but really, who has cows near where you live anyway?  ...and does that even work?  ...plus, you're pretty sure that you read somewhere that cow tipping is a good way to injure yourself and the animal.  Not cool.

Luckily, I've provided you with directions to make your own cow tipping toy.  Convenient and cruelty-free!


...of course, if you want a cow ready-made, I do have such a thing available, too:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/91397223/cow-tipping-toy-with-noisemaker



Materials:
  • US Size J (6.0 mm) Crochet Hook, or size needed for gauge of about 6 sts by 5 rows = 2" x 2" working in single crochet 
  • Bulky weight yarn in Black and White, less than 100 yds of each (I used two strands of Lily Sugar'n Cream held together)
  • Stuffing (I used polyester fiberfill)
  • Two 12 mm Black Safety Eyes
  • Noisemaker Can ("Moo can")
  • Needle and Thread
  • Scissors
  • Tapestry needle




Step 1: Pattern

Leg:
Make 4 using Black yarn

Round 1: sc 6 in magic ring, sl st to close round {6}
Round 2: ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, [inc] around, sl st to close round {11}
Round 3: ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, sc 1, [inc, sc 1] around, sl st to close round {17}
Round 4: ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, sc 5, [inc, sc 5] around, sl st to close round {20}
Round 5: ch 1, sc around, sl st to close round {20}
Round 6: ch 1, sc around, sl st 2, clean fasten off {20}


Body:
Make 1 using White Yarn

Round 1: sc 6 in magic ring, sl st to close round {6}
Round 2: ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, [inc] around, sl st to close round {11}
Round 3: ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, sc 1, [inc, sc 1] around, sl st to close round {17}
Round 4: ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, sc 2, [inc, sc 2] around, sl st to close round {23}
Round 5: ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, sc 3, [inc, sc 3] around, sl st to close round {29}
Round 6: ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, sc 4, [inc, sc 4] around, sl st to close round {35}
Round 7: ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, sc 11, [inc, sc 11] around, sl st to close round {38}
Round 8: ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, sc 12, [inc, sc 12] around, sl st to close round {41}
Round 9 through 12: ch 1, sc around, sl st to close round {41}
Round 13: ch 1, sc around, sl st 2, clean fasten off {41}


Ear:
Make 2 using Black yarn

Round 1: ch 3, sc 1, sc 3 in 1, continue around to other side of chain, sc 2 in 1, sl st to close round {6}
Round 2: ch 1, sc 1, inc, sc 2, inc, sc 1, sl st to close round {8}
Round 3: ch 1, sc 1, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 2, sl st to close round {10}
Round 4: ch 1, sc 1, inc, sc 4, inc, sc 3, sl st to close round {12}
Round 5: ch 1, sc around, sl st to close round {12}
Round 6: ch 1, sc around, clean fasten off {12}


Head:

Top:
Make 1 using White yarn

Round 1: ch 10, sc 8, sc 3 in 1, continue around to other side of chain, sc 7, sc 2 in 1, sl st to close round {20}
Round 2: ch 1, sc 8, inc, inc, sc 8, inc, inc, sl st to close round {24}
Round 3: ch 1, sc 8, inc, sc 11, inc, sc 3, sl st to close round {26}
Round 4: ch 1, sc around, sl st to close round {26}
Round 5: ch 1, sc around, sl st to close round {26}
Round 6: ch 1, sc 4, dec, sc 1, dec, sc 8, dec, sc 1, dec, sc 4, sl st to close round {22}
Round 7: ch 1, sc around, sl st to close round {22}
Round 8: ch 1, sc around, clean fasten off {22}


Nose:
Make 1 using Black yarn

Round 1: ch 10, sc 8, sc 3 in 1, continue around to other side of chain, sc 7, sc 2 in 1, sl st to close round {20}
Round 2: ch 1, sc 8, inc, inc, sc 8, inc, inc, sl st to close round {24}
Round 3: ch 1, sc 8, inc, sc 11, inc, sc 3, sl st to close round {26}
Round 4: ch 1, sc around, sl st to close round {26}
Round 5: ch 1, sc 5, dec, sc 1, dec, sc 8, dec, sc 1, dec, sc 3, clean fasten off {22}


Tail:
Make 1 using Black yarn

ch 10, hdc 1 in 3rd loop from hook, ch 2, sl st 1 in chain just made, ch 3, sl st 1 in same space as hdc, sl st 7


Spot:
Make 1 using Black yarn

ch 5, sc 1, hdc 1, dc 1, tr 6, continue around to other side of chain, tr 2, [tr 2, dc 1, hdc 1] in 1, clean fasten off




Step 2: Assembly

Using black yarn, whipstitch two of the Legs together, side by side, with a seam 5 sts long.

Whipstitch the other two Legs together in the same way.

Now, whipstitch the two sets of two legs together, side by side, with a seam 10 sts long.

Attach the eyes to the Head Top, 2 rows up from the edge, and about 7 sts apart.

Using White yarn, stitch the nostrils to the Head Nose.  Each stitch is 2 rows tall, with the tops of each nostril 2 rows from the edge.  Space the nostrils about 5 sts apart.

Using White yarn, whipstitch the edge of the Head Top to the edge of the Head Nose.  Fill with stuffing before stitching all the way around.

Take one of the Ears, press it flat and fold the base in half.  Using Black yarn, stitch the Ear to one side of the Head Top.  repeat for the second Ear.

Using white yarn, whipstitch the Body to the Legs.  Before stitching all the way around, fill each Leg with a little bit of stuffing.  Place the Moo Can inside the body, and fill the top of the Body with more stuffing.  Continue stitching the rest of the way around.
(Note: keep track of which way the Moo Can is pointing, otherwise the cow won't moo when it's tipped, but instead will moo when flipped onto its face, or upside down, or some other direction.  With the feet facing down, the Moo Can should sit on its side, with the end with the holes facing out of the side of the body.)

Using needle and thread, tack the Spot over where the Moo Can (the side with the holes) faces out.  The Spot serves as a reference so you know which way the cow needs to tip to make a sound.

Using needle and thread, tack the head onto the front of the body, and the tail onto the back.

Step 3: Use

To make the cow moo when tipped, first roll the cow over on its side, spot side down.  This allows the weight in the can to slide to the top.  Roll the Cow back onto its feet.  Now, when you tip the cow over, spot side up, it will moo.

Toy Challenge 2

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Toy Challenge 2

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Sew Warm Challenge