Cow Tipping, the Humane Way

Intro: Cow Tipping, the Humane Way

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.

Comments

[annacampbellr]

Hi, would I be able to sell these on my shop and credit your pattern?
I completely understand if not!

[Mortuum]

Cool pattern, thank you. I have used it to make some yarn bombing in a street near wear I live named Cow Lane :D
https://inside-uranus.com/yarn-bombing-4-les-vaches-de-cow-lane/

[AlexisD21]

I would love to make this asap for a Christmas gift but wanted it to be a little bigger! Is there any way I could do this? Maybe doubling the amount of stitches or something?

[kathy.betancourt.3]

Hi. I love that cow! How big is it when finished? I can't tell from the pictures. I would like it for a miniature manger scene. I'll use a smaller weight yarn to reduce it, but I'd like to know how much smaller she needs to become.

[MissCindy]

Mine was about 9 cm, 3.5 inch with 'normal' cotton yarn. (so a hand full ;) )

NeedleNoodles used bulky yarn and if you see her video, you can kind of see how big hers is.

Good luck! I'd say, post a message here when you are done ;)

[mschneegurt]

Want to Tip Real Cows Safely? Tip Cows with Marius!

Get this app for your iPhone in the AppStore

"Cow Tipping With Marius"

Tip and untip one cow, a few cows, many cows or herds of cows.

And there is a bonus bovine. Tip a Yak!

[Tierasche]

Now, when you say "ch 1, sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, sc 5". Does the the first sc in the sl st count towards the 5?

[needlenoodles]

No. You make a sc 1 in same space as prev. sl st, then sc 5

[ayork4]

No matter how many times I try the legs, it just isn't making any sense to me.
If you have 17 stitches in round 3 and you increase 5 times in round 4 there is no way that makes 20 stitches - is there a miscount there, or am I just doing something wrong?

Also - instead of closing off each round with a slip stitch and having to do a chain to start the next round, wouldn't it be easier to just work in a continual round?

Please help :) I really want to make this turn out!

[needlenoodles]

Ah, I left the pattern in shorthand, I think that's the problem.

"[inc, 5] around" means "[increase, then single crochet 5 times] until you get to the end of the round" instead of "increase five times".

I've edited the pattern to make that (hopefully) a bit clearer.


As for working in continuous rounds versus joined rounds, you certainly could do that if you so desire. Just leave out the sl st at the end of the round, and replace the ch with a sc at the start of the round. I tend to use joined rounds instead of continuous rounds in pieces with a relatively small number of stitches and/or rows. This is because the "seam" left by joined rounds tends to be less visible in pieces with a small number of rounds, and the slight horizontal slant left by continuous rounds tends to be more visible in pieces with a small number of stitches.

Hope that helps!

[Ralph115]

Hi needlenoodles,
Making this for a friend going to the UK (from SA) who loves cows. Wonder if you might be so kind as to help me out a bit.

I am confused with Round 1 of the Ear, Nose and Head.

"ch 3, sc 1, sc 3 in 1, continue around to other side of chain, sc 2 in 1, sl st to close round"

Instructions says to "ch 3, sc 1," BUT WHERE ? in which chain or how do I make the sc?(Am I suppose to sl st the 3 ch into a circle) Same as with "sc 3 in 1" ? or sc 2 in one ? (Is this a back and forth motion?)

Sorry, any help from anyone would be great ;)

[Ralph115]

Okay, after about 5 tries, I think I figured it out.
ch 3, sc 1 in the second chain, sc 3 in first chain (so as to turn around the chain and continue on the other side of the chain), sc 2 in 1 (inc) and sl st to close around.

Thanks anyway. Sorry for the bother :)
And thank you for the pattern!

[needlenoodles]

Yep, you got it! :)

[rlynk]

i want to make this, but where did you get the little moo can? i'd make it even if i didn't have one, but i'd really prefer to do it with the moo.

[needlenoodles]

I can find them on Amazon.com by searching for "moo can"

Something like this should work:
http://www.amazon.com/Country-Can-In-Despicable-Movie-July/dp/B0006GK9NQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337572493&sr=8-1

As for finding "moo cans" in stores, this particular one I found at the dollar store. I've also seen them at some of the smaller, independently owned toy shops in my area (look for places that have kid's instruments and noisemakers that *aren't* mostly electronic :) )

[messirose]

i have tried to make this cow many times, but i am very confused with the pattern :(

[needlenoodles]

I'm very sorry to hear it, and would be happy to help if I can. Would it be possible to let me know a little more specifically where you're running into trouble?

[Win Guy]

I love it! Great job, needlenoodles! I'm always looking out for your patterns, I love them so much! A quickquestion, though... Where did you get the moo can? I can't find it much of anywhere.
Thanks,

Win Guy

[needlenoodles]

This particular "moo can" I found at the dollar store. I've also seen them at some of the smaller, independently owned toy shops in my area (look for places that have kid's instruments and noisemakers that *aren't* mostly electronic :) )

Failing that, you can find them on Amazon.
Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Country-Can-In-Despicable-Movie-July/dp/B0006GK9NQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331436804&sr=8-1

would probably work.

[Carleyy]

Oh man, the title of this made me giggle. Very cute!