Crochet Cow Rattle

There’s just something about baby animals.  Those wide eyes, full of innocence.  Their clumsy little way of moving about.  The beauty in their neediness. This crochet cow rattle reminds me of a baby calf.

That light brown coloring on ivory is just the sweetest cow combination, don’t you think?  I think it’s just so fitting that this sweet crochet cow rattle is meant for a sweet little human baby. I can just imagine little fingers grasping onto that handle and the look of surprise at the sound of the rattle.

I might be having a little too much fun making rattles lately.  First up was the Fox Rattle.  And then.. this crochet cow rattle.  To me, kind of like making an amigurumi.  Only a lot less work in a much less time.

What’s not to love about a baby gift you can make out of scrap yarn in an evening or two?  Those are the projects I like best.  Using up a little bit of the stash and making something lovely.  Kind of reminds of when Grandma used to whip up an amazing meal out of odds and ends out of the refrigerator.  I love that.

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Crochet Cow Rattle

Here is what you will need:

Materials:

• US G6/4mm crochet hook
• 1-1/2 oz Ivory color Worsted weight yarn, sample used Hobby Lobby in Ivory
• Scraps of brown, pink and gold worsted weight yarn, sample used Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn in Toasted Almond, Soft Pink and Sungold.
• 9mm safety eyes (note: if you are concerned about a choking hazard, you may wish to embroider eyes instead)
• Polyfill Stuffing
• Toy Rattle Noise Insert (I bought these from Amazon)

Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern: Crochet Abbreviations, US to UK Crochet Conversion Chart.  Find links to stitches on the “Tutorial” menu: Getting Started will show basic stitches used in many patterns and Crochet Stitch Dictionary shows our growing collection of crochet stitch tutorials.  I really like to use the invisible seamless join when finishing pieces that get sewn together.

Size

5” tall (excluding the ears) by 4.5” across.  NOTE: thickness of yarn will determine size of finished rattle.  Don’t be concerned if yours turns out slightly bigger or smaller than mine.

Head:

With ivory yarn, make a magic ring

R1:  6 sc into ring (6 sts).  (Do not join, worked in rounds)

R2:  2 sc in ea st around (12 st)

R3:  *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (18 st)

R4:  *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (24 st)

R5:  *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (30 st)

R6:  sc in next 2, 2sc in next st *sc in next 4 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around until last 2 st, sc in last 2 st. (36 st)

R7:  *sc in next 5 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (42 st)

R8-16:  sc around. (42 st)  At end of row 42, do NOT fasten off.  Continue on to handle.

Handle:

Continuing with ivory yarn

R1:  Sc in next 12 st (12 st).  Leave remaining stitches of row unworked.

Fold over work and starting round 2 by working in the first stitch of round 1.  Continue to work handle in spiral rounds.

Note: then next few photos show  a rattle in a different color palette.  (To see the Fox Rattle, Click Here)  It is constructed the exact same way as the cow rattle and is shown here to provide more detail of the process.

R2-28: sc around. (12 st) Stuff handle every 8-10 st or so.

Fasten off leaving a long strand for sewing.  If desired, finish row 28 with an invisible join.  Or, simply fasten off in the usual way.  Make sure handle is stuffed and head of rattle is folded roughly in half.

To sew handle end to opposite side of rattle, carefully bring open end to slip into the folded area. Carefully sew handle in place with overhand stitches.

Lightly stuff head, but do NOT sew shut yet.

Muzzle:

With Pink (Soft Pink) yarn, ch 5

R1:  1 sc in 2^ndch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, 3 sc in last ch, rotate work and work on opposite side of foundation ch, sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next ch (10 st)

R2:  2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next 2 st ,2sc in next 3 st, 1 sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next 2 st (16 st)

R3-4:  sc around (16 st)

Lightly stuff.  Sew on head between rounds 10-15.

For each nostril: using pink yarn, sew 5-6 small stitches on either side of the nose.

If you haven’t done so already, lightly stuff head, but do not sew shut yet.  Insert safety eyes above muzzle.  You may need to remove some stuffing to get the eyes in properly.

Stuff head the rest of the way and insert a noise-making rattle in between the stuffing (Photo above shows a different rattle with the noise making rattles purchased on Amazon.

Sew head of the crochet cow rattle shut, using overhand stitches, making sure head is stuffed nice and firm as you work along.

Ears:

With Light Brown (Toasted Almond) yarn, make a magic ring

R1:  6 sc into ring (6 sts).  (Do not join, worked in rounds)

R2:  *sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (9 st)

R3:  *sc in next 2 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (12 st)

R4:  *sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next st, repeat from * around (15 st)

R5-7: sc around (15 st).

Fasten off, leaving a long strand for sewing.  Fold each ear in half, stitch together then stitch to either side of head over row 6.

Horns:

With Gold yarn, make a magic ring

R1:  6 sc into ring (6 sts).  (Do not join, worked in rounds)

R2-3:  sc around (6 st).  Fasten off and leave a long tail for joining.

Sew onto head in between the ears.

Round Spots (make 2):

With Light Brown yarn, make a magic ring

R1:  6 sc into ring (6 sts).  (Do not join, worked in rounds)

R2:  2 sc in ea st around (12 st)  Fasten off.  I like to do an invisible join on the spots, but you can also fasten off the normal way.

Sew one round spot on the right side of the cow and the other on the left (or any other eye pleasing locations)

Oval Spot (make 1):

With Light Brown yarn, ch 4

R1:  1 sc in 2^ndch from hook, sc in next ch, 3 sc in last ch, rotate work and work on opposite side of foundation ch, sc in next st, 2 sc in next ch (8 st)

R2:  2 sc in next st, 1 sc in next st ,2sc in next 3 st, 1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next 2 st (14 st).  ) Fasten off.  I like to do an invisible join on the spots, but you can also fasten off the normal way.

Sew the oval spot on the cow, starting on the front and wrapping downward on an angle to the bottom of the handle, or any other eye pleasing location.

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I love seeing your finished projects! If you enjoyed making one of my patterns I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @crochet365knittoo.  If you are on Facebook, stop over to the Crochet 365 Knit Too Facebook page or pop over to the Crochet365KnitToo Club and share a photo!  I’d love to see your work!

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