Originating from the Highlands of Scotland, this truly spectacular and hardy animal has a long coat to keep the heat in and the cold out. Expert foragers, Highland cows will eat plants that many other cattle won’t. Hamish, ‘an icon of the Scottish Highlands’, was saved from the slaughterhouse during the BSE scare in the 1990s; campaigners argued that he was popular with children, who saw him as a pet. In 2010, Hamish hit the headlines again, when, on meeting his new companion Heather, he danced a ‘Highland fling’. They now happily share a field.
The Highland cow is a difficult animal to knit, but hugely rewarding.
Length: 30cm (12in)
Height to top of head: 18cm (7in)
• Pair of 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles
• Double-pointed 3¼mm (US 3) knitting needles (for tail and for holding stitches)
• Small amount of Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in Charcoal Heather 00402 (ch) for hooves, eyes and nose
• 35g (1⅜oz) of Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in Golden Heather 00018 (gh)
• 25g (1oz) of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Fudge 658 (fu) used DOUBLE throughout
• 5g (⅛oz) Rowan Pure Wool DK in Clay 048 (cl)
• 3 pipecleaners for legs and horns
See here.
See for Loopy Stitch. Work 3-finger loopy stitch throughout pattern.
See for I-cord Technique.
With ch, cast on 11 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows st st.
Row 3: Inc, k2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2, inc. (11 sts)
Cont in gh.
Row 4: Purl.
Row 5: K3, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k3.** (9 sts)
Work 8 rows st st.
Cont in fu.
Row 14: Purl.*
Row 15: K3, [loopy st 1, k1] 3 times.
Cont in gh.
Row 16: Purl.
Row 17: K3, inc, k1, inc, k3. (11 sts)
Row 18: Purl.
Row 19: Knit.
Cont in fu.
Row 20: Purl.
Row 21: K4, inc, loopy st 1, inc, [loopy st 1, k1] twice. (13 sts)
Cont in gh.
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 25: K5, inc, k1, inc, k5. (15 sts)
Cont in fu.
Row 26: Purl.
Row 27: K6, [loopy st 1, k1] 4 times, k1. Cont in gh.
Row 28: Purl.
Row 29: Cast (bind) off 7 sts, k to end (hold 8 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Legs
If you make a small mistake, don’t reknit – it won’t be noticeable under all the loopy stitches.
Work as for Right Back Leg to *.
Row 15: [K1, loopy st 1] 3 times, k3.
Cont in gh.
Row 16: Purl.
Row 17: K3, inc, k1, inc, k3. (11 sts)
Row 18: Purl.
Row 19: Knit.
Cont in fu.
Row 20: Purl.
Row 21: [K1, loopy st 1] twice, inc, loopy st 1, inc, k4. (13 sts)
Cont in gh.
Work 3 rows st st.
Row 25: K5, inc, k1, inc, k5. (15 sts)
Cont in fu.
Row 26: Purl.
Row 27: [K1, loopy st 1] 4 times, k7.
Cont in gh.
Row 29: K8, cast (bind) off 7 sts (hold 8 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
Work as for Right Back Leg to **.
Work 6 rows st st.
Cont in fu.
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: K1, [loopy st 1, k1] 4 times.
Cont in gh.
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: K3, inc, k1, inc, k3. (11 sts)
Row 16: Purl.
Row 17: Knit.
Cont in fu.
Row 18: Purl.
Row 19: [K1, loopy st 1] twice, inc, loopy st 1, inc, [loopy st 1, k1] twice. (13 sts)
Cont in gh.
Work 3 rows st st.***
Row 23: Cast (bind) off 6 sts, k to end (hold 7 sts on spare needle for Right Side of Body).
Work as for Right Front Leg to ***.
Row 23: K7, cast (bind) off 6 sts (hold 7 sts on spare needle for Left Side of Body).
With gh, cast on 2 sts.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: Inc, k2, inc. (6 sts)
Row 5: Purl.
Row 6: Inc, k5, with RS facing k7 from spare needle of Right Front Leg, cast on 8 sts. (22 sts)
Row 7: Purl.
Cont in fu.
Row 8: Inc, [loopy st 1, k1] 10 times, k1, cast on 5 sts. (28 sts)
Row 9: P1, inc, p7, inc, p18. (30 sts)
Cont in gh.
Row 10: Inc, k29, cast on 3 sts. (34 sts)
Row 11: Purl.
Cont in fu.
Row 12: [K1, loopy st 1] 16 times, k2, cast on 4 sts, with RS facing k8 from spare needle of Right Back Leg, cast on 2 sts. (48 sts)
Row 13: P12, inc, p8, inc, p8, inc, p17. (51 sts)
Cont in gh.
Row 14: Inc, k50. (52 sts)
Row 15: Purl.
Cont in fu.
Row 16: [K1, loopy st 1] 25 times, k2.
Row 17: Purl.
Cont in gh.
Work 2 rows st st.
Cont in fu.
Row 20: [K1, loopy st 1] 25 times, k2.
Row 21: Purl.
Cont in gh.
Row 22: Inc, k51. (53 sts)
Row 23: Purl.
Cont in fu.
Row 24: K1, [loopy st 1, k1] 26 times.
Row 25: Purl.
Cont in gh.
Row 26: Inc, k52. (54 sts)
Row 27: Purl.
Cont in fu.
Row 28: [K1, loopy st 1], 26 times, k2.
Row 29: Purl.
Cont in gh.
Row 30: Knit.
Row 31: P54, cast on 9 sts. (63 sts)
Join in fu.
Row 32: K10gh, [loopy st 1fu, k1fu] 26 times, k1fu.
Row 33: P53fu, p9gh, incgh. (64 sts)
Cont in gh.
Row 34: Inc, k4, inc, k1, inc, k1, inc, k54. (68 sts)
Row 35: Purl.
Join in fu.
Row 36: K6gh, incgh, k3gh, incgh, k2gh, k1fu, [loopy st 1fu, k1fu] 27 times. (70 sts)
Row 37: P57fu, p13gh.
Row 38: K13gh, loopy st 1fu, k1gh, loopy st 1fu, k24gh, k2toggh, k6gh, k2toggh, k6gh, k2toggh, k12gh. (67 sts)
Row 39: P65gh, p2toggh. (66 sts)
Row 40: Cast (bind) off 3 sts gh, k6gh icos, [loopy st 1fu, k1fu] 11 times, loopy st 1fu, k2togfu, [loopy st 1fu, k1fu] 3 times, loopy st 1fu, k2togfu, [loopy st 1fu, k1fu] 2 times, loopy st 1fu, k2togfu, [loopy st 1fu, k1fu] 7 times, k2togfu. (59 sts)
Row 41: P53fu, p6gh.
Row 42: Cast (bind) off 2 sts gh, k2gh icos, k2toggh, loopy st 1fu, k2toggh, loopy st 1fu, k47gh, k2toggh. (54 sts)
Row 43: Cast (bind) off 37 sts gh, p17gh icos. (17 sts)
Row 44: K2toggh, k1gh, loopy st 1fu, k2toggh, loopy st 1fu, k2toggh, [loopy st 1fu, k1gh] 3 times, k2toggh. (13 sts)
Row 45: Cast (bind) off 4 sts gh, p7gh icos, p2toggh. (8 sts)
Row 46: K2toggh, loopy st 2fu, k2gh, k2toggh. (6 sts)
Row 47: P2toggh, p2gh, p2toggh. (4 sts) Cast (bind) off.
With gh, cast on 2 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Inc, p2, inc. (6 sts)
Row 5: Knit.
Row 6: Inc, p5, with WS facing p7 from spare needle of Left Front Leg, cast on 8 sts. (22 sts)
Row 7: Knit.
Cont in fu.
Row 8: P22, cast on 5 sts. (27 sts)
Row 9: K1, inc, [loopy st 1, k1] 3 times, loopy st 1, inc, [loopy st 1, k1] 8 times, inc. (30 sts)
Cont in gh.
Row 10: Inc, p29, cast on 3 sts. (34 sts)
Row 11: Knit.
Cont in fu.
Row 12: P34, cast on 4 sts, with WS facing p8 from spare needle of Left Back Leg, cast on 2 sts. (48 sts)
Row 13: K2, [loopy st 1, k1] 7 times, inc, [loopy st 1, k1] 3 times, loopy st 1, inc, [loopy st 1, k1] 3 times, loopy st 1, inc, [loopy st 1, k1] 7 times, k1. (51 sts)
Cont in gh.
Row 14: Inc, p50. (52 sts)
Row 15: Knit.
Cont in fu.
Row 16: Purl.
Row 17: [K1, loopy st 1] 25 times, k2.
Cont in gh.
Work 2 rows st st.
Cont in fu.
Row 20: Purl.
Row 21: K1, [k1, loopy st 1] 25 times, k1.
Cont in gh.
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: Inc, k51. (53 sts)
Cont in fu.
Row 24: Purl.
Row 25: K1, [loopy st 1, k1] 26 times.
Cont in gh.
Row 26: Inc, p52. (54 sts)
Row 27: Knit.
Cont in fu.
Row 28: Purl.
Row 29: [K1, loopy st 1] 26 times, k2.
Cont in gh.
Row 30: Purl.
Row 31: K54, cast on 9 sts. (63 sts)
Join in fu.
Row 32: P10fu, p53gh.
Row 33: [K1fu, loopy st 1fu] 26 times, k1fu, k9gh, incgh. (64 sts)
Cont in gh.
Row 34: Inc, p4, inc, p1, inc, p1, inc, p54. (68 sts)
Join in fu.
Row 36: P13gh, p55fu.
Row 37: [K1fu, loopy st 1fu] 27 times, k1fu, k2gh, incgh, k3gh, incgh, k6gh. (70 sts)
Row 38: P38gh, p2toggh, p6gh, p2toggh, p6gh, p2toggh, p14gh. (67 sts)
Row 39: K51gh, loopy st 1fu, k1gh, loopy st 1fu, k11gh, k2toggh. (66 sts)
Row 40: Cast (bind) off 3gh sts, p9gh icos, p20fu, p2togfu, p7fu, p2togfu, p5fu, p2togfu, p14fu, p2togfu. (59 sts)
Row 41: [K1fu, loopy st 1fu] 26 times, k1fu, p6gh.
Row 42: Cast (bind) off 2 sts gh, p2gh icos, p2toggh, p1gh, p2toggh, p48gh, p2toggh. (54 sts)
Row 43: Cast (bind) off 37 sts gh, k2gh icos, [loopy st 1fu, k1gh] 7 times, k1gh. (17 sts)
Row 44: P2toggh, p2gh, p2togfu, p1gh, p2togfu, p6gh, p2togfu. (13 sts)
Row 45: Cast (bind) off 4 sts gh, k4gh icos, loopy st 1fu, k1gh, loopy st 1fu, k2toggh. (8 sts)
Row 46: P2toggh, p4gh, p2toggh. (6 sts)
Row 47: K2toggh, loopy st 2fu, k2toggh. (4 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
With gh, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 12 rows st st.
Row 13: K1, [inc] twice, k1. (6 sts)
Work 33 rows st st.
Row 47: K2tog, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Work 2 rows st st.
Row 50: [P2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
Coat
Cut the loops after sewing up, then comb for a smooth finish.
With double-pointed needles and fu, cast on 5 sts.
Work i-cord as folls:
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: K1, loopy st 3, k1.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: K1, loopy st 3, k1.
Cont in gh.
Knit 20 rows.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With cl, cast on 5 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 16 rows st st.
Row 17: K2tog, k1, k2tog. (3 sts)
Work 5 rows st st.
Row 23: K3tog and fasten off.
Horns
Manipulate the horns into a big curving sweep.
SEWING IN ENDS Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on and cast (bound) off rows for sewing up.
LEGS With WS together and whip stitch, fold each leg in half and sew up legs on RS, starting at hooves.
HEAD AND BODY Sew from front of front legs, up chest, around head, along back and down bottom.
TUMMY Sew cast on row of tummy to base of cow’s bottom (where legs begin), and sew cast (bound) off row to front of front legs. Ease and sew tummy to fit body. Leave a 2.5cm (1in) gap between front and back legs on one side.
STUFFING Pipecleaners are used to stiffen the legs and help bend them into shape. Fold a pipecleaner into a U-shape and measure against front two legs. Cut to fit approximately, leaving an extra 2.5cm (1in) at both ends. Fold these ends over to stop the pipecleaner poking out of the hooves. Roll a little stuffing around pipecleaner and slip into body, one end down each front leg. Repeat with second pipecleaner and back legs. Starting at the head, stuff the cow firmly, but do not stuff flap of skin at front legs, then sew up the gap. Mould body into shape.
TAIL Attach cast (bound) off row of tail to start of bottom.
HORNS Cut two lengths of pipecleaner 2.5cm (1in) longer than horns. Wrap each horn around a pipecleaner so that one end of pipecleaner protrudes and sew up. Push protruding ends of horns into sides of head as in photograph, sew in place and bend into shape.
EYES With ch, sew 3-loop French knots positioned as in photograph.
NOSE With ch, sew 5 long satin stitches horizontally across tip of nose. With cl, sew 3-loop French knots for nostrils.
LOOPS Cut loops and trim.
