Are you ready to moo-ve into the world of adorable cow-themed knitting patterns? From cute and cuddly stuffed toys to cozy blankets and fashionable sweaters, these knit cow patterns are udderly irresistible. And the best part? We’ve rounded up a whopping 25 of them for you to enjoy! Most of the patterns are free but we’ve also included a handful of paid designs that were just too cute to pass up.
If you love quirky knits that bring smiles to everyone’s faces, this list is for you. Picture it: a cozy cow-print blanket draped over your couch or a cute cow hat that makes getting ready to go out in cold weather just a little more fun. Or maybe you’re itching to knit a plushie that’s soft, squishable, and full of character. No matter what you have in mind, these knit cow patterns are versatile and a ton of fun to create.
There’s something for everyone in this list! Whether you’re looking to whip up a quick and easy cow print scrunchie or dive into a more complex project like a sweater, we’ve got you covered. From black and white spotted cows to luxuriously furry highland cows with personality, these knit cow patterns will keep you entertained for hours. Plus, they make fantastic gifts for anyone who loves animals—or just a good, whimsical knit.
And let’s be real, there’s no such thing as too many cow patterns! Whether you’re knitting for your little one, a friend, or even yourself, these patterns will bring a bit of farmyard magic to your wardrobe and home décor. Are you ready to make your moo-ve on these knit cow patterns? Scroll down and prepare to be inspired!
1. Cuddly Cow Hat
Some of the earliest things we teach our kids about are barnyard animals, so it just makes sense to make this cute cow hat for the little one in your life. You can use this hat for everyday use or as part of a Halloween costume. The pattern is available for free in the 12 month size and it uses just basic stitches like stockinette and rib stitch.
Designer: Little Red Window
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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2. Cow Scrunchie
For a more subtle nod to our favorite spotted friends, whip up this adorable cow print scrunchie. This pattern is very fast and straightforward to make and I think that the fantastic results speak for themselves! The pattern uses stockinette stitch worked in the round with stranded colorwork. Try a white and pink variety for a strawberry spin on the traditional cow print.
Designer: Craftee Manatee
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Solids (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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3. Buttercup and Daisy
These two cows look a lot alike but you can tell them apart by the little flower appliques they have on their sides. Whether you decide to make one cow, two cows, or a whole herd of them, you are sure to enjoy this realistic cow design. The best part is that they can stand up on their own so they’re perfect for both playing with and displaying.
Designer: Frankie’s Knitted Stuff
Yarn: DK Weight #3
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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4. Animal Talk Throw
This colorful blanket design features the whole farm family. There’s a pig, a sheep, a duck, and a cow, of course. Each animal design has its own color chart so it’s super easy to use the cow design in isolation if you want to keep things strictly bovine. The large size of the cow motif makes it perfect for bigger projects like blankets and pullover sweaters.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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5. Cowasocky
At first glance I thought that these socks were open-toed, but they are actually toe socks. Instead of one big area at the tip for all your toes to snuggle together, they each get a cozy little container of their own. When you make them in pink like the one shown, they look absurdly and delightfully like udders. If you are looking for a fun project, then you really can’t go wrong with this one!
Designer: Leslie Comstock
Yarn: Louet Gems Fingering Weight (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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6. Hay, Baby!
There are a lot of knit cow patterns out there specifically designed for babies like this adorable bib and wash cloth set. The pattern uses the textural differences between smooth stockinette and bumpy garter stitches to create the charming bovine design. They’re perfect for the little cowboy or cowgirl in your life who is obsessed with their farmyard friends.
Designer: Down Cloverlaine
Yarn: Worsted Weight #4
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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7. Cow Spots Blanket
If you’ve never tried colorwork in knitting before, then this cow spots blanket is your sign to give it a shot! The organic nature of the design easily disguises any small mistakes you might make along the way. Plus, the thick weight of the recommended yarn makes it easy to see your stitches. The pattern calls for stockinette stitch and it uses the intarsia colorwork technique.
Designer: Alison Green for Berroco
Yarn: Berroco Plush (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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8. Cow Bow
Accessorize in bovine style with this bold and beautiful cow print bow. This is an easy and quick design that’s great for using up some of your scrap yarn. For this design, you’ll be working in the round using stockinette stitch and stranded colorwork. You can use it as a hair bow or use it as a 3D applique on another cow-themed project.
Designer: Craftee Manatee
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Solids (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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9. Cow Square
Here’s another one of our knit cow patterns that uses the textural differences between knit and purl stitches to create the design rather than using two different colors of yarn. This pattern features a garter stitch cow front and center. The cow is set against a sleek background of stockinette stitches and is bordered on all sides by one of my favorites – the seed stitch.
Designer: Daisy and Storm
Yarn: None specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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10. Mootiful Cow Baby Set
Here’s a cute cow-themed set for the little one in your life. You can choose to make the hat, the bloomers, the booties, or all three. The patterns call for just basic stitches along with picot stitches for the decorative edging. There is no colorwork involved while you are knitting the project. Instead, you will add the cow spots on at the end using duplicate stitch embroidery.
Designer: Jane Burns Designs
Yarn: World of Wool Woolaby (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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11. Waldorf Style Cow
This fun farmyard animal play set was made in the Waldorf style. It includes a sheep, a pig, and a cow. These simplified designs are quick and easy to make using just basic stitches. All three animals start out the same with the body shape but the little details you add along the way help to distinguish them from each other.
Designer: Elaine Simper
Yarn: None specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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12. Mini Cow Lovey Blanket
Loveys combine the best of both worlds of adorable stuffed animals and snuggly security blankets. They make excellent cuddling companions for babies and toddlers. This moo-velous cow lovey is cute as a button. The pattern calls for just the basic stitches, knit and purl, along with increases, decreases, and yarn overs to make the decorative eyelet lace edging.
Designer: Rainebo Designs
Yarn: Worsted Weight #4
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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13. Belle Bib
Here’s another super cute cow option for adding a bovine design to small projects like baby bibs and washcloths. These would also make really cute squares in a patchwork style blanket or sweater design. I love the cartoon style of this cow. Just look at her cute little cow bell! All you need to know is how to knit and how to purl.
Designer: Down Cloverlaine
Yarn: Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co. Peaches & Creme Solids (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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14. “COW”L
Sure, you could make a regular cow print scarf, but I think that you will find that this cow print cowl is quite a punny project! This cowl is quite lightweight thanks to the thin nature of the yarn, but you could size up for a more cozy and chunky cowl. The pattern calls for stockinette stitch and stranded colorwork worked flat in back and forth rows.
Designer: Deborah Tomasello
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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15. Moo
The next one of our knit cow patterns really hits it out of the park. There’s a lot going on in this design from the striped sleeves to the gingham edging along the waistband. Of course, the star of the show is the cute cow on the belly of the sweater! The pattern uses garter stitch along the hem and cuffs, rib stitch on the buttoned shoulders, and stockinette stitch everywhere else.
Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Muskat and
Garnstudio DROPS Tynd Chenille (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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16. Lizzy the Cow Tea Cozy
For folks that don’t take their home decor too seriously and like to have fun with it, this cow tea pot cozy is a real riot. This playful cow design features a fuzzy head of hair and a mischievous tongue sticking out. You could make one for yourself or make one for a friend who needs a good laugh. It would make an excellent gag gift!
Designer: Knitvana
Yarn: None specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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17. Cowboy Booties
I’ve been seeing more cow skull things lately and I’m here for it. You can add this southwest inspired intarsia colorwork motif to these cute little baby booties that look like cowboy boots (yee-haw!) or you can incorporate them into a different project. I think they’d be so cute on a pair of fingerless gloves or on the cuffs of long socks.
Designer: Corinne’s Knits
Yarn: Bernat Satin Sport Solids (Sport Weight #2)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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18. Moo Moo the Cow
Follow along with the step by step video tutorial to learn how to make this adorable cow stuffed animal with a knitting machine. This little fellow is seriously squishable and super snuggly. He is sure to make you smile every time you see him! Make one for yourself or for the cow obsessed kiddo in your life. The pattern uses just basic knitting stitches.
Designer: Koala Knits and Knacks
Yarn: Worsted Weight #4
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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19. Cute Highland Cow
I often see depictions of highland cows with their tongues hanging out but this plush toy is very demure. Of course, he still has those luscious long locks and that rich reddish brown fur that make highland cows so popular. This project calls for a bulky weight yarn so it works up a little faster. The pattern calls for just basic stitches.
Designer: Brown Paper Fox
Yarn: Lion Brand Hue + Me (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the knitting pattern!
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20. Black and White Cow Plushie
I love the look of this black and white spotted cow. The spots of the cow are made using basic colorwork techniques, but you could opt for duplicate stitch embroidery if you prefer. I have also seen some folks add the spots on using needle felting techniques so that might be a good alternative as well. This designer also has a really cute highland cow pattern.
Designer: Knitables
Yarn: DK Weight #3
Click here for the pattern!
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21. Cute Knitted Cow
A gray and white color palette provides a more toned down and softer look for this little cow friend. It makes him look like a baby cow instead of an adult and I’m obsessed. This pattern has a unique design for the legs. The flat edges look more like hooves than the traditional rounded edges of knit stuffed animal limbs and I thought that was a really nice touch.
Designer: Clara’s Critter Crew
Yarn: Patons North America Grace (Sport Weight #2)
Click here for the knitting pattern!
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22. Cow Blanket
This cow blanket looks just as cute displayed on the rails of a baby crib as it does when laid out flat. Like a larger version of a lovey, this is a full size baby blanket with the addition of a 3-dimensional cow head and cow legs. The pattern uses stockinette and rib stitches. It works up quickly in super bulky weight yarn.
Designer: Critter Knitter Crafts
Yarn: Bernat Blanket (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for this fun knitting pattern!
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23. Caldwell the Cow Hooded Scarf
Whether you are just crazy for cows or you want a cozy and warm option for Halloween this year, you just can’t beat the cuteness of this hooded cow scarf complete with spots and ears. This project is fun to make and fun to wear. Best of all, the time spent knitting will go by fast thanks to the thickness of the recommended yarn weight.
Designer: Two of Wands
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick Solids (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the knitting pattern!
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24. In the Moo’d Sweater
The popularity of cows and cow prints have even gone so far as to inspire popular fashion styles. I love this bold bovine take on a cozy oversized sweater. The pattern calls for stockinette and rib stitches. This design is also available in cardigan and vest form, so you have plenty of options when it comes to your cow print attire.
Designer: Kara Eng
Yarn: Wool and the Gang Crazy Sexy Wool (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the knitting pattern!
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25. Gaby the Uni-Cow
Why should horses be the only animal that gets a mythical counterpart with a magical horn? This unicorn cow head is cute as can be and perfect for mounting on the wall. I like the color choice here because I really feel like the non-traditional blue in place of the classic black gives it an extra dash of whimsy that pairs beautifully with the fun striped horn.
Designer: Sincerely, Louise
Yarn: Sirdar Snuggly DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for this cow knitting pattern!
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There you have it—25 of the most delightful knit cow patterns out there! So why not pick your favorite pattern and let the crafting fun begin? With so many cute cow designs to choose from, you’re bound to create something moo-velous! Tell us all about your cow-themed crafting plans in the comments below!
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Happy Knitting!
