Crochet Highland Cow - Handmade Plush With Brushed Fringe

This crochet highland cow stands about 24 cm tall, with a long fringe brushed out over the eyes, two short curved horns and a soft muzzle. It is bought for nursery shelves and for hallway tables, and it is one of the few animals in the shop that suits a room with no children in it.

How the fringe is made

1. Worked first. The head is crocheted in brushed yarn, with the fringe area left longer than the rest of the coat.
2. Brushed out. The fibres are teased open with a small brush, a little at a time, until the fringe falls in one direction.
3. Trimmed. The ends are cut level so the fringe clears the muzzle, then the horns are sewn on either side.

Choosing a Crochet Highland Cow for a room

Scale is the thing to get right. At 24 cm the cow is large enough to anchor a shelf on its own and small enough to sit on a bedside table. It is wider at the base than at the head, so it stays put and does not need to lean on a wall.

A crochet highland cow also works where a plain toy would not, because the coat texture reads as a decorative object. In ginger it warms a pale room; in grey or cream it disappears into neutral shelving and simply adds shape. Buyers often take two in different shades for a pair.

Crochet Highland Cow specification

Made to order and shipped worldwide

Each cow is crocheted and brushed after you order, which takes 5 to 10 working days, and is then posted with tracking.

Care

Hand wash in cool water with a mild soap. Press the water out with a towel rather than wringing the piece, reshape it with your fingers while it is still damp, then let it air dry away from direct sunlight. Cotton keeps its shape well once it has dried. There is more detail in our amigurumi care guide.

Questions people ask

Is the crochet highland cow safe in a nursery?

Ask for the embroidered face and it carries no hard parts. Keep it on a shelf rather than in a cot.

Can I see the eyes under the fringe?

Only just, which is how a real highland cow looks. We can trim the fringe shorter if you ask.

Does the brushed yarn feel different from cotton?

It is softer and warmer to the touch, with less stitch definition. The horns stay in cotton so they hold their shape.

Can you match a particular shade?

Usually. Send a photo through our contact page and we will tell you how close we can get.

Shelf pieces that sit well beside a crochet highland cow are listed under stuffed crochet, and our note on the best yarn for amigurumi explains how brushed yarn behaves over time.