Willow the Witch Cow: A Free Amigurumi Pattern for Whimsical Halloween Decor

Willow the Witch Cow: A Free Amigurumi Pattern for Whimsical Halloween Decor

A warm welcome back to the atelier, my dear creator. It is I, Patricia, and I am simply bubbling with excitement to share our latest creation. There is a special kind of magic that stirs in the air as autumn arrives, and I felt so inspired by that feeling of gentle, playful enchantment. I wanted to capture it, to weave it into a tangible form.

And so, allow me to introduce Willow the Witch Cow. She is not a creature of frights, but one of pure, sweet, Halloween whimsy. She is the magic of a child's first costume, the sparkle in their eye as they choose a pumpkin, the cozy feeling of a crisp night. She is, in every stitch, a heartfelt wish for a happy, handmade holiday.

🎨 The Artisan's Vision: Why This Project is Special

This project is an ode to "Gentle Halloween Whimsy." In our atelier, we believe that the soul of amigurumi is its ability to evoke tender charm, and Willow is a perfect example. We will use our 'Aesthetic Compass' to guide us—a large, loving head, a plump, cuddly body, and wide-set, innocent eyes—to create a centerpiece that is more than a toy; it is a "spooky-cute" companion that brings a handmade smile to your home.

Attribute Detail
🧶 Difficulty Intermediate
🕒 Est. Time 4-5 Hours
📏 Size Approx. 7 inches (18 cm) tall, without hat

The alchemist knows that to create 'cute,' one must study 'youth.' A large head, plump cheeks, and low-set eyes are the sacred geometry of tenderness. We are not just making a toy; we are crafting an 'aww.'

🧶 The Alchemist's Trove: Materials & Tools

To weave this dreamy creation, you will need to gather a few simple treasures. I have used a cotton yarn, as it gives such wonderful, crisp stitches, but any worsted-weight yarn you love will do.

  • Yarn: Worsted Weight (Aran / 10-ply) in Cream (main body), Black (hat, cape, hooves), Bright Orange (pumpkin, inner ears, details), Soft Pink (muzzle), and a small scrap of Antique Gold (hat buckle).
  • Hook: 2.5mm crochet hook (or size to match your yarn tension).
  • Eyes: 10mm black safety eyes (2).
  • Other Materials: Polyester fiberfill stuffing, stitch marker, yarn needle, scissors, black embroidery thread (for face), and one cinnamon stick (approx. 4-5 inches) for the broom.

💡 The Language of the Craft: Stitches & Abbreviations

We will be working in continuous rounds unless stated otherwise. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.

  • ch - chain
  • sl st - slip stitch
  • sc - single crochet
  • inc - single crochet increase (2 sc in one st)
  • dec - invisible decrease (sc 2 sts together through front loops)
  • hdc - half double crochet
  • dc - double crochet
  • MR - magic ring
  • BLO - back loop only
  • FLO - front loop only
  • (...) - stitch count at end of round
  • [...] x... - repeat instructions in brackets ... times

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📖 Woven into Being: The Complete Willow the Witch Cow Pattern

The Head

Start with Cream yarn.

  • Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a MR (6 sts)
  • Rnd 2: [inc] x 6 (12 sts)
  • Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x 6 (18 sts)
  • Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24 sts)
  • Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x 6 (30 sts)
  • Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x 6 (36 sts)
  • Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x 6 (42 sts)
  • Rnd 8: [6 sc, inc] x 6 (48 sts)
  • Rnd 9-16: sc in all 48 sts (8 rounds) (48 sts)
  • Rnd 17: [7 sc, inc] x 6 (54 sts)
  • Rnd 18-20: sc in all 54 sts (3 rounds) (54 sts)
  • Rnd 21: [7 sc, dec] x 6 (48 sts)

Place the safety eyes. Guided by our 'Gaze of Innocence' principle, insert the 10mm safety eyes between Rnds 17 and 18, with about 10-11 stitches visible between them. They should sit low on the face, creating that sweet, baby-like expression.

  • Rnd 22: [6 sc, dec] x 6 (42 sts)
  • Rnd 23: [5 sc, dec] x 6 (36 sts)
  • Rnd 24: [4 sc, dec] x 6 (30 sts)
  • Rnd 25: [3 sc, dec] x 6 (24 sts)

Artisan's Note: Begin to stuff the head firmly. As you stuff, gently shape the head with your hands to define the plump cheeks that are so essential to our 'Embrace of Softness' aesthetic. Continue stuffing as you close.

  • Rnd 26: [2 sc, dec] x 6 (18 sts)
  • Rnd 27: [sc, dec] x 6 (12 sts)
  • Rnd 28: [dec] x 6 (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the final 6 sts and pull tight to close. Hide the yarn end.

The Muzzle

With Soft Pink yarn.

  • Rnd 1: ch 6. Starting from 2nd ch from hook: inc, 3 sc, 4 sc in last ch. Continue on other side of chain: 3 sc, inc in last st. (14 sts)
  • Rnd 2: [inc] x 2, 3 sc, [inc] x 4, 3 sc, [inc] x 2 (22 sts)
  • Rnd 3: sc in all 22 sts (22 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew the muzzle to the face, just below and centered between the eyes. Stuff lightly just before closing the seam. With black embroidery thread, stitch a small, wide 'U' shape for the mouth.

Ears (Make 2)

With Bright Orange yarn.

  • Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a MR (6 sts)
  • Rnd 2: [inc] x 6 (12 sts)
  • Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x 6 (18 sts)

Fasten off orange. Attach Cream yarn.

  • Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24 sts)
  • Rnd 5: sc in all 24 sts (24 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Fold the ear in half and make one stitch to hold the shape. Sew to the sides of the head, around Rnd 14-18.

Horns (Make 2)

With Black yarn.

  • Rnd 1: Start 4 sc in a MR (4 sts)
  • Rnd 2: [sc, inc] x 2 (6 sts)
  • Rnd 3: [2 sc, inc] x 2 (8 sts)
  • Rnd 4-5: sc in all 8 sts (2 rounds) (8 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Stuff very lightly. Sew to the top of the head, just behind the ears.

The Body

Start with Cream yarn.

  • Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a MR (6 sts)
  • Rnd 2: [inc] x 6 (12 sts)
  • Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x 6 (18 sts)
  • Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x 6 (24 sts)
  • Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x 6 (30 sts)
  • Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] x 6 (36 sts)
  • Rnd 7: [5 sc, inc] x 6 (42 sts)
  • Rnd 8-12: sc in all 42 sts (5 rounds) (42 sts)
  • Rnd 13: [5 sc, dec] x 6 (36 sts)
  • Rnd 14-15: sc in all 36 sts (2 rounds) (36 sts)
  • Rnd 16: [4 sc, dec] x 6 (30 sts)
  • Rnd 17-18: sc in all 30 sts (2 rounds) (30 sts)
  • Rnd 19: [3 sc, dec] x 6 (24 sts)
  • Rnd 20-21: sc in all 24 sts (2 rounds) (24 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a very long tail for sewing. Stuff the body firmly, creating a plump, pear shape.

Legs (Make 2)

Start with Black yarn for the "boots."

  • Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a MR (6 sts)
  • Rnd 2: [inc] x 6 (12 sts)
  • Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x 6 (18 sts)
  • Rnd 4: BLO sc in all 18 sts (18 sts)
  • Rnd 5: sc in all 18 sts (18 sts)
  • Rnd 6: [4 sc, dec] x 3 (15 sts)
  • Rnd 7: Change to Cream yarn. [3 sc, dec] x 3 (12 sts)
  • Rnd 8-11: sc in all 12 sts (4 rounds) (12 sts)

Stuff the foot and lower leg. Do not stuff the upper leg. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew to the bottom of the body.

Arms (Make 2)

Start with Black yarn.

  • Rnd 1: Start 5 sc in a MR (5 sts)
  • Rnd 2: [inc] x 5 (10 sts)
  • Rnd 3-4: sc in all 10 sts (2 rounds) (10 sts)
  • Rnd 5: Change to Cream yarn. sc in all 10 sts (10 sts)
  • Rnd 6-10: sc in all 10 sts (5 rounds) (10 sts)

Stuff the hand lightly. Do not stuff the arm. Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. Sew to the sides of the body, just below the neck.

Witch's Hat

With Black yarn. Start with the cone.

  • Rnd 1: Start 4 sc in a MR (4 sts)
  • Rnd 2: sc in all 4 sts (4 sts)
  • Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x 2 (6 sts)
  • Rnd 4: sc in all 6 sts (6 sts)
  • Rnd 5: [2 sc, inc] x 2 (8 sts)
  • Rnd 6: sc in all 8 sts (8 sts)
  • Rnd 7: [3 sc, inc] x 2 (10 sts)
  • Rnd 8: sc in all 10 sts (10 sts)
  • Rnd 9: [4 sc, inc] x 2 (12 sts)
  • Rnd 10: [5 sc, inc] x 2 (14 sts)
  • Rnd 11: [6 sc, inc] x 2 (16 sts)
  • Rnd 12: [7 sc, inc] x 2 (18 sts)
  • Rnd 13: [8 sc, inc] x 2 (20 sts)
  • Rnd 14: [9 sc, inc] x 2 (22 sts)
  • Rnd 15: [10 sc, inc] x 2 (24 sts)
  • Rnd 16: [3 sc, inc] x 6 (30 sts)
  • Rnd 17: [4 sc, inc] x 6 (36 sts)
  • Rnd 18: [5 sc, inc] x 6 (42 sts)
  • Rnd 19: [6 sc, inc] x 6 (48 sts)
  • Rnd 20: [7 sc, inc] x 6 (54 sts)
  • Rnd 21: Now we make the brim. FLO [2 sc, inc] x 18 (72 sts)
  • Rnd 22: [11 sc, inc] x 6 (78 sts)

Fasten off and weave in end.

Capelet

With Black yarn.

  • Row 1: ch 26. Starting from 2nd ch from hook, sc in all 25 chs. (25 sts)
  • Row 2: ch 1, turn. [sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc] x 5. (This creates 5 scallops)

Fasten off, leaving two long tails at the beginning and end of Row 1 to tie the capelet around Willow's neck.

Pumpkin Charm

With Bright Orange yarn.

  • Rnd 1: Start 6 sc in a MR (6 sts)
  • Rnd 2: [inc] x 6 (12 sts)
  • Rnd 3-4: sc in all 12 sts (2 rounds) (12 sts)
  • Rnd 5: [dec] x 6 (6 sts)

Fasten off, leaving a tail. Stuff lightly. Weave tail through final 6 sts and pull to close. With black thread, embroider a simple jack-o'-lantern face. Create a chain with black yarn and attach it to the capelet.

Artisan's Note: To make the pumpkin's ridges, use your orange yarn tail, wrap it tightly around the ball from top to bottom, pulling to indent the 'segments' before weaving in the end. This is a tiny detail, but true artistry is in these whispers of charm.

🧵 The Final Flourish: Assembly & Embellishment

My dear creator, this is where the true magic happens—where pieces become a personality.

  1. Body & Head: Sew the head securely to the body, using the long yarn tail from the body. Add a little more stuffing to the neck area just before you close the seam to ensure her head is stable.
  2. Limbs: Sew the legs to the bottom of the body (around Rnds 6-10). Sew the arms to the sides of the body, just below the neck seam (around Rnds 19-20).
  3. Face Details: Using black embroidery thread, add sweet little eyelashes to the outer corners of her eyes.
  4. Blush: Using Bright Orange yarn, stitch two small circles or ovals on her cheeks for her blush patches.
  5. Hat Band: With Bright Orange yarn, make a chain long enough to wrap around the hat (approx. 55-60 ch). Tie it around the base of the hat's cone.
  6. Buckle: With your Antique Gold yarn, embroider a small square buckle on top of the orange band.
  7. Broomstick: Take your cinnamon stick. Cut 10-12 strands of Bright Orange yarn, each about 4 inches long. Fold them in half and tie them securely around one end of the cinnamon stick to create the bristles. Trim them to be even.
  8. Finishing: Place the capelet around her neck. Place the hat on her head (you can add a few stitches to secure it, if you wish). Tuck the broomstick under one of her arms.

💡 The Artisan's Advisor: Pro Tips & FAQs

Q: My color changes from black to cream are not very neat. Any tips?
A: Ah, a classic challenge! To make your color change invisible, on the last stitch of the old color (Black), complete only the first half of the stitch. Stop when you have two loops on your hook. Now, yarn over with the new color (Cream) and pull it through both loops to complete the stitch. This makes the *top* of the stitch the new color, ready for the next round.

Q: My witch hat is a bit floppy. How can I make it stand up?
A: A wonderful question! There are two paths. For a soft solution, you can lightly stuff the cone of the hat with fiberfill. For a more rigid, permanent hold, you can cut a circle of stiff felt or thin plastic to fit inside the brim, and a cone of the same material to slip inside the point. But I find a little stuffing is often just enough to give it life!

Q: Can I make her bigger or smaller?
A: But of course! The soul of a pattern is its versatility. To change her size, simply use a thicker yarn (like bulky) and a larger hook (like 4.0mm) for a bigger creation, or a thinner yarn (like sport weight) and a smaller hook (like 2.0mm) for a more petite version. The pattern remains the same; only the scale of the magic changes.

💌 From Patricia's Hook & Heart: A Final Word

And there she is. Our beautiful Willow, woven into being from a simple thread and a spark of imagination. You have just crafted a piece of gentle, cozy magic. My hope is that as you worked these stitches, you felt that wonderful, whimsical spirit, and that your finished creation brings a heartfelt smile to all who see it. She is a reminder that even in the spookiest of seasons, there is always room for sweetness.

Until next time, may your hook be swift and your creations bring joy.

About the Author
Patricia Poltera is a master amigurumi artisan and mentor. With decades of experience, she believes that every stitch tells a story. Her passion is helping fellow creators turn yarn into heartfelt heirlooms and build successful ventures from their craft. You can find more of her patterns and tutorials at [Your Blog Name].

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