Finished Object Reveal: A Knit Highland Cattle

I managed to complete a knitting project this past weekend, y'all!

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A Highland Cattle Chrysanthemum Critter was finished on Sunday, which surprised even me!

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After my romp in the garden Saturday, I decided to watch the classic Fall movie Practical Magic and knit. It felt like a good day to work on my Highland Cattle Chrysanthemum Critter, so I took out his project bag and got cozy.

**The pattern I follow is "Milk Cow" by Susan B. Anderson. I altered it slightly for sizing, don't use her horn pattern, and I add hair for extra character, but the basic pattern is all hers.**

I managed to make his remaining three legs that day. I was struggling with gauge to match leg lengths and color changes. My notes told me how many rows I needed, but mine eyes kept deceiving me.

I had to tink ("literally knit spelled backwards"- thank you Knitty Natty for the word) and re-knit many times to ensure each leg was the same. It took more energy than I planned, so those three legs were my limit.

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Sunday was a different story though. I didn't pick up my project until the evening, but once I did, I didn't put it down.

The Highland Cattle was swiftly assembled then: ears were sewn to his head, the head attached to his body.

I picked up stitches for his tail, making sure they were centered and not too high or too low on his bottom. His legs went on after. Then the horn.

The final touch? That shaggy Highland haircut.

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There he is: the first Highland Cattle Chrysanthemum Critter. He will be available in my Etsy as soon as it reopens :)

It feels weird that he doesn't have a name, but I also feel weird naming stuffed animals before they get to their new companion. It's true they can be renamed whenever, but I feel like I'm taking away part of the magic of play if I give a name before someone else has a chance to, you know? What do you think about already-named stuffed animals? Yay or nay?