Hi everybody, last week I shared my crochet animal heads work and 
My original post with the finished heads is here:
https://steemit.com/needleworkmonday/@kimbolo86/needleworkmonday-crochet-taxidermy-animal-heads
So lets get started!
My base colour for the Cow is Paprika from Hayfield Bonus Chunky, and I use a 4.5mm hook throughout.
First, starting with the main head at the nose end:
The nose is started in amigurumi style, increasing and lengthening the snout. Highland Cows have shorter noses than the Bull in Animal Heads, so I reduced the number of DC only rounds in this section. Each Cow Head Ive done has had a slightly different nose (mainly because I forgot how many rows I put in!) - in the end it gives each a different character, so it works out :)
Next, the top of the head is shaped using short turning rows to curve each section. I used Mooncie's pattern for this, so I cant give detail, but the picture below shows how the shaping works. From the nose, the top 'bulge' on the head is shaped, then the front of the neck is worked. This is fastened off and can be stuffed as shown below. I have been using cheap pillows as stuffing, but recently bought a bulk bag online. These are really useful for the heads, as they take a lot of filling. The Cow takes ~1.5 pillows.
To complete the head basic shape, two backing pieces are crocheted. Essentially this is a circle, with the same shaping used for the front of the neck, so that the stitch count and shape matches the back of the head piece. Again, this is all Mooncie's pattern, so cannot give detail. You will need a piece of craft board or some sturdy cardboard to finish the base. I have made myself a template for cutting these to make life easier - it means that the shape is the same each time. I harvested an old cardboard box and cut three shapes, stuck the them together, and this was tough enough to hold the weight of the head. The two backing pieces are crocheted together with a round of DC, and the board slides between the two pieces, then the piece closed off.
The back piece is then crocheted to the back of the head, stuffing the face firmly as you go along.
Finally, I add on the Hanging Ring, purely so I can put it out of the way while I crochet the features and it doesnt get squashed or dirty! Ive been using plastic curtain rings for this section. I would advise something robust though, because the finished head can be quite heavy! DC around the ring until it is covered. I crochet mine to the base, because it gives a stronger finish - start by loosely sewing the ring by the thread it was tied off by. Count along about 8 stitches from where the middle is and join your yarn with a SL ST. DC along until you are 3 stitches from the middle point. Count 3 stitches up the side of the hanging ring, then DC from there around the circle. When you are 3 stitches from the other side of the middle point, miss these, then miss the 3 stitches on the base and crochet along 5. SL ST to the next stitch, turn and DC back over the ring. You can do this as many times as you like - it looks quite decorative with a few rows, and it just gives a bit of extra support to the hanging point. I use the threads that were used to mark the middle point earlier to sew up the last few stitches on either side.
So that is the main head shape finished, and where I am up to with my most recent WIP! The next steps are to crochet the eyes, ears, horns and mouth, then finally attaching the fleece, which I will hopefully be able to post up next week. Up to this point, the head has taken ~10 hours of time and 5 balls of 100g Chunky yarn.
I highly recommend Vanessa Mooncie's Animal Heads book - the patterns are very simple to follow and well written and as I have hopefully demonstrated, easily adjusted. It gives a good understanding of shaping pieces, so with some practice there is the potential to create new animals!
Apologies that more detail cant be given in the post, but I hope that showing how simple the piece is to put together it will inspire you to try it out for yourself!
Happy Monday all!