Moo Like a Goat!

Techniques: Double-needle ladder stitch, Fringe

1. Cut a length of cord about two yards long. (Optional: Tie a knot in the one end of the cord to more easily tell the two apart. I've colored the two ends of the cord different colors here.)
2. String a pink bead. Fold the string in half so the two ends line up. This will be the nose of your critter.

3. String two white beads onto one end of the cord. (In this example, I use red, but you can start this process on either side.)

4. Note which direction the cord is entering and leaving the two beads you just added. String the other end of the cord (blue) back into the same beads in the opposite direction as the first end. Now your project should look like the picture, with the second row of two beads connected to the previous row on either side.
TROUBLESHOOTING: After pulling tight, are the two rows of beads parallel to each other? If not, you may have strung both ends of the cord the same direction through the beads.
5. This is the double-needle ladder stitch. (Even if we're not using needles at the moment.) We will be using this technique for the body and tail of our critter.

6. String each end of the cord through the next three beads. Alternate between black, white, and black to create the eyes.

7. Now we are going to learn a new technique for the ears and legs of our critter. String two more black beads onto just one end of the cord. You can choose either end. We will repeat the same steps with the other end later. Note that I have illustrated them some distance away from each other.

8. Fold the same end of the cord back on itself, skipping the first bead and running back through the second towards the center of the piece. Pull snug. This makes up one ear of your critter.
TROUBLESHOOTING: The second bead should hold the first in place. If either bead falls off after you have pulled the cord tight, you may have fed it back through both beads instead of just one.

9. Repeat this maneuver using the other end of the cord.

10. Now, we are going to return to the ladder stitch for the neck of our critter. String the next two rows of three beads: white, gray, and white for the base of the head and three gray beads for the neck.

11. Now we are going to start on the legs of our critter. String two black beads and three pink beads onto one end of the cord. Note again that I have divided them into two groups.

12. Similarly to the ears, fold the same end of the cord back on itself, skipping the three pink beads and running back through the two black beads towards the center of the piece. Pull snug.
TROUBLESHOOTING: this step will start off pretty floppy. Slide the two black beads along the cord and hold them snugly against the "body." Pull the end of the cord until the three pink beads arrange themselves in a tight triangle.

13. Repeat on the other side.

14. Now back to the body proper. String four more rows of four gray beads each.

15. Repeat the earlier steps to create the two back legs.

16. Finish out the body by stringing a row of two gray beads.

17. Now we are going to make the tail. String a row consisting of a single black bead.

18. String five more rows, each of a single pink bead.
19. After making sure that all the beads are as tight as you want them, tie the two ends of the cord together in a double knot. Remember "right over left, left over right."