animal

Crochet pattern: Elephant

Large crocheted pink elephant on white background

This elephant is probably my best-selling item at craft shows. It’s also a fun thing to make, so I’m sharing my pattern with you so you can create your very own cuddly pachyderm!

Materials:

  • Yarn of desired weight
  • Fiberfill stuffing
  • 2 button eyes

Gauge/Yarn

Gauge is unimportant; use a hook that ensures stitches are tight enough that stuffing doesn’t ooze out.

Notes:

  1. Pattern is worked in the round unless otherwise noted.
  2. Decrease: insert hook into front loop of next stitch, then into front loop of stitch after that. YO, pull through both front loops, YO, pull through loop. This is called an invisible decrease.

Body:
Ch 2 (or work magic loop).
Rnd 1: In second stitch from hook (or in magic loop), 6 sc. (6 sc)
Rnd 2: 2sc in first sc of previous round, 2sc in each of the next 5 sc. (12 sc)
Rnd 3: (Sc, 2sc in next sc) 6 times. (18 sc)
Rnd 4: (Sc in next 2 stitches, 2sc in next sc) 6 times. (24 sc)
Rnd 5: Sc in next stitch, (2sc in next st, sc in next 3 stitches) five times, 2sc in next stitch, sc in next 2 stitches. (30 sc)
Rnd 6: (Sc in next 4 stitches, 2sc in next sc) 6 times. (36 sc)
Rnd 7: Sc in next 2 stitches, (2sc in next st, sc in next 5 stitches) five times, 2sc in next stitch, sc in next 3 stitches. (42 sc)
Rnd 8-12: 42 sc around. Mark last stitch in row. (42 sc)

Trunk:
Rnd 13: Sc in next 6 stitches. (6 sc)
Rnd 14: Sc in first stitch of the previous row (next to the stitch that’s marked), (2sc in next stitch, sc in next stitch) x 2, 2sc in next stitch. (9 sc)
Rnd 15-17: 9 sc around. (9 sc)
Rnd 18: Dec in next stitch, sc, 2sc in next stitch, sc, 2 sc in next stitch, sc, dec. (9 st)
Rnd 19: (Sc in next stitch, dec) x3. (6 st)
Rnd 20: Sc around (6 sc).
Finish off, leaving tail long enough to sew trunk shut and sew hole where trunk meets body.

Body (continued):
Rnd 13: Continuing next to where the trunk was made, sc around. (36 sc)
Rnd 14: Sc around. Mark last stitch in row. (36 sc)
Stuff trunk.

Legs (make 4):
Rnd 15: Sc in next 9 stitches. (9 sc)
Rnd 16: Sc in first stitch of the previous row (next to the stitch that’s marked), sc in next stitch, (2sc in next stitch, sc in next 2 stitches) x 2, 2sc in next stitch. (12 sc)
Rnd 17-21: Sc around. Finish off. (12 sc)
Rnd 22: Working in back loops with different color, 6 dec. Finish off, leaving long enough tail to sew hole shut. (6st).
Stuff each leg.

Belly:
Foundation: Working in sc between legs, (sc in sc, ch 4) x4. Sl in first sc made.
Rnd 1: 3 sc in each ch space. (12 sc)
Rnd 2: 6 dec around. Finish off, leaving tail that can wrap around elephant at least 3-4 times. (6 st).
Stuff body. Using tail, sew the ch spaces to each leg so that no stuffing can come out.

Ears (make 2):
Ch 2.
Rnd 1: In second loop from hook, 4 sc. Turn. (4 sc)
Rnd 2: Ch 1. 2sc in each sc around. Turn. (8 sc)
Rnd 3: Ch 1. Sc in first stitch, (2sc in next stitch, sc in next stitch) x3, 2sc in next stitch. Turn. (12 sc).
Rnd 4: Ch 1. Sc in first 2 stitches, (2sc in next stitch, sc in next 2 stitches) x3, 2sc in next stitch. Turn. (16 sc).
Rnd 5: Ch 1. Sc in first 3 stitches, (2sc in next stitch, sc in next 3 stitches) x3, 2sc in next stitch. Finish off, leaving long enough tail to sew ears to body. (20 sc).

Assembly:
Sew ears to body.
Sew button eyes to body, on either side of the trunk. Or conversely, make yarn eyes (ch 2, 6 sc in second chain from the hook. Finish off) and sew them on.

Row of green, yellow, and red crocheted elephants on white background

Bookmark this project on Ravelry!

Crochet pattern: Elephant Read More »

Weekend Showcase: Hatching Dinosaurs

Like many of my projects, a friend sent me a request: dinosaurs hatching out of eggs. And so these guys were born.

Comprising a stegosaurus, brontosaurus, pterodactyl, t-rex, and triceratops, the quintet hatches out of eggs sealed with Velcro tabs.  I love these fist-sized guys, but I’ve also made miniature ones of thread and big ones. For a while, this was my best-selling item on Etsy. And they’re so cute, it’s hard not to see why.

Weekend Showcase: Hatching Dinosaurs Read More »

Weekend Showcase: Hedgehog

I’m working my way through a bunch of requests, and first on my list is this little hedgehog.

Crochet hedgehog Crochet hedgehog

I’m still working out the quirks and rough edges, but he was too cute not to share. This guy was made with sport and worsted weight yarns, but of course I’ve made a tiny one with thread and a jumbo one with bulky chenille.

The body, limbs, and snout were made with single crochet stitches, and the back is puff stitches. Like most of my patterns, he worked up quickly and was fun to make.

Weekend Showcase: Hedgehog Read More »

Saturday Showcase: A is for Alligator

First in my quest to make something for every letter in the alphabet is this guy. Green crochet alligator on white background

This original version has a binder clip in his mouth so that when you squeeze his head, his mouth opens. It was also worked with his head made first, starting at the top of his mouth. The back and stomach were made next, with the tail worked off them and the head sewn on, but I’ve since reworked the pattern so that the head is worked off the body, with nothing to sew on. This pattern is both cute and quick to make – my favorite combination.

Saturday Showcase: A is for Alligator Read More »

Scroll to Top