Crochet Little Bitty Elephants


Meet the Little Elephants; Peanut, Blossom and Elwood.
My newest tiny additions to a growing series. The series all fit the same outfits (written patterns with videos). So far we have the Dress Up Mouse, Little Piggies and now these sweet Elephants.
These elephants are about 5 inches tall to top of head.
Patterns for the outfits are also linked at the bottom of the assembly section.




How To Print The Pattern:
Use the free service found here.



How to read the rows: Each row has a sequence as given below. Example: 1sc then 2sc in next st means repeat that sequence 1sc then 2sc in next st followed by 1sc then 2sc in next st over and over to the end of that particular row. The number inside the parentheses ( ~ ) is the number of stitches you should have at the end of that particular row. Add in a marker at the end of row 2 and move that marker at the end of every row.

Supplies:
worsted weight yarn. Use a different brand of yarn if you want, just use the appropriate hook size for the yarn you choose. You will use a bigger hook to make the outfits.
The fuzzy elephant is Comfort yarn in Putty-3222 and the inner ears are cream
4.00mm hook
blunt end yarn needle for sewing
scissors
polyester stuffing
yarn for eyes
Optional - if you want a fuzzy elephant you will also need a steel pet brush
Optional - hot glue

Abbreviations:
st = stitch
sc = single crochet
sl st = slip stitch
FLO = front loops only
hdc = half double crochet
ch = chain
f/o = finish off

NOTE:
A) I plan to one day have a full video tutorial for this elephant. If you need video help now this video of my Little Piggies is almost the exact same. The rows are the same for the head and body except for rows 5 and 10. The elephant is stuffed, shaped and closed up the same way as shown in the piggy video. The arms and legs are the same.
B) I use yarn to make the eyes which is found in step 5 in the assembly section below. If you want to use safety eyes remember to put them in before you stuff the head.




Starting at the top of the head:
1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2) 2sc in each st (12)
3) 1sc then 2sc in next st (18)
4) 1sc in the next 2st then 2sc in next st (24)
5) 1sc in next 3st then 2sc in next st (30)
6-9) 1sc in each st for 4 rows
10) 1sc in the next 3st then 2tog (24)
if you start to see gaps in your stitches try the inv dec by crocheting the FLO when crocheting 2tog.
11) 1sc in next 2st then 2tog (18)
12) 1sc then 2tog (12)
13) 1sc then 2tog (8)
14) 2sc in each st (16)
15) 1sc in next 3st then 2sc in next st (20)
16) 1sc in next 3st then 2sc in next st (25)
stuff head firmly and full. Shape as you stuff.
17) 1sc in next 3st then 2tog (20)
18) 1sc in next 3st then 2tog (16)
19) 1sc in next 2st then 2tog (12)
sl st next st and f/o leaving a tail long enough to sew up the gap. Weave in and out of the FLO of the remaining st, stuff the rest of the body firmly and full, shape as you stuff.
If it's too hard to stuff while the gap is open wide just pull on the yarn tail to close up the gap a bit, then stuff some more. Make sure to shape as you stuff. Use a stuffing stick or the back end of a pencil to push the stuffing into the right spots. Pull the yarn tail to close up the gap then knot off. Hide yarn tail in body.


Arms
1) ch 13
2) starting with 2nd ch, 1sc in each ch (12)
f/o. Fold chain and sew the edges closed, going through one visible loop only of each side. Hide the starting yarn tail inside limb and use the finishing yarn tail to sew the limbs to the body.
Until I get the video together for this pattern, the video here shows how to do the arms. The arms and legs are done the exact same way as done for the little piggies.

Legs:

1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2-7) 1sc in each st for 6 rows
sl st next st and f/o leaving a tail for sewing.
you can stuff the legs very lightly so they hold their shape. Use the back end of a pencil to push the stuffing in. Just a little tiny bit of stuffing does the trick. See video link in arm section if you need help with the legs

Tail:
see step #2 in assembly section below

Outer Ears: with body color

1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2) 2sc in each st (12) work the starting yarn tail into this row
3) 1sc then 2sc in next st (18)
4) 1sc in the next 2st then 2sc in next st (24)
5) 1sc in the next 3st then 2sc in next st (30)
6) 1sc in each st for 1 row
fold ear in half, wrong side together, 1sc through both sides over 3st
sl st next st and f/o leaving a tail for sewing

Inner Ears: with alternate color
1) magic circle with 6sc (6)
2) 2sc in each st (12)
3) 1sc then 2sc in next st (18) sl st next st and f/o leaving a tail for sewing OR if you plan to use hot glue like I did, cut the finishing yarn tail up shorter. You can tuck it behind when you glue the inner ear to the outer ear.
Using hot glue is so much faster and easier. Just be careful when pushing the inner ear in place so that you don't get glue anywhere on the edges of the outer ear. Look at the picture below. The inner ear is almost in the center.


Trunk:
1) ch14
2) skipping first ch, 1sc in each ch across (13) ch2 and turn
3) skip ch, 1hdc in next 6st then 1sc in next 7st (13) ch1 and turn
4) skip ch, 1sc in next 7st then 1hdc in next 6st (13) ch2 and turn
5) skip ch, 1hdc in next 6st then 1sc in next 7st (13)
f/o leaving a long tail for sewing.
weave in starting yarn tail. Fold trunk in half and use the finishing yarn tail to sew the edges together. sew until there are about 5 visible stitches left, knot off then weave the yarn tail to the corner. The trunk is now ready to be sewn to the head. See assembly section below for further instruction.



ASSEMBLY:

Some people will find these smaller amigurumis hard to sew together. I used to as well, I used to dread sewing things together! The trick is to relax, don't hold things so tight. Let the yarn needle do the work.

Please note: I brushed out the beige elephant using a steel pet brush. If you want the same look, brush out the parts before sewing them together. This is easier than doing it after the elephant is assembled.

1) Sew the arms just under the neck. Hide the yarn tails inside the body.

2) Sew the legs on. Pin the legs on first to make sure you have room for both legs. Take one leg off and gently sew the first leg on. Knot off and hide yarn tail in body.
Sew the 2nd leg on. When you are done, knot off then pull the yarn tail out through where the tail will go. Using this yarn tail, ch 6 and finish off. Pull the knot tight and cut off the excess leaving a bit at the end. The tail is done

3) Sew the trunk on. The top of the trunk should be on or about row 8. Use pins to hold the trunk in place while you sew. Sew around the top part. Once the top of the trunk is sewn on you can lightly stuff the top part of the trunk. Use a pencil or stuffing stick to push the stuffing in place. Sew the gap of the trunk closed. If the trunk is sitting off the face too far you can tack it down. By tacking I mean, pull the yarn tail through a stitch in the face just under the trunk and pull until the trunk is in the position you are happy with. Knot off and hide the yarn tail in the head.








4) Sew the ears on. The part of the ear that got crocheted together is the part you sew to the head. They should be sewn over the 5th, 6th and 7th row but you can change the position if you'd like to. Pin the ears on and see how they look, raise them higher or lower until you are happy with how they look. Sew in place only once you are totally happy with the looks of them.


5) Add the eyes. The eyes are made with black yarn wrapped vertically over the 8th row. Bring a strand of black yarn through the side of the head and out through where the wrap should start. Wrap 2 or 3 times. ( If you need help, view this video near the end. I show how to add eyes but remember these ones are wrapped vertically unlike the video).Then add another strand of yarn, white for this beige elephant and baby blue on the white elephant, wrapped once at the bottom of the black, this wrap is horizontal. To give the eye a bit more life, dot some white paint using a stick pin.

6) You can add color to the cheeks using blush. I added in tusks to the beige elephant but not the white one as they wouldn't show up so well on that one. I used white yarn and added them the same way I did the eyes. The tusks are wrapped vertically over the 10th row, very close to the trunk.







Now you can dress your elephant by making the overalls or a dress.

If you make the dress and bow, do not sew the strap on the bow as it will be too small. Place the bow around the elephant ear first then you can sew the other end or add a snap to make it removable.




Copyright 2017 Author: Sharon Ojala - Amigurumi To Go All rights reserved

Comments

  1. Adorable little elephant. So cute in her little dress and in his little overall. Thanks for all your work to make this and all your other wonderful patterns.

    Have a great weekend, Margaret

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi I'm new to crochette but want to thank you for your easy to follow patterns and videos . Have made one of your cute dress up pigs and am now attempting this gorgeous elephant . If I want to make her a big sister am I right in thinking I would just double the amount of stitches in each row ? Not sure if that's right , I. Just guessing lol? Thanks again

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much!
      I show how to make amigurumis bigger here Easy Way To Enlarge Amigurumi

      Delete
    2. Thank you heaps nearly finished the sweetest little elephant , just the trunk to go ❤️

      Delete
  3. Is there a way I can purchase one from you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't sell things, sorry.

      Thanks for asking

      Delete
    2. why you don't sell that things?

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    3. I tried it a few years ago but I don't enjoy selling things at all and I don't have the time for it either.
      It takes a lot of extra work and time to sell. My time is stretched pretty thin already.

      Delete
  4. Hi :)
    I have a little trouble making the trunk, and thought if you had made a video for this one? - because I could really use the help :)

    Love your work! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am so glad I came across your blog & videos. You are an amazing crocheter and I have a lot of fun making your designs.

    ReplyDelete

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