This is a good exercise in shaping thin forms, such as the trunk. Use your fingers to hold the wool in place as you work so that it keeps a curved shape.
50g pink merino roving
2 × size 40 triangular needles, for shaping
1–2 × size 42 triangular needles, for surface finishing
2 × 4mm black glass eyes or seed beads
Small amount of darker pink merino roving
Small amount of roving, for a balancing ball
Seed beads, to decorate the ball (optional)
Finished size: 14cm tall
1 Measure out a length of pink roving 32 × 4cm, then tease the fibres apart a little and double the wool over to begin the body. Take another shorter length measuring 25 × 4cm, fluff it up into a loose ball and insert into the folded end of the body.
2 Start from the folded end, using two size 40 needles. Work the wool until it begins to firm up, turning as you go to make a plump bulb. Working directly on the felting mat should ensure that you make a flat bottom for Ella to sit on.
3 Use the curve of your hand to hold the bottom in place as you work to compress the wool; this will create a nice rounded shape with a clear edge. Leave the top half, which is the head part, loose for now.
4 Begin the head by working quite intensely into the neck area. You don’t have to stab very hard, but keep the needle close until you have a clearly defined indentation.
5 Continue on to the head and curvy trunk and shape a happy smile. Again, your fingers are key to holding the wool in place as you needle.
6 Make three indents on the body – one on either side and one on the front, to suggest four tubby legs. Use two size 42 needles and as you jab, hold them at a slight angle, so that you are performing a sawing action. This will help to get a good, deep line carved into the wool.
7 Next, take a slim snippet of wool measuring 9–10cm long, double it over and needle-felt it onto the back of the base, moulding a curly tail. Use just one size 40 needle for this. You will add the final tassel colour at the end of the project.
8 For the ears, measure out two small amounts of wool of equal size (8 × 2cm should be fine) and loosely form the ears on your felting mat, before fixing them onto each side of the head to finish the final shaping. Cover the entire elephant in thin layers of wool using just one needle for a nice neat finish and sew in the eyes using the sideways method.
9 Using wisps of the darker pink wool and one needle, add little toes onto the front feet.
10 Finally, add a tail tassel by shaping a small amount of darker pink roving and adding it to the tip of Ella’s tail.
11 Working on the mat, loosely shape a pretty ball for Ella to play with. Needle it firmly onto the trunk tip and decorate it with seed beads for a polka-dot effect, if you wish.