This toy is worked all in very firm double crochet, mostly in the round, so the shape is very sculptural and the construction very strong. Add button eyes and fabric tongue and tusks as shown in the pictures if you’re making the elephant for an older child or embroider the features if you’re giving the toy to a baby or very young child.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
8 hours
ABOUT THIS YARN
Debbie Bliss Cotton DK is a firm, matte 100% cotton yarn with approximately 84m (92yd) to a 50g ball.
SIZE
Height (to shoulder) 16.5cm (6½in)
YOU WILL NEED
3 x 50g balls of Debbie Bliss Cotton DK in blue, shade 11
3.00mm (D/3) crochet hook
washable polyester stuffing
four 4 x 3cm (1½ x 1¼in) ovals of soft leather or felt
2 small domed buttons and strong thread
1 pink and two cream 10 x 10cm (4 x 4in) squares of fabric, matching sewing thread, and sharp needle (optional)
TENSION
16 sts and 20 rows to 10cm (4in) over double crochet worked in turning rounds using 3.00mm (D/3) hook. Change hook size if necessary to obtain this tension.
ABBREVIATIONS
beg = beginning; ch = chain; cont = continue; dc = double crochet; 2dctog = insert hook in first st and pull loop through, insert hook in 2nd st and pull loop through, yarn around hook and pull through 3 loops on hook; inc = increase; RS = right side; ss = slip stitch; st(s) = stitch(es); WS = wrong side; [ ] = work instructions in brackets as directed.
NOTES
The hook size and tension given are tighter than would normally be used with this yarn, to make a firm fabric and a sculptural shape.
If the elephant is for a baby or very small child, embroider the eyes, tongue and tusks with black, pink and cream yarn.
TIPS
Don’t put too much stuffing in the trunk. Shape the face with small balls of stuffing pushed into the cheeks and forehead before you fill the head with larger wads of stuffing.
If you want your elephant to stand up, pack the legs firmly to near the top, then pin the legs onto the body to find the best point of balance before stitching; add stuffing if necessary.
Go over each seam twice to make sure that the stitching is secure.
As with all handmade toys, check every now and then for wear and tear and redo any stitching if necessary.
Much of the elephant is worked in the round; join seams and sew on the legs and ears firmly.
HEAD AND BODY
Trunk Make 10ch, ss in first ch to form a ring.
Round 1 1ch, [working into back loop only, 1dc in each ch] to end, ss in first dc, turn. 10 sts.
Round 2 (RS) 1ch, 1dc in first dc, [2dctog] 4 times, 1dc in last dc, ss in first dc, turn. 6 sts.
Round 3 1ch, [1dc in each st] to end, ss in first dc, turn.
Round 3 forms dc. Turning each time, work 4 more rounds.
Round 8 1ch, 2dc in first dc, [1dc in each dc] to last dc, 2dc in last dc, ss in first dc, turn. 8 sts.
Cont in dc, turning each time, inc in this way at beg and end of next 3 RS rounds. 14 sts.
This cute little elephant will win friends wherever he goes.
Next row (WS) 1ch, [1dc in each dc] to end, do not join in a round, turn.
Cont in dc, working in rows and turning after each row.
Face. **Row 1 (RS) 1ch, [2dc in each dc] to end. 28 sts.
Row 2 1ch, [1dc in each dc] to end.
Row 3 1ch, 1dc in each of first 9dc, 2dc in each of next 2dc, 1dc in each of foll 6dc, 2dc in each of next 2dc, 1dc in each of last 9dc. 32 sts **.
Row 4 1ch, 1dc in each of first 9dc, 2dc in each of next 4dc, 1dc in each of foll 6dc, 2dc in each of next 4dc, 1dc in each of last 9dc. 40 sts.
Cont in dc, work 2 rows.
Shape cheeks. Next row (RS) 1ch, 1dc in first dc, [2dctog] 3 times, 1dc in each of next 26dc, [2dctog] 3 times, 1dc in last dc. 34 sts.
Shape mouth. Next round With RS together, join first 3 and last 3 sts of previous row with dc, 1ch, [1dc in each dc] to end, ss in first dc after 1ch to join in a round, turn. 28 sts.
Turning each time, work 4 rounds dc.
Shape chest and neck. Round 1 (RS) 1ch, 2dc in each of first 3dc, 1dc in each of next 5dc, [2dctog] twice, 1dc in each of next 4dc, [2dctog] twice, 1dc in each of next 5dc, 2dc in each of last 3dc, ss in first dc, turn. 30 sts.
Round 2 1ch, 2dc in each of first 3dc, [1dc in each dc] to last 3dc, 2dc in each of last 3dc, ss in first dc, turn. 36 sts.
Round 3 1ch, [1dc in each of next 2dc, 2dc in foll dc] 3 times, [1dc in each dc] to last 9dc, [2dc in next dc, 1dc in each of foll 2dc] 3 times, ss in first dc, turn. 42 sts.
Make up and stuff head and body Stitch end of trunk in a V shape and stuff trunk lightly. Join row ends of face. Fold corners of each cream square together to make a triangle, fold long edges together, then roll and stitch to form cone-shaped tusks. Insert points of tusks from WS through between stitches at each side of mouth; the bulk of the fabric will make it impossible to pull through more than a small amount. Stitch in place and stuff around tusks, shaping face. Fold pink fabric in the same way but making a flatter tongue shape at the point, insert in mouth; and stitch to secure.
Stuff face Mark positions for eyes and ears. Knot shank of button in the centre of a doubled length of strong thread. Using a large, sharp needle, thread one end, insert in right eye and bring out at right ear, thread the other end, insert in right eye and bring out at left ear. Do the same with the other button for the left eye, bringing ends out a few stitches apart. Pull ends to make eye sockets, firmly knot the threads together, darn in ends and trim.
Stuff head; stuff body before working the last few rounds of the bottom shaping.
Body Cont in dc and turning each time, work 11 rounds.
Shape tummy. Next round (RS) 1ch, 1dc in first dc, 2dc in each of next 3dc, [1dc in each dc] to last 4dc, 2dc in each of next 3dc, 1dc in last dc, ss in first dc, turn. 48 sts. Cont in dc turning each time, work 9 rounds.
Shape bottom. Round 1 (RS) 1ch, 1dc in each of first 15dc, [2dctog, 1dc in each of next 2dc] 5 times, 1dc in each of last 13dc, ss in first dc, turn. 43 sts. Work 1 round.
Round 3 1ch, 1dc in each of first 3dc, [2dctog, 1dc in each of next 3dc] 8 times, ss in first dc, turn. 35 sts.
Round 4 1ch, 1dc in each of first 3dc, [2dctog, 1dc in each of next 2dc] 8 times, ss in first dc, turn. 27 sts.
Round 5 1ch, 1dc in each of first 3dc, [2dctog, 1dc in each of next 2dc] 6 times, ss in first dc, turn. 21 sts.
Round 6 1ch, 1dc in first dc, [2dctog] 10 times, ss in first dc, 11 sts.
Finish stuffing body.
Round 7 1ch, 1dc in first st, [2dctog] 5 times, ss in first dc, do not turn. 6 sts.
Tail. Next round 1ch, [2dctog] 3 times, ss in first st. 3 sts.
Cont working in a spiral for 6 more dc, work 2ch, fasten off. Add more strands of yarn through ch at end of tail; stitch and trim to form a small tassel.
LEGS
Front legs Make 18ch, ss in first ch to form a ring.
Turning each time, work 3 rounds dc. Insert oval footpads and stitch firmly to starting ch.
Shape foot. Next round (RS) 1ch, 1dc in each of first 5dc, [2dctog, 1dc in next dc] 3 times, 1dc in each of last 4dc, ss in first dc, turn. 15 sts ***.
Cont in dc and turning each time, work 13 rounds. Fasten off. Darn in ends.
Back legs Work as given for front legs to ***. Cont in dc turning each time, work 11 rounds. Fasten off.
EARS
Make 15ch.
Row 1 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, [1dc in each ch] to end. 14 sts.
Work as given for face from ** to **.
Work 1 more row dc. Fasten off.
TO FINISH
Stuff legs and sew in place on body. Sew on ears. Darn in ends.
