Elephant | Free Crochet Pattern
The Elephant crochet pattern was one of my first patterns, and I still make them regularly. Their sweet little face is so much fun to watch come together. The curve in the trunk is built in, and the head and trunk are all one piece.
These little trumpeting elephants are great craft fair additions and are absolutely adorable on a baby mobile!
Simply make them in DK weight yarn using an E (3.5 mm) hook to put them on a mobile.
This pattern is available as a Premium Pattern in a collection called Savannah Pals, which includes the Trumpeting Elephant as well as the Giraffe and Rhino patterns. Premium Patterns are in an ad-free, printable .pdf file. Three printable Premium Patterns for only $3.00! Available here, on Etsy and Ravelry.
Video Tutorials are available for this pattern:
Trumpeting Elephant Video Tutorial Part 1: Head and Ears
Trumpeting Elephant Video Tutorial Part 2: Legs
Elephant Crochet Pattern
Beginner/ Amigurumi Learner. Need to have knowledge of single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), back loops only (BLO), increases and decreases, and amigurumi stuffing and part attachment.
Finished elephant stands about 9 inches tall at the tip of his trunk.
Gauge is not important.
Supplies
About 220 yds Red Heart Super Saver or similar worsted weight yarn
Furls Odyssey H (5.00mm) hook
Polyfil
2 15mm safety eyes, color is your choice
Stitch markers
Yarn Needle
Pattern Notes
For all parts, work in continuous rounds, do not slip stitch to join.
Use stitch markers to signify the beginning of the round to help you count stitches.
Recommended: Do not weave in ends until all parts are attached to ensure correct placement.
Instructions
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Body
Ch 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in second chain from hook. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12)
Rnd 3: [sc, inc] 6 times. (18)
Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] 6 times. (24)
Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] 6 times. (30)
Rnd 6: [4 sc, inc] 6 times. (36)
Rnd 7-18: Sc evenly around. (36)
Rnd 19: [4 sc, dec] 6 times. (30)
Rnd 20: [3 sc, dec] 6 times. (24)
Start stuffing.
Rnd 21: [2 sc, dec} 6 times. (18)
Rnd 22: [sc, dec] 6 times. (12)
Rnd 23: 6 dec. (6)
Finish stuffing.
Using needle, thread through the back loop of all 6 stitches. Pull tight to close. Bind off and weave in ends.
Head
(Begins with trunk)
Ch 2.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in second chain from hook. (6)
Rnd 2: Inc in each stitch around. (12)
Rnd 3: (BLO) Sc evenly around. (12)
Rnd 4-6: Sc evenly around. (12)
Rnd 7: Inc, 5 sc, dec, 4 sc. (12)
Rnd 8-10: Repeat round 7. (12)
Rnd 11: Dec, 5 sc, inc, 4 sc.
(12)
Rnd 12-13: Repeat round 11. (12)
Rnd 14: Sc evenly around. (12)
Stuff trunk. Begin increase for head.
Rnd 15: [Inc, sc] 6 times. (18)
Rnd 16: [Inc, 2 sc] 6 times. (24)
Rnd 17: [Inc, 3 sc] 6 times. (30)
Rnd 18: [Inc, 4 sc] 6 times. (36)
Rnd 19-25: Sc evenly around. (36)
With the trunk “trumpeting” up, attach safety eyes, spaced about seven stitches apart on head between rows 17 and 18.
Rnd 26: [Dec, 4 sc] 6 times. (30)
Rnd 27: [Dec, 3 sc] 6 times. (24)
Rnd 28: [Dec, 2 sc] 6 times. (18)
Rnd 29: [Dec, sc] 6 times. (12)
Stuff head.
Rnd 30: 6 dec. (6)
Using needle, thread through the back loop of all 6 stitches. Pull tight to close. Bind of with long tail for sewing.
Legs
(Make 4)
Ch 2.
Rnd 1: 8 sc in second chain from hook. (8)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each stitch around. (16)
Rnd 3: (BLO) Sc evenly around. (16)
Rnd 4-7: Sc evenly around. (16)
Stuff.
Bind off leaving long tail for sewing.
Ears
(Make 2)
Ch 4.
Row 1: 5 dc in 4th ch from hook. Turn. (6)
Row 2: Ch 3, dc in same stitch, 2 dc in each of next 5 sts. Turn. (12)
Row 3: Ch 3, dc in same stitch, dc, [inc, dc] 5 times. Turn. (18)
Row 4: Ch 3, dc in same stitch, 2 dc, [inc, 2 dc] 5 times. Turn. (24)
Bind off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Assembly
For video and tutorials on part attachment, check out this post: 5 Tips For Perfect Amigurumi Part Attachment.
- Attach front legs between rounds 14 and 18 with one stitch between them.
- Attach back legs far back on the bum, between rounds 4 and 8, with one stitch between them. This will help balance the elephant when you put on his head.
- Attach the ears to the head. Start in line with the eye and sew along row 25 (last row before decreases) to the last three stitches. Curve the last three stitches of the ear forward so they curve toward the trunk slightly.
- Attach the head looking up, between rows 23 and 18 of the body (the center of the body and the last row before the decreases). Attaching it looking up will prevent it from falling forward.
Finishing
Tail
Ch 6. Bind off. Pull ends tight, leaving a long tail at one end. Cut the short end and fray. Use the long end to sew tail onto bum of the elephant.
All finished? Share your artwork by posting a picture in the Gallery!!
Post comments and pictures on social media with the hashtag #hookedbykati, or tag me @hookedbykati. You can also post pictures on the Facebook Page, or in the Hooked by Kati Crochet Community Facebook Group.
You may sell products made by this pattern, but please link back to hookedbykati.com or credit Hooked by Kati on the craft fair tag. Do not copy this pattern for distribution or sale; that’s not nice and also illegal.
If you run into a snag, drop me a line! I respond quickly and will help any way I can to clarify any confusion or challenging stitches.
Find more free patterns like this at allfreecrochet.com.
Here’s a few more FREE crochet patterns you might like:
MAX THE FOX
CHICKU THE PENQUIN
PEACE THE UNICORN
Yarn on,
Kati
Kati is the designer behind Hooked by Kati. With thousands of patterns sold around the world, Kati prides herself in creating innovative, easy-to-follow amigurumi patterns. She has designed for several publications, including Crochet!, Crochet World, Simply Crochet, and I Like Crochet. Kati finds her inspiration in science fiction, video games, and numerous visits to the zoo — all passions she shares with her husband and two boys.
Hi, I’m having trouble with the positioning of the legs.
Try using pins to mark their position. I walk through attaching these legs in this video as well. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kj7UTc5dZs&t=1s
I’m with the others in that the count of the ears is off. On the row you listed as 18 only adds up to 15, which isn’t sufficient enough to complete the row. It’s the same with the next row as well. There are an insufficient number of stitches listed. Other than that, the pattern was fine.
I found and corrected the error in the ears. Thank you for pointing it out. The repeats were missing. Thank you!
Where’s the correction??
It is done already. The count was off on the ears, but it is correct now. You will not find the error any more.
I am having trouble attaching elephant head to the body, I love this elephant
O my gosh I think I got it! I watched the video. I was reading the pattern wrong. Thanks so much for the pattern . I am making diaper cakes for a baby shower and am using the heads as toppers. So darn cute.
I would love to see pictures of your diaper cakes! What a great idea!
Ok thank you. Now row 3. It needs to end with 18 stitches. Chain 3 and 1 dc is 2 stitches plus 1 dc in next is 3. 2 dc in the next 5 stitches is 10 so isn’t that only 13 stitches and not 18?
When the pattern uses brackets [], it means to repeat all the stitches in the brackets the number of times stated, so in this case, you repeat [2 dc in next st, 1 dc] 5 times. That means you would work 2 dc in next st, 1 dc, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc, 2 dc in next st, 1 dc… Hope that helps!
Hello, I have a question on the ears. The stitches dont seem to be adding up for me. In row one how can I have 6 stitches when you are only calling for 5 dc? Please help.
The 3 chs at the beginning count as a dc, so when you go back the other way, you will work in the top of the chain as if it were a stitch. This is because dcs are tall, so if you don’t use a ch-3 at the beginning of the row, the 1st still will get squished and not be even with the rest. 🙂 Hope that helps!
There are no brackets listed on the ears part of the pattern.
Thank you for this adorable pattern. I have all parts done but I am confused regarding the legs. Pattern says stuff and bind off . Question is do I close up leg opening or is it left open? Thank you for your reply.
For these legs, you do not close them. You will stuff them and attach the open end to the body. I always try to stuff a little extra in once the leg is 2/3 of the way on also, just because it’s hard to stuff something that has the end open. 🙂 Let me know if you have any other questions!