Materials
200 yards I love this Yarn in Silver Mist or a similar worsted weight, size 4 yarn
Small amount of yarn in white
3.75mm hook
Yarn Needle
Polyfil
12mm safety eyes
stitch marker
Abbreviations
SC– single crochet
SC INC– single crochet increase (2 SC in each stitch)
INV DEC– Invisible decrease (put hook through the FRONT LOOP ONLY of two consecutive stitches [two loops on hook] Yarn over pull through both loops. [two loops on hook] Yarn over pull through two loops)
Magic Circle– Make a loop, leaving a long tail to work with. Insert hook in center of loop, yarn over and draw up a loop. Yarn over, pull through to make the first chain (this does not count as a stitch!). Continue to crochet over the loop and tail with the number of stitches called for. (If you need 6 SC, then crochet 6 SC inside the ring.) Pull the tail to close the circle.
Crocheting in the round
For most amigurumi projects, you crochet in the round. That means you don’t connect the rounds with a slip stitch. You just continue on. To make sure you keep your place use stitch markers. They are a necessity. I place mine in the last stitch of the round and move it up every time!
Crocheting in the back loops only
See how the hooves are flat? That is created by crocheting in the back loop only. So, instead of crocheting through the entire top of the stitch, you split the stitch and crochet in the back loop. That gives you that nice, solid line.
Changing colors
On the last stitch before you want to change to a different color, do the stitch as you normally would but don’t finish the last loop. Instead, pull the new color through finishing the stitch. In the next stitch, instead of a SC, slip stitch (lightly! Don’t pull too tight.) Continue on as normal. The slip stitch just makes it look a little less jagged.
Attaching Pieces
I always recommend using pins to attach the pieces before sewing. Use the whip stitch to attach. Slow and steady wins the race, here.
Body
Round 1: In a magic circle, 6 SC.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (12)
Round 3: SC in first, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (18)
Round 4: SC in first 2, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 5: SC in first 3, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (30)
Round 6: SC in first 4, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (36)
Round 7: SC in first 5, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (42)
Round 8: SC in first 6, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (48)
Rounds 9-14: SC in each around. (48)
Round 15: SC in first 6, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (42)
Round 16-17: SC in each around. (42)
Round 18: SC in first 5, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (36)
Rounds 19-20: SC in each around. (36)
Round 21: SC in first 4, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (30)
Rounds 22-23: SC in each around. (30)
Begin stuffing here.
Round 24: SC in first 3, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Rounds 25-26: SC in each around. (24)
Round 27: SC in first 2, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (18)
Round 28: SC in the first, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (12)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew on the head. Finish stuffing.
Head
The trunk and the head are made in one piece and then sewed to the body. You begin with the trunk. I do not stuff the trunk, just the head.
Round 1: In a magic circle, 6 SC.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (12)
Rounds 3-13: SC in each around. (12)
Round 14: SC in the first, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (18)
Round 15: SC in each around. (18)
Round 16: SC in the first 2, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 17: SC in each around. (24)
Round 18: SC in the first 3, INC in the next. Repeat around. (30)
Round 19: SC in first 4, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (36)
Round 20: SC in first 5, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (42)
Round 21: SC in first 6, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (48)
Round 22: SC in first 7, SC INC in next. (54)
Rounds 23-30: SC in each around. (54)
Attach the safety eyes between rows 16-17, about 7 stitches apart.
Round 31: SC in the first 7, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (48)
Round 32: SC in the first 6, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (42)
Round 33: SC in the first 5, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (36)
Round 34: SC in the first 4, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (30)
Begin to stuff here. Continue stuffing as you go.
Round 35: SC in the first 3, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 36: SC in the first 2, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (18)
Round 37: SC in the first, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (12)
Round 38: INV DEC around. (6)
Ears (make 2)
This is a circle that widens and then decreases into a pancake.
With white:
Round 1: 6 SC in a magic circle.
Round 2: INC in each around. (12)
Round 3: SC in the first, SC INC in the next. (18)
Round 4: SC in the first 2, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 5: SC in first 3, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (30)
Round 6: SC in first 4, SC INC in the next. Repeat around. (36)
Round 7: SC in first 5, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (42)
Change to gray.
Round 8: SC in first 6, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (48)
Round 9-10 : SC in each around. (48)
Round 11: SC in first 6, INV DEC in next. Repeat around. (42)
Round 12: SC in first 5, INV DEC in next. Repeat around. (36)
Round 13: SC in first 4, INV DEC in next. Repeat around. (30)
Round 14: SC in first 3, INV DEC in next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 15: SC in first 2, INV DEC in next. Repeat around. (18)
Round 16: SC in the first, INV DEC in next. Repeat around. (12)
Round 17: INV DEC in each around. (6)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew on. Sew the small gap closed then weave the tail to the edge of the ear. The ear will be slightly hexagonal. Pinch one side together and sew a few little stitches to keep it gathered. Pin to the head so that they are even. I attached mine about 11 rows from the BACK a couple of rows above the eyes. Sew to the head by going through that gathered edge. The ears will be angled downwards.
NOTE: The arms and legs slowly taper off with a few decreases. To make these look more gradual and not as “stair stepped” I recommend using a slightly larger hook, or just adjusting your tension to be more loose than how you usually crochet. This makes a decided improvement. I recommend the 3.75mm hook, so when I crocheted the decreasing rows I used my 4mm. I also only stuff the bottom half. If you over stuff the arms and legs you will have a hard time sewing them on, and the Elephant will not be able to sit.
Legs
Using white:
Round 1: In a magic circle, 6 SC.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (12)
Round 3: SC in first, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (18)
Round 4: SC in first 2, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (24)
Round 5: SC in each around. (24)
Round 6: In the back loop only, SC in each around. (24)
Change to gray.
Rounds 7-16: SC in each around. (24)
Round 17 (with a lighter tension or a slightly larger hook): SC in the first 2, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (18)
Rounds 18-22: SC in each around. (18)
Round 23 (with a lighter tension or a slightly larger hook): SC in the first, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (12)
Round 24-28: SC in each around. (12)
Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew on. Pin the legs on before you sew. I sewed them on so that the inside of the leg was about 2 rows from the very middle.
Arms
Round 1: In a magic circle, 6 SC.
Round 2: SC INC in each around. (12)
Round 3: SC in first, SC INC in next. Repeat around. (18)
Round 4: SC in each around. (18)
Round 5: In the back loop only SC in each around. (18)
Change to gray.
Rounds 6-17: SC in each around. (18)
Round 18 (with a lighter tension or a slightly larger hook): SC in the first, INV DEC in the next. Repeat around. (12)
Rounds 19-25: SC in eac around. (12)
Fasten off and leave a long tail to sew on. I attached them between rows 26 and 27.
Elephant Hairs
Cut two pieces of yarn about 6 inches long. Insert the hook through one of the stitches at the top of the head. Loop the yarn in half. Use your hook to pull it through at the halfway point, but not all the way. Go under the loop and pull the ends back through. Pull the ends tight.
Tail
Chain 12
In the second chain from the hook, HDC. HDC in the remaining chains for a total of 10.
Fasten off. Cut 4 pieces of yarn to attach to the end of the tail. Fold in half and pull through using the hook. Pull the ends through the loop and pull tight. Fasten off and sew onto the lower mid back.
Hat
At the end of each round you will chain 2. It does not count as a stitch. Fasten to the first stitch with a slip stitch at the end of each row.
Round 1: In a magic circle crochet 10 DC.
Round 2: DC in each around. (10)
Round 3: DC in the first, INC in the next. Repeat around. (15)
Round 4: DC in each around. (15)
Round 5: DC in the first 2, INC in the next. Repeat around. (20)
Round 6: DC in each around. (20)
Round 7: DC in the first 3, INC in the next. Repeat around. (25)
Round 8: DC in the first 4, INC in the next. Repeat around. (30)
Round 9: DC in each around. (30)
Fasten off and weave in end. Fold over one row. You can sew it on, or just leave it for play. I attached a one inch pom pom to the top.
Collar
Making a long tail before your first chain, chain 30. In the fourth chain from the hook TRC. TRC 2x more in the same stitch. TRC 3x in each remaining stitch. Fasten off and leave a tail long enough to sew the collar on. You can sew it on and make it permanent or tie a loose knot.
