Crocheted Elephant

After finishing a little grey Arctic fox, I started on an elephant from Vanessa Mooncie's book "Crocheted Wild Animals". I followed the pattern as written changing only the trunk by crocheting into the back loops to create definite ridges more like a real elephant trunk.

This Crocheted Elephant was made using different shades of grey from my stash. I didn't really plan it in advance. As one colour ran out, I switched to another resulting in an elephant with a dark grey head and ears, three different bands of grey on its body and light grey for its legs and tail.

For comparison, I mixed in a few real elephant photos with my Crocheted Elephant shots. I like how this one turned out ... so cute and cuddly.  

Here are the fourteen different animals featured in the Crocheted Wild Animals book with the ones I've completed so far marked "Made It". 

• Camel
• Elephant - Made It #7
• Polar Bear - Made It #4
• Deer
• Fox - Made It #6
• Monkey
• Rabbit - Made It #2
• Snake
• Lion - Made It #5
• Giraffe
• Owl - Made It #1
• Frog - Made It #3
• Flamingo
• Chameleon 

Seven out of fourteen done ... halfway there. 

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Ellie Elephant Pattern

ELLIE ELEPHANT PATTERN

PDF Version

Materials used:

100% acrylic worsted weight yarn

partial ball of Bernat Satin Grey Mist Heather (grey) 

partial ball of Bernat Satin Stone (off white) 

partial ball of Bernat Satin Sapphire (blue)

Small amount of black yarn (for eyes)

Small amount of light pink yarn (for mouth)

Hook size = 3.25 mm

yarn needles to join pieces

Polyester Fiberfill for stuffing

Stitches used:

ch - chain stitch

ss - slip stitch
st - stitch(es)

sc - single crochet

sc2tog - single crochet 2 together

inc - 2 sc in same stitch

blo - back loop only

hdc - half double crochet
hdc inc - 2 half double crochet in same stitch

dc - double crochet

Magic Circle - see how here (start each piece with magic circle)

Time to Complete - 15 hours (approximately)
Finished size - 11 inches tall

Legs (x2)

Use grey yarn. Working from the bottom up, starting with a magic circle, use stitch marker to mark end of rows (work in continuous rounds with no joining)

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5-R6 - sc around (24)

R7 - sc2tog x4 + 16 sc (20)

R8 - sc2tog x4 + 12 sc (16)

R9-R13 - sc around (16)

R14 - (3 sc inc) x4 (20)

R15-R16 - sc around (20)

R17 - (4 sc inc) x4 (24)

R18 - sc around (24) Finish off and stuff leg.

Body

Join legs on middle 2 stitches as shown in this tutorial. The instructions are in German but the video alone is enough to understand the technique. Once the legs are joined continue crocheting around both legs to form the body.

R19 - (23 sc inc) x2 (50)

R20 - sc around (50)

R21 - (4 sc inc) x10 (60)

R22 - sc around (60)

R23 - (9 sc inc) x6 (66)

R24 - sc around (66)

R25 - sc around (66)

R26 - sc around (66)

R27 - sc around (66)

R28 - sc around (66) [switch to blue at end of row)

R29 - (9 sc sc2tog) x6 (60)

R30 - sc around in blo (60) [front loop open for frilly edge)

R31 - sc around (60)

R32 - sc around (60)

R33 - (8 sc sc2tog) x6 (54) 

R34 - 14 sc (sc2tog)x2 + 20 sc (sc2tog)x2 + 12 sc (50)

R35 - sc around (50)

R36 - 14 sc (sc2tog)x2 + 16 sc (sc2tog)x2 + 12 sc (46)

R37 - sc around (46)

R38 - 14 sc (sc2tog)x2 + 12 sc (sc2tog)x2 + 12 sc (42)

R39 - sc around (42)

R40 - 12 sc (sc2tog)x2 + 12 sc (sc2tog)x2 + 10 sc (38)

R41 - sc around (38)

R42 - 11 sc + sc2tog + 15 sc + sc2tog + 8 sc (36)

R43 - sc around (36)

R44 - (4 sc + sc2tog) x6 (30)

R45 - sc around (30)

R46 - sc around (30)

R47 - (3 sc + sc2tog) x6 (24)

R48 - sc around (24) [switch to grey at end of row]

R49 - (2 sc + sc2tog) x6 (18)

R50 - sc around (18)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail to attach the head. Stuff body firmly.

Ruffle

Using blue yarn.

Pick up loop from R30 at back of body joining blue yarn. Work with body upside down.

*Ch2, dc in next st, ss in next st** 

Repeat * to ** around.

Finish off and weave in ends.

Arms (x2)

Start with stone.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - sc around (18)

R5 - (4 sc dec) x3 (15)

R6 - sc around (15)

R7 - (3 sc dec) x 3 (12)

Change to grey mist heather at end of R7

R8 - sc around (12)

R9 - (4 sc dec) x 2 (10)

R10-R29 - sc around (10)

Change to sapphire at end of R29

R30-R34 - sc around (10)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for joining. Stuff only hands and part way up arm.

Head

Use off white yarn.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5 - (3 sc inc) x6 (30)

R6 - (4 sc inc) x6 (36)

R7 - (5 sc inc) x6 (42)

R8 - (6 sc inc) x6 (48)

R9 - (7 sc inc) x6 (54)

R10 - (8 sc inc) x6 (60)

R11 - sc around (60)

R12 - sc around (60)

R13 - sc around (60)

R14 - sc around (60)

R15 - sc around (60)

R16 - sc around (60)

R17 - sc around (60)

R18 - sc around (60)

R19 - sc around (60)

R20 - (8 sc dec) x6 (54)

R21 - sc around (54)

R22 - (7 sc dec) x6 (48)

R23 - (6 sc dec) x6 (42)

R24 - (5 sc dec) x6 (36)

R25 - (4 sc dec) x6 (30)

R26 - (3 sc dec) x6 (24)

R27 - (2 sc dec) x6 (18)

R28 - (2 sc dec) x3 + 6 sc (15)

R29 - sc around (15)

R30 - sc around (15)

Finish off and cut yarn leaving a long tail for joining. Stuff head and neck firmly to hold shape.

Hood

Use grey yarn. Check to make sure hood fits head and adjust tension based on fit. You may have to move up a hook size if the hood is too tight.

R1 - 6 sc (6)

R2 - inc x6 (12)

R3 - (sc inc) x6 (18)

R4 - (2 sc inc) x6 (24)

R5 - (3 sc inc) x6 (30)

R6 - (4 sc inc) x6 (36)

R7 - (5 sc inc) x6 (42)

R8 - (6 sc inc) x6 (48)

R9 - (7 sc inc) x6 (54)

R10 - (8 sc inc) x6 (60)

R11 - sc around (60)

R12 - sc around (60)

R13 - sc around (60)

R14 - sc around (60)

R15 - (8 sc sc2tog) x6 (54)

R16 - sc around (54)

R17 - sc around (54)

R18 - sc around (54)

R19 - sc around (54)

R20 - sc around (54)

R21 - Ch10, skip 10 sc, sc around (54)

Starting Trunk

R22 - 10 sc blo, sc (to anchor), 10 sc in ch stitches from behind (20)

R23-R28 - sc blo around (20)

R29 - (sc2tog + 8 sc) blo x2 (18)

R30 - sc blo around (18)

R31 - (sc2tog + 7 sc) blo x2 (16)

R32 - sc blo around (16)

R33 - (sc2tog + 6 sc) blo x2 (14)

R34 - sc blo around (14)

R35 - (sc2tog + 6 sc) blo x2 (12)

R36 - sc blo around (12)

R37 - sc blo around (12)

R38 - sc blo around (12)

R39 - sc blo around (12)

R40 - (sc2tog + 6 sc) blo x2 (10)

R41 - sc blo around (10)

R42 - sc blo around (10)

R43 - sc blo around (10)

R44 - (sc2tog + 6 sc) blo x2 (8)

R45 - sc blo around (8)

Finish off and and weave in ends. Do not stuff. Place on head as shown in photos above. After attaching head to body, I like to wrap the tail from the hood around the neck to cover joining stitches.

Ears (x2)

Use grey yarn.

For rows 1-7, I followed instructions including step-by-step photos found here by blogger Dedri at Look At What I Made.

R1 - With grey yarn:  ch 2, 5 sc into the 2nd ch from the hook, ch 1 and turn (5)
R2 - inc in each st, ch 1 and turn (10)

R3 - (inc, sc) x 5. ch 1 and turn (15)

R4 - (inc, 2 sc) x 5, turn (20)
R5 - Short Row: Skip 2 st, sc inc in the next st, sc in the next and ss in the next, ch 1 and turn.  (3 – not including the ss)
R6 - Short Row: Skip the ss, ss in the next st, hdc inc in the next st and dc in the last st, ch 1 and turn. (4 – including the ss)
R7 - 4 sc,  at the “step” hdc in the st at the base of the step (which already contains a ss), (3 hdc, hdc inc) x3, sc in the third last stitch and ss in the last 2 st’s, ch 1 and turn. (21 – not including the ss)

R8 - sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, 3 hdc. 7 sc, 6 ss, sc in next st, ch 1 and turn
R9 - sc around, 2 sc at end of row (26 st) then continue to centre (6 st), ch 1 and turn
R10 - sc to point, 2 sc in next st, 6 sc

Finish off leaving 8" tail for joining.

Fold ear to form a natural curl at the top and attach to head (see photo above).

I like these ears, but might make even bigger ones for my next elephant. I will be sure to provide instructions if I do.

Tail 

Use grey yarn.
R1 - sc 12

R2 - ss in back bumps of ch (11)

Finish off.  Cut yarn ends ~1/2" long and separate strands to form a small tuft. Join to body using another length of grey yarn (see photo above).

Ellie is my first baby elephant. You can read about her humble beginnings here and her introductions to the world here. If you decide to make one too, I'd love to see photos when you're done.

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Ellie Elephant Ta-Dah!

Just look at Ellie Elephant. Isn't she sweet in her frilly blue top? She lifts her trunk, flaps her ears and wags her tail with excitement.

  

 

Ellie looks a bit nervous meeting the whole gang even though they welcome her with open arms and smiles. It won't take long to settle in with such a friendly bunch in a basket.

Ellie was made from scraps of worsted weight acrylic yarn (Bernat Satin in Grey Mist Heather, Sapphire and Sandstone) and a 3.25 mm hook. 

I was running low on Grey Mist Heather and could find no more in London, so decided to add a blue (sapphire) top with a ruffle edging. 

Now that I see what's left, I think there might have been just enough to finish Ellie in grey. Oh well, Ellie likes her pretty top and so do I. 

When I finish writing Ellie's pattern, I will be sure to share and add the link to my Free Crochet Patterns page.

Update: Pattern for Ellie Elephant has been posted here. Enjoy!

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Making an Elephant

I started making an elephant yesterday. It's a baby elephant in the same style as my other crochet creations. The trunk and ears turned out even better than expected. I love how she looks so far. 

For the body, I will follow my pattern for Pink Piglet. I might have to buy more yarn to finish. Let's hope I can find the same colour.

Ellie the Elephant is off to a good start. More photos and a pattern coming soon. I am excited to finish this one.

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Awesome Amigurumi

I think Amigurumi is Awesome. As I mentioned in my first post, my daughter suggested I make crochet toys. I was reluctant until I found a Paddington Bear pattern posted by blogger Yellow, Pink and Sparkly here. As it turned out, this bear was just the start. I soon discovered the world of amigurumi.

1. amigurumi

   Web definitions

   1. Amigurumi is how Japanese call the trend of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words ami, meaning crocheted or knitted, and nuigurumi, meaning stuffed doll. ...

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amigurumi

After the first Paddington Bear, I altered the pattern to work in the round following the amigurumi style which omits the seam created by "joining" each round. I made a few bears before I found a cute free bunny pattern here.  The first bunny I made was grey. I called him Dudley and mailed him to California along with a yellow hat made from Paddington Bear's pattern and 6 crochet Easter eggs. I found an Easter egg tutorial by Greedy for Colour here. Dudley's hat doubled as a basket for the eggs. He was a big hit with our grandson who was 1 1/2 years old at the time. 'Hide and seek' for eggs became a popular game.    

Dudley Bunny

After making the bear and then the bunny, I found all sorts of free animal patterns I was eager to try. Before long, I had completed a bunch of Awesome Amigurumi for our grandson. Check out the photos below. The caption provides a link to each individual pattern.

Boyington Bear

Buttercup Bear

Tootsie Bear

Tiny Bear

Bonnie Bunny & Benny Bunny

Curious George

Baby Elephant

Mouse

Spike the Dragon

Alby the Baby Snow Dragon

I finished all these toys then decided to write a story for our grandson featuring each one. I wrote the story then my husband and I spent a lovely summer afternoon in my parent's garden getting just the right photos to illustrate the book. It was a lot of fun to make and even more fun to see our grandson's face when our visit brought his 'book' to life.

I have used some of the book photos in this post but here is a link to the book if you would like to take a look. There were four copies printed: 1 for our grandson, 1 for us and 1 for each of our parents. 

I have to confess I missed one typo on the front cover. I credited my husband for the photography but mistakenly called him "Gandad" instead of "Grandad". I truly did not see it until my daughter pointed it out. Oh well, I corrected the on-line version. Our grandson did call my husband Gandad before he could say Grandad properly. He used to call me 'Mimi' but now says Grammeo very clearly and I love to hear him call me that.