I created this free crochet elephant pattern with details in mind. I usually begin designs with a specific set of shapes as my focus, but for this crochet elephant it was all about the finer focus points like the end of the trunk, feet and ear features. You can work up this easy crochet elephant toy using just a 5mm crochet hook and some gray yarn, but you’ll find the details pop more with the cream accents and by using a pipe cleaner to raise the position of the trunk.
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Your Crochet Elephant Kit List
The other day I got a bit over excited at the yarn store, and bought a huge 400g skein of gray blue yarn. There are so many gorgeous creatures that have gray coats, I was confident I’d use it all up pretty quickly. And I wasn’t wrong! You don’t need to use a huge yarn ball like mine, but I do love the soft feel of the Women’s Institute aran yarn. I’ve used the exact same type for my crochet hippo pattern too.
Here’s what I used to produce my crochet elephant toy:
- Approx 100g gray/blue aran yarn
- Approx 25g cream aran yarn
- 5mm crochet hook
- Yarn needle
- Toy safe stuffing
- Safety eyes
- Pipe cleaner
Crochet Elephant Toy Pattern Notes
This crochet pattern should be relatively quick and easy to work up, although you will need to be confident with a yarn needle as well as a crochet hook! Your main stitches will be magic circles and single crochets. You will also need to be able to crochet into the back of stitches on occasion, though the pattern will still work if you aren’t as confident on those points and do standard single crochets instead.
I use abbreviations in my patterns, but I’ll add full text for you in the first usage of each term to help you follow along.
Free Crochet Elephant Pattern
Most of my crochet elephant sofie was made using gray/blue yarn, but you’ll begin this pattern with a small amount of your cream color.
Crochet Elephant’s Trunk and Head
Begin in the cream yarn, using your 5mm crochet book.
Round 1
Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)
Round 2
Make two single crochets in each stitch
2sc x 6 (12)
Round 3
Slip stitch to join the circle, and color change to your gray yarn. Chain 2 as the first single crochet, and single crochet into the next elevent stitches in the round.
cc gray, chain 2, 1sc x 11 (12)
Round 4 – 5
1sc x 12 into the back of the stitch (12)
Round 6 – 22
1sc x 12 (12)
Round 23
Make one single crochet into the next stitch, then two into the following stitch, repeat for the round.
(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)
Round 24
1sc x 18 (18)
Round 25
(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 6 (24)
Round 26
1sc x 24 (24)
Round 27
(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 6 (30)
Round 28
1sc x 30 (30)
Round 29
(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 6 (36)
Round 30
(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 6 (42)
Round 31
(1sc x 6, 2sc) x 6 (48)
Round 32
(1sc x 7, 2sc) x 6 (54)
Round 33 – 36
1sc x 54 (54)
Round 37
Single crochet into the next seven stitches, then crochet the next two stitches together. Repeat for the round.
(1sc x 7, sc2tog) x 6 (48)
Round 38
1sc x 48 (48)
Round 39
(1sc x 6, sc2tog) x 6 (42)
Round 40
1sc x 42 (42)
Round 41
(1sc x 5, sc2tog) x 6 (36)
Round 42
1sc x 36 (36)
Round 43
(1sc x 4, sc2tog) x 6 (30)
Round
(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 6 (24)
Round
(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 6 (18)
Insert a pipe cleaner into the trunk, and lightly fill the head and trunk with toy safe stuffing.
Add safety eyes just above and to each side of the trunk.
Round
(1sc, sc2tog) x 6 (12)
Round
sc2tog to close
How To Crochet Elephant Ears
I made my crochet elephant’s ears in two parts, which I sewed together upon completion. If you are an experienced crocheter then you can have a go with simply making them as one piece using decreases, but I think the defined edges and stiffness that come from sewing the sections up!
Crochet Elephant Ear Front Side
Round 1
Using your cream yarn, make a magic circle of six stitches (6)
Round 2
2sc x 6 (12)
Round 3
(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)
cc gray
Round 4
(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 6 (24)
Round 5
(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 6 (30)
Round 6
(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 6 (36)
Round 7
(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 6 (42)
Round 8 – 9
1sc x 42 into the back of the previous stitch. Slip stitch and tie off with a long loose end.
Crochet Elephant Ear Rear Side
This edge will be made entirely in your gray yarn.
Round 1
Make a magic circle of six stitches (6)
Round 2
2sc x 6 (12)
Round 3
(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)
Round 4
(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 6 (24)
Round 5
(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 6 (30)
Round 6
(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 6 (36)
Round 7
(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 6 (42)
Round 8 – 9
(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 6 (54)
Slip stitch and tie off with a long loose end.
Joining The Ear
Take your ear pieces and make sure you have the same side on the exposed edge for both of them, then sew together around the edge.
Easy Crochet Elephant Body
The body is made entirely using your 5mm crochet hook and working with the gray yarn.
Round 1
Make a magic circle of eight stitches (8)
Round 2
2sc x 8 (16)
Round 3
(1sc, 2sc) x 8 (24)
Round 4
(1sc x 2, 2sc) x 8 (32)
Round 5 – 7
1sc x 30 (32)
Round 8
(1sc x 3, 2sc) x 8 (40)
Round 9
(1sc x 4, 2sc) x 8 (48)
Round 10 – 14
1sc x 48
Round 15
(1sc x 5, 2sc) x 8 (56)
Round 16 – 26
1sc x 56 (56)
Round 27
(1sc x 5, sc2tog) x 8 (48)
Round 28
(1sc x 4, sc2tog) x 8 (40)
Round 29
(1sc x 3, sc2tog) x 8 (32)
Round 30
(1sc x 2, sc2tog) x 8 (24)
Round 31
(1sc, sc2tog) x 8 (16)
Fill your elephant with toy safe stuffing, make sure the body is fairly firm but not over filled. It should still be easy to crochet closed.
Round 32
sc2tog to close
Now you can sew your crochet elephant toy’s head to his body. Use small, fine stitches and think about how you want his face to be positioned.
Crochet Elephant Back Legs
My crochet elephant has lighter details at the base of his feet. These give a more defined flat point that nods its head to the actual structure of huge elephant feet!
Round 1
In your cream yarn make a magic circle of 6 stitches. (6)
Round 2
2sc x 6 (12)
cc to gray yarn
Round 3
(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)
Round 4
1sc x 18 into the back loop only.
Round 5 – 17
1sc x 18
Fill two thirds with toy stuffing, leaving the end section to be sewn to the body empty.
Your Crochet Elephant’s Front Legs
The crochet elephant’s front legs (or arms, if you’re in the mood for anthropomorphism) are the same as the back legs, but they are crocheted to a circular close to give the impression of shoulders.
Round 1
In your cream yarn make a magic circle of 6 stitches. (6)
Round 2
2sc x 6 (12)
cc to gray yarn
Round 3
(1sc, 2sc) x 6 (18)
Round 4
1sc x 18 into the back loop only.
Round 5 – 17
1sc x 18
Again, fill two thirds with toy stuffing, leaving the end section to be sewn to the body empty.
Round 18
(1sc, sc2tog) x 6 (12)
Round 19
sc2tog to close
Completing Your Crocheted Elephant
Once your composite pieces are complete then you can sew them together using your yarn needle. I like to tack them gently to begin with so that I can decide how best to pose the figure for the cutest impact!
This crochet pattern design was something a bit different for me. I really focused on a few features I wanted to highlight, to give something a bit extra to the toy. I’d love to know what you think!
Oh, and don’t forget to check out my rhino and hippo patterns if you’d like a similar amigurumi toy to go with him!
Happy Crocheting,
Lucy Kate, x