Ready for some serious snuggling? Eloise the Elephant is too! She’s got a nice fat belly, perfect for squishing. She’s also the perfect blank canvas for any fun embellishments you can think of to add.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Finished Measurements
Height: 16”
Maximum Body Circumference: 20¼”
Gauge: 22 sts x 29 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st after wet blocking.
Materials
Yarn:
Universal Yarn Little Bird (100% Microfiber Acrylic; 344 yards [315 meters]/100 grams): #112 Ghostie Gray (MC), 2 balls; #104 Pink Parfait (CC1), 1 ball
Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm) set of DPNs and 16” circular
Notions: Markers; tapestry needle; polyester stuffing; US Size G-6 (4 mm) crochet hook (for attaching tail); two 1/8” black buttons
Pattern Notes
This elephant is knit in pieces and seamed. The trunk is shaped using short-rows.
Pattern
Body
With DPNs and MC, CO 8 sts leaving a 6” tail. Divide evenly and join to work in the rnd.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: *Kfb; rep from * around – 16 sts.
Rnd 3 and all odd-number rnds: Knit.
Rnd 4: *K2, m1; rep from * around – 24 sts.
Rnd 6: *K3, m1; rep from * around – 32 sts.
Rnd 8: *K4, m1; rep from * around – 40 sts.
Rnd 10: *K5, m1; rep from * around – 48 sts.
Rnd 12: *K6, m1; rep from * around – 56 sts.
Rnd 14: *K7, m1; rep from * around – 64 sts.
Rnd 16: *K8, m1; rep from * around – 72 sts.
Rnd 18: *K9, m1; rep from * around – 80 sts.
Rnd 20: *K10, m1; rep from * around – 88 sts.
Rnd 22: *K11, m1; rep from * around – 96 sts.
Rnd 24: *K12, m1; rep from * around – 104 sts.
Rnd 25: Knit.
Rnd 26: *K13, m1; rep from * around – 112 sts.
Knit straight for 6” or about 48 rnds.
Shape Top of Body
Dec Rnd 1: *K12, k2tog; rep from * around – 104 sts.
Knit 11 rnds.
Dec Rnd 2: *K11, k2tog; rep from * around – 96 sts.
Knit 9 rnds.
Dec Rnd 3: *K10, k2tog; rep from * around – 88 sts.
Knit 7 rnds.
Dec Rnd 4: *K9, k2tog; rep from * around – 80 sts.
Knit 5 rnds.
Dec Rnd 5: *K8, k2tog; rep from * around – 72 sts.
Knit 3 rnds.
Dec Rnd 6: *K7, k2tog; rep from * around – 64 sts.
Knit 1 rnd.
Dec Rnd 7: *K6, k2tog; rep from * around – 56 sts.
Knit 1 rnd.
Dec Rnd 8: *K5, k2tog; rep from * around – 48 sts.
Bind off all sts leaving 24” tail for sewing Head.
Stuff Body.
Trunk
With DPNs and MC, CO 8 sts leaving a 6” tail. Divide evenly and join to work in the rnd.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: *Kfb; rep from * around – 16 sts.
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: *Kfb, k1; rep from * around – 24 sts.
Rnds 5-12: Knit.
With CO tail, sew cast-on sts closed.
Short-row Section 1
Row 1 (RS): K14, W&T.
Row 2 (WS): P4, W&T.
Row 3: K4, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 4: P8, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T
Row 5: K12, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 6: P16, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T
Row 7: K20, knit next st tog with wrap, k1 – you are now at the end of the rnd.
Rnd 8: K1, knit next st tog with wrap, knit to end of rnd.
Rnd 9: Knit.
Rep Rows/Rnds 1-9 once more.
Inc Rnd: K9, (m1, k2) 3 times, m1, k9 – 28 sts.
Knit 1 rnd.
Short-row Section 2
Row 1 (RS): K17, W&T.
Row 2 (WS): P6, W&T.
Row 3: K6, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 4: P10, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T.
Row 5: K14, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 6: P18, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T.
Row 7: K22, knit next st tog with wrap, k5 – you are now at the end of the rnd.
Rnd 8: K1, knit next st tog with wrap, knit to end of rnd.
Rnd 9: Knit.
Inc Rnd: K11, (m1, k2) 3 times, m1, k11 – 32 sts.
Knit 6 rnds.
Stuff Trunk.
Short-row Section 3
Row 1 (RS): K2, W&T.
Row 2 (WS): P4, W&T.
Row 3: K4, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 4: P8, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T
Row 5: K12, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 6: P16, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T.
Row 7: K20, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 8: P24, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T.
Rnd 9: K28, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, knit next st tog with wrap, k13 – you are now at the end of the rnd.
Rnd 10: Knit.
Rep Rows/Rnds 1-10 once more.
Inc Rnd: *K4, m1; rep from * around – 40 sts.
Knit 1 rnd.
Short-Row Section 4
Row 1 (RS): K2, W&T.
Row 2 (WS): P4, W&T.
Row 3: K4, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 4: P8, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T
Row 5: K12, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 6: P16, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T.
Row 7: K20, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 8: P24, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T.
Row 9: K28, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, W&T.
Row 10: P32, purl next st tog with wrap, p3, W&T.
Rnd 11: K36, knit next st tog with wrap, k3, knit next st tog with wrap, k17 – you are now at the end of the rnd.
Knit 1 rnd.
Stuff Trunk.
Increase for Head
Rnd 1: *K10, m1; rep from * around – 44 sts.
Rnds 2-3: Knit.
Rnd 4: *K11, m1; rep from * around – 48 sts.
Rnds 5-6: Knit.
Rnd 7: K7, m1, k8, (m1, k6) 3 times, m1, k8, m1, k7 – 54 sts.
Rnds 8-9: Knit.
Rnd 10: K7, m1, k9, (m1, k7) 3 times, m1, k9, m1, k8 – 60 sts.
Rnds 11-12: Knit.
Rnd 13: K8, m1, k10, (m1, k8) 3 times, m1, k10, m1, k8 – 66 sts.
Rnds 14-15: Knit.
Rnd 16: K8, m1, k11, (m1, k9) 3 times, m1, k11, m1, k9 – 72 sts.
Rnds 17-18: Knit.
Rnd 19: K9, m1, k12, (m1, k10) 3 times, m1, k12, m1, k9 – 78 sts.
Rnd 20: Knit.
Rnd 21: K9, m1, k13, (m1, k11) 3 times, m1, k13, m1, k10 – 84 sts.
Rnd 22: Knit.
Rnd 23: K10, m1, k14, (m1, k12) 3 times, m1, k14, m1, k10 – 90 sts.
Rnd 24: Knit.
Rnd 25: K10, m1, k15, (m1, k13) 3 times, m1, k15, m1, k11 – 96 sts.
Knit 20 rnds.
Stuff head
Decrease Section
Rnd 1: *K10, k2tog; rep from * around – 88 sts.
Rnds 2-3: Knit.
Rnd 4: *K9, k2tog; rep from * around – 80 sts.
Rnds 5-6: Knit.
Rnd 7: *K8, k2tog; rep from * around – 72 sts.
Rnds 8-9: Knit.
Rnd 10: *K7, k2tog; rep from * around – 64 sts.
Rnd 11: Knit.
Rnd 12: *K6, k2tog; rep from * around – 56 sts.
Rnd 13: Knit.
Rnd 14: *K5, k2tog; rep from * around – 48 sts.
Rnd 15: Knit.
Rnd 16: *K4, k2tog; rep from * around – 40 sts.
Stuff head.
Rnd 17: Knit.
Rnd 18: *K3, k2tog; rep from * around – 32 sts.
Rnd 19: Knit.
Rnd 20: *K2, k2tog; rep from * around – 24 sts.
Rnd 21: Knit.
Rnd 22: *K1, k2tog; rep from * around – 16 sts.
Stuff head.
Rnd 23: *K2tog; rep from * around – 8 sts rem.
Break yarn leaving 8” tail. Pass tail through rem live sts, fasten off.
Sew Head to Body, stuffing Body more if needed in order to support head.
Legs (make 4)
With DPNs and CC1, CO 8 sts leaving a 6” tail. Divide evenly and join to work in the rnd.
Bottom of Foot
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: *Kfb; rep from * around – 16 sts.
Rnd 3: Knit.
Rnd 4: *K2, m1; rep from * around – 24 sts.
Rnd 5: Knit.
Rnd 6: *K3, m1; rep from * around – 32 sts.
Rnd 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: *K4, m1; rep from * around – 40 sts.
Rnd 9: Knit.
Rnd 10: *K5, m1; rep from * around – 48 sts.
Break CC1, switch to MC.
Rnd 11: Knit.
Rnd 12: Purl.
Rnd 13: Knit.
Rnd 14: Purl.
Main Leg
Knit 1 rnd.
Dec Rnd 1: *K10, k2tog; rep from * around – 44 sts rem.
Knit 1 rnd.
Dec Rnd 2: *K9, k2tog; rep from * around – 40 sts rem.
Knit 1 rnd.
Dec Rnd 3: *K8, k2tog; rep from * around – 36 sts rem.
Knit 1 rnd.
Dec Rnd 4: *K7, k2tog; rep from * around – 32 sts rem.
Knit 34 rnds.
Bind off all sts leaving 12” tail. Stuff Leg lightly. Sew to body using photo as a guide.
Ears (make 2)
Front Ear
With MC, CO 15 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Increase Section
Row 1 (RS): K2, m1, knit to last 2 sts, m1, k2 – 17 sts.
Row 2 (WS): Purl to last 2 sts, m1p, p2 – 18 sts.
Rows 3-4: Rep Rows 1-2 – 21 sts.
Row 5: K2, m1, knit to last 2 sts, m1, k2 – 23 sts.
Row 6: Purl.
Rows 7-8: Rep Rows 5-6 – 25 sts.
Row 9: K2, m1, knit to end – 26 sts.
Row 10: Purl.
Rows 11-12: Rep Rows 9-10 – 27 sts.
Rows 13-14: Work even in St st.
Rows 15-18: Rep Rows 11-14 – 28 sts.
Rows 19-20: Rep Rows 9-10 – 29 sts.
Work even in St st for 12 rows.
Decrease Section
Row 1 (RS): K2, k2tog, knit to last 4 sts, ssk, k2 – 27 sts.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Rows 3-4: Rep Rows 1-2 – 25 sts.
Row 5: Rep Row 1 – 23 sts.
Row 6: P2, ssp, purl to last 4 sts, p2tog, p2 – 21 sts.
Row 7: Rep Row 5 – 19 sts.
Bind off all sts pwise over the next WS row.
Back Ear
With MC, CO 15 sts.
Purl 1 row.
Increase Section
Row 1 (RS): K2, m1, knit to last 2 sts, m1, k2 – 17 sts.
Row 2 (WS): P2, m1p, purl to end – 18 sts.
Rows 3-4: Rep Rows 1-2 – 21 sts.
Row 5: K2, m1, knit to last 2 sts, m1, k2 – 23 sts.
Row 6: Purl.
Rows 7-8: Rep Rows 5-6 – 25 sts.
Row 9: Knit to last 2 sts, m1, k2 – 26 sts.
Row 10: Purl.
Rows 11-12: Rep Rows 9-10 – 27 sts.
Rows 13-14: Work even in St st.
Rows 15-18: Rep Rows 11-14 – 28 sts.
Rows 19-20: Rep Rows 9-10 – 29 sts.
Work even in St st for 12 rows.
Decrease Section
Row 1 (RS): K2, k2tog, knit to last 4 sts, ssk, k2 – 27 sts.
Row 2 (WS): Purl.
Rows 3-4: Rep Rows 1-2 – 25 sts.
Row 5: Rep Row 1 – 23 sts rem.
Row 6: P2, ssp, purl to last 4 sts, p2tog, p2 – 21 sts.
Row 7: Rep Row 5 – 19 sts.
Bind off all sts pwise over the next WS row.
Sew Front and Back Ear together along sides and top leaving cast-on edges unsewn.
Finishing
Tail
Cut four 12” pieces of MC. Holding all 4 strands together as one, fold in half. Insert crochet hook through rear side of elephant, grab strands at fold and pull through partway. Feed ends of strands through loop and pull taut. Separate plies of each piece of yarn. Tie one plie around entire group 2” from base of tail and knot. Trim tail to 5”.
Sew buttons to head for eyes. Weave in ends.