Since September is his birthday month, I asked my older brother, Chris, if he would like to choose which animal I made for the endangered species pattern! I was surprised when he chose the elephant, my brother tends to like more arctic animals, but not disappointed! The elephant is an amazing animal and just happens to be the world’s largest land mammal. Another really awesome fact about elephants, is they are a matriartical species; this means that the females lead the herd. Elephants are a social animal, they travel in “families” led by the eldest female and can form bonds with other “families”. During the “dry season” multiple families of elephants can form a “clan” in order to defend their territory.
While once abundantly roaming Africa and southern Asia, elephant population drastically decreased during the 20th century largely due to poaching for their ivory tusks. Both male and female african elephants have tusks in adulthood, while only male asian elephants have tusks. Elle is a baby African elephant, she has round ears(asian elephants have flat bottomed ears), so she does not yet have tusks! The United States of American began an international ban on ivory imports in June of 1989, allowing elephant populations to heal, but poaching has still continued. In 2015, China, one of the largest markets for ivory, announced that they too would be getting rid of the manufacturing and sale of ivory, leading to the ban of imported and exported ivory in both China and America. Poaching for ivory is not the only risk for extinction elephants face, they also are affected by the environment and human interaction within their habitat.
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant#Conservation
I hope you enjoy making Elle and learning about elephants!
Thank you!
Materials
Yarn:
Tools:
- 3.5mm Crochet Hook (a 3.25mm or 4.00mm could be used depending on your tension)
- 12mm Safety Eyes
- Chenille Stick(pipe cleaner)
- Scissors
- Yarn Needle
- Stitch Marker
- Sewing Pins
- Polyfil
- Hot Glue/Fabric Glue
- White Felt
- Pink Felt
Stitches Used
U.S. Terminology
Right Handed Instructions
Difficulty Level: Easy
| CH | Chain Stitch |
| ST | Stitch |
| SK | Skip Stitch |
| SL ST | Slip Stitch |
| SC | Single Crochet |
| SCINC | Single Crochet two in same stitch (Increase) |
| SC2TOG | Single Crochet two together (Decrease) |
| BLO | Back Loop Only |
| FLO | Front Loop Only |
| * | Stitches inside asterisk are repeated |
| , | A comma is used to indicate when to move on to the next step in the round/row. |
Special Techniques Used
Do not join a round unless the pattern says to do so. Otherwise pieces worked in the round will be done in the spiral method.
Ears
Make x2
| Round 1: | Create Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *1 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc,* repeat x6 | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *1 scinc, 3 sc* repeat x6 | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *2 sc, 1 scinc, 2 sc* repeat x6 | (36 stitches) |
| Round 7: | *1 scinc, 5 sc* repeat x6 | (42 stitches) |
| Round 8: | *3 sc, 1 scinc, 3 sc* repeat x6. | (48 stitches) |
| Round 9: | *1 scinc, 7 sc* repeat x6 | (54 stitches) |
| Round 10: | Ch 1, turn, 54 sl st. | (54 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing.
Cut out 2 pink circles, from pink craft felt, to fit in the ear so that only the round of sl st’s show. Hot Glue or Fabric Glue to the ear on the back side of the stitches(the side with the sl stitches facing you). Set aside as they dry.
Trunk
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 sc blo. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 3: | 6 sc. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 1 scinc, 5 sc. | (7 stitches) |
| Round 5-6: | 7 sc. | (7 stitches) |
| Round 7: | 1 scinc, 6 sc. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 8-9: | 8 sc. | (8 stitches) |
| Round 10: | 1 scinc, 7 sc. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 11: | 9 sc. | (9 stitches) |
| Round 12: | 1 scinc, 8 sc. | (10 stitches) |
| Round 13: | 10 sc. | (10 stitches) |
| Round 14: | 1 scinc, 9 sc. | (11 stitches) |
| Round 15: | 11 sc. | (11 stitches) |
| Round 16: | 1 scinc, 10 sc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 17: | *1 scinc, 3 sc* repeat x3. | (15 stitches) |
| Round 18: | *2 sc, 1 scinc, 2 sc* repeat x3. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 19: | *1 scinc, 5 sc* repeat x3. | (21 stitches) |
| Round 20: | *3 sc, 1 scinc, 3 sc* repeat x3. | (24 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing. Fold a pipe cleaner in half and twist it together. Insert it into the trunk and stuff stuffing around it loosely. (you do not want to over stuff, because when we bend the trunk into position later stuffing will show through if you overstuff). Set aside.
Attach yarn to the front loop of any stitch in Round 1.
| Round 21: | 6 sc flo of Round 1, sl st to join. | (6 stitches) |
Fasten off and weave in the end to secure.
Front Legs
Make x2
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 5 sc, no join. | (5 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 5 scinc. | (10 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x5. | (15 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 15 sc blo. | (15 stitches) |
| Round 5 – 15: | 15 sc. | (15 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, stuff legs halfway. Set aside.
Back Feet
Make x2
| Round 1: | Create a Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x6. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | 18 sc blo. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 5 – 8: | 18 sc. | (18 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, stuff firmly. Set aside.
Thigh
Make x2
| Round 1: | Create Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *1 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc,* repeat x6 | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *1 scinc, 3 sc* repeat x6 | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6: | 15 sc. | (15 stitches) |
Note: Round 6 is not a complete round, you will have 15 unworked stitches.
Fasten off leaving a tail for sewing, set aside.
Body
Use a Running Stitch Marker
| Round 1: | Create Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *1 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc,* repeat x6 | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *1 scinc, 3 sc* repeat x6 | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *2 sc, 1 scinc, 2 sc* repeat x6 | (36 stitches) |
| Round 7: | *1 scinc, 5 sc* repeat x6 | (42 stitches) |
| Round 8-10: | 42 sc. | (42 stitches) |
| Round 11: | *6 sc, 1 sc2tog, 6 sc* repeat x3. | (39 stitches) |
| Round 12: | *1 sc2tog, 11 sc* repeat x3. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 13: | *5 sc, 1 sc2tog, 5 sc* repeat x3. | (33 stitches) |
| Round 14: | *1 sc2tog,9 sc* repeat x3. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 15-16: | 30 sc. | (30 stitches) |
| Round 17: | *4 sc, 1 sc2tog, 4 sc* repeat x3. | (27 stitches) |
| Round 18: | *1 sc2tog, 7 sc* repeat x3. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 19-20: | 24 sc. | (24 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving an extra long tail for sewing on the head, stuff firmly. The running stitch marker will be the line down the front of the ami that we use for placing the legs.
Head
| Round 1: | Create Magic Circle, 6 sc, no join. | (6 stitches) |
| Round 2: | 6 scinc. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 3: | *1 scinc, 1 sc* repeat x6 | (18 stitches) |
| Round 4: | *1 sc, 1 scinc, 1 sc,* repeat x6 | (24 stitches) |
| Round 5: | *1 scinc, 3 sc* repeat x6 | (30 stitches) |
| Round 6: | *2 sc, 1 scinc, 2 sc* repeat x6 | (36 stitches) |
| Round 7: | *1 scinc, 5 sc* repeat x6 | (42 stitches) |
| Round 8-11: | 42 sc. | (42 stitches) |
| Round 12: | *1 sc2tog, 5 sc* repeat x6. | (36 stitches) |
| Round 13-15: | 36 sc. | (36 stitches) |
Cut 2 ovals out of white felt about 12 mm wide and 24 mm long. Cut a small hole towards the upper section of the ovals and add 12 mm safety eyes(don’t put the backs on yet). Position the safety eyes between Rounds 12-13 approximately 8 stitches apart. Place backs on once satisfied with placement. (Tip: put trunk between eyes to check if eyes are far enough apart)
| Round 16: | *2 sc, 1 sc2tog, 2 sc* repeat x6 | (30 stitches) |
| Round 17: | *1 sc2tog, 3 sc* repeat x6. | (24 stitches) |
| Round 18: | *1 sc, 1 sc2tog, 1 sc* repeat x6. | (18 stitches) |
| Round 19: | *1 sc2tog, 1 sc* repeat x6. | (12 stitches) |
| Round 20: | 6 sc2tog. | (6 stitches) |
Fasten off leaving a tail to close piece, stuff firmly. Use the Amigurumi Close Method to finish.
Assembly
Please use Amigurumi Piece Join Method for the following when applicable.
- With the running stitch marker, of the BODY, facing you; place the HEAD on top so that the eyes are facing you also. Tilt the head down slightly, pin in place. Sew HEAD to BODY.
- Place the Body on a flat surface and lean it slightly towards you so that the eyes are looking straight forward. Place and pin the THIGHS between Rounds 6-15 of the BODY. The thighs should be placed so the half round is at the bottom of the piece.
- Pin and place the BACK FEET so that they point slightly outwards, you should be able to see the last 2-3 rounds of the thigh from behind when attached.
- Pinch together the open end of the FRONT LEGS and pin to the body above the thigh so they tilt upwards towards the neck and running stitch marker. Sew in place.
- Place and pin the TRUNK to the face so that it is centered between the eyes. The top of the trunk should be in line with the eyes between rounds 12-13 of the face.
- Place and pin the EARS about 4-5 rounds down from the top of the head with the pink felt side facing you. Pin the ear in a straight line for 9 rounds, once satisfied with the placement, sew in place.
Thank you for choosing my Pattern!
This pattern and all information contained in this post is the property of Tiffany Horton. You have permission to sell any finished product created using this pattern, a link back to this pattern is appreciated. The information contained in this post (the pattern, media,etc) may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, or shared in anyway. Rewriting, reselling, distributing, or copying this pattern electronically, verbally, written or otherwise, including translations, is prohibited.
Socials
| Website | www.cafedelcraft.com |
| @cafedelcraft | |
| @cafedelcraft | |
| https://www.pinterest.com/cafedelcraft/ | |
| Ravelry | https://www.ravelry.com/designers/tiffany-horton |