Crochet Amigurumi Pattern – Awesome the Baby Elephant

Awesome the baby elephant may be small, but he is big on cuteness! This easy crochet amigurumi pattern is perfect for first time softie makers. With it’s small size and simple construction, you can make an army of awesome baby elephants in no time!

This content is protected by copyright. See this Terms of Use / Copyright page for more information.

This post contains sponsored content and/or affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may get a commission.

CAL Central Softie CAL

This pattern was designed for the Softie CAL at CAL Central Crochet. Follow along on the CAL Central Crochet Facebook group for more crochet amigurumi patterns. Share your CAL pictures (we love to see all the projects) and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

Why Awesome?

When we first signed up as designers for the Softie CAL, there was a spot to say what design we would be making. I hadn’t decided yet, so I just wrote in “something awesome.” The next designer on the list after me wrote “something even more awesome” so I can’t wait to see what she makes!

Poly Fil Premium Fiber Fill

Fairfield World has generously provided Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber Filling to each designer participating in the Softie CAL. This is my go to stuffing material for all my crochet amigurumi patterns. It’s soft and squishy and easy to use.

My favorite stuffing tip is to tear the stuffing into small bits and stuff just a little at a time, rather than trying to put a whole handful in all at once. This creates a smoother finish and avoids clumps and lumps.

Red Heart With Love Yarn

Yarnspirations sent me this Red Heart With Love yarn for free for another design. I had plenty of grey left over that was just begging to become an awesome crochet amigurumi elephant pattern! With Love is great for amigurumi because it’s soft and strong, with just enough puffiness to fill in the gaps in the stitches.

Materials

• Yarn: Red Heart With Love worsted weight, acrylic yarn. 75 yds #140 Pewter (grey)
• Hook: Size H/ 5 mm crochet hook or size needed to match gauge.
• Notions:
  • Fairfield Poly-Fil Premium Polyester Fiber Filling
  • Yarn Needle
  • Stitch Marker or scrap of yarn to use as running stitch marker.
  • Small amount of black crochet thread or embroidery floss

Project Level

Easy: Mostly single crochet in the round, with some increases and decreases.

Size

7 inches tall not counting trunk and ears.

Gauge

14 sc x 14 rows = 4 inches. Use pattern as gauge swatch – Rounds 1 – 4 should measure 2.25 inches in diameter. Exact gauge is not critical.

Abbreviations used

(Pattern is written in US terms)
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
inc = increase (see Special Stitches)
dec = decrease (see Special Stitches)
rsc = reverse single crochet (see Special Stitches)
sk = skip
st(s) = stitch(es)
sl st = slip stitch
rnd = round
RS = right side

Recommended Resources

• Continuous rounds and running stitch markers
• Why continuous rounds shift
• Almost invisible increase
• Crab Stitch / Reverse Single Crochet

Special Stitches

Increase (inc): Sc in back loop only of next st, then sc in both loops of the same st. See full tutorial here.

Decrease (dec): Insert hook into front loop only of both of next 2 stitches, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops on hook. This is an alternative to a single crochet 2 together (sc2tog) stitch. If you prefer, you can use the standard sc2tog instead.

Reverse Single Crochet / Crab Stitch (rsc): Working from left to right, sc in each indicated stitch. Working in this direction causes the stitches to twist, creating a rope-like design. See a full tutorial here.

Instructions

Body

Except for ears, pattern is worked in continuous rounds. Do not join or turn unless indicated. Mark first stitch of each round.

Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 2, 6 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (6 sc)

Rnd 2: inc around. (12 sc)

Rnd 3: (inc in next st, sc in next st) around. (18 sc)

Rnd 4: (inc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts) around. (24 sc)

Rnd 5: Sc in each st around.

Rnd 6: (Inc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts) around. (30 sc)

Rnds 7-10: Sc in each st around.

Rnd 11: (Dec, sc in each of next 3 sts) around. (24 sts)

Rnds 12-15: Sc in each st around.

Rnd 16: (Dec, sc in each of next 2 sts) around. (18 sts)

Rnds 17-18: Sc in each st around.

Rnd 19: (Dec, sc in next st) around. (12 sts)

Stuff body most of the way full and continue stuffing as you go.

Head

Rnds 20-22: Repeat rnds 3-5

Rnd 23: Sc in next 6 sts, ch 6, sk next 6 sts, sc in last 12 sts. (18 sc and ch-6 sp for trunk)

Rnd 24: Sc in each st and each ch around. (24 sc)

Rnd 25: Sc in each st around.

Rnd 26: (Dec, sc in next 2 sts) around. (18 sc)

Rnd 27: (Dec, sc in next st) around. (12 sc)

Rnd 28: Dec around. (6 sc)

Fasten off.

Using tails, sew top of head and bottom of body closed, then weave in ends.

Finish stuffing head through trunk opening.

Trunk

With RS facing, join grey with sl st in any st or ch around trunk opening.

Rnd 1: Work 14 sc evenly spaced around trunk opening.

This works out to 1 sc in each st, 1 sc in the bottom of each ch, and 1 extra sc in each side, where the stitches and chains meet.

Rnd 2: (Dec, sc in next 5 sts) twice. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: Sc in next 3 sts, dec, sc in next 4 sts, dec, sc in last st. (10 sts)

Rnd 4: Sc in next st, dec, sc in next 3 sts, dec, sc in last 2 sts. (8 sts)

Rnd 5: (Dec, sc in next 2 sts) twice. (6 sts)

Rnds 6-15: Sc in each st around.

Fasten off leaving an 8 inch tail

Stuff trunk moderately, leaving enough room for it to curl up.

If needed, you can use the back of your hook, a knitting needle, a chopstick, or other similar tool to push the stuffing into the trunk.

Sew tail in a straight line across top of trunk, from tip to where the trunk meets the head. Then sew it up and out through the top of the head. Pull on this tail gently to make the trunk curl up, then weave it in to secure it.

Ears

Ears are worked back and forth in rows. Ch 3 at the beginning of a row counts as a dc.

Right Ear:

Row 1: Ch 2, 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (4 sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each of first 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st, 3 dc in last st. (9 sts)

Row 3: Ch 3, turn, 4 dc in first st, 2 hdc in next st, 2 sc in each of remaining 7 sts. (21 sts).

Row 4: Ch 1, do not turn, rsc in each st across, 2 rsc in side of last row, fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. (23 rsc)

Left Ear:

Row 1: Ch 2, 4 sc in 2nd ch from hook. (4 sc)

Row 2: Ch 3, turn, 2 dc in first st, 2 hdc in next st, 2 sc in each of last 2 sts. (9 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in each of the first 7 sts, 2 hdc in next st, (4 hdc, ch 3, sl st) in last st. (20 sts, 3 chs)

Row 4: Ch 1, do not turn, rsc in each of the 3 chs, rsc in each st across, fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. (23 rsc)

Finishing:

Sew ears to head using the long tails and allowing the ear to ruffle naturally. Sew through only the portions that do not have an rsc edging.

With black thread, embroider eyes on each side of the trunk and a mouth under the trunk.

Rate this Crochet Amigurumi Pattern!

I hope you enjoyed this crochet amigurumi elephant pattern. A downloadable pdf of this pattern is available on Ravelry for a small fee. The fee for the pdf format is to offset the advertising revenue lost when you print or download the pattern rather than viewing it online.

Do you want the best of Stitches n Scraps delivered right to your inbox? The Stitches n Scraps email newsletter includes highlights from the blog as well as special features not available elsewhere. Don’t miss a stitch – Subscribe now!