You will need-

4mm knitting needles

DK yarn in the main colour for the body and ears (about14g)

DK yarn in a contrast colour for the under body, saddle and head piece (about 8g)

Large blunt needle to sew up – or felt

Buttons for eyes

Needle and thread to sew eyes on

Toy stuffing (about 7g)

 

 

 

The body is knitted in all plain knitting – increasing and decreasing to get the elephant shape

 

• to increase in a stitch – knit into the front loop as normal – then take the needle to the back and knit into the back loop of the same stitch.

 

 

Method: - Body – make 2 the same.

 

Starting at the trunk - cast on 18 stitches in main colour.

Row 1: knit across all stitches.  (18 stitches).

Row 2: knit to last stitch, increase in last stitch.  (19 stitches).

Row 3: increase in first stitch, knit to end of row. (20 stitches).

Row 4: knit to last stitch, increase in last stitch. (21 stitches).

Row 5: knit across all stitches.  (21 stitches).

Row 6: knit across all stitches.  (21 stitches).

Row 7: knit across all stitches.  (21 stitches).

Row 8: cast off 9 stitches very tightly so that the trunk will curl when stuffed, knit to end of row normally.  (12 stitches).

Row 9: knit across all stitches.  (12 stitches).

Row 10: knit across all stitches.  (12 stitches).

Row 11: knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together. (11 stitches).

Row 12: knit across all stitches. (11 stitches).

Row 13: knit to last stitch, increase in last stitch.  (12 stitches).

Row 14: increase in first stitch, knit to last stitch. (13 stitches).

Row 15: knit 2 stitches together, knit to end of row. (12 stitches).

Row 16: knit across all stitches. (12 stitches).

Row 17: knit 2 stitches together, knit to end of row.  (11 stitches).

Row 18: knit across all stitches.  (11 stitches).

Row 19: knit across all stitches.  (11 stitches).

Row 20 cast on 8 stitches at the beginning of row.  Knit these stitches, then knit to end of row.  (19 stitches).

Row 21 – row 27: knit across all rows.  (19 stitches).

Row 28: cast off 6 stitches, knit to end of row.  (13 stitches).

Row 29 - row 43: knit across all rows.  (13 stitches).

Row 44: cast on 6 stitches at the beginning of row.  Knit these stitches, then knit to end of row.  (19 stitches).

Row 45: knit 2 stitches together, knit to end of row.  (18 stitches).

Row 46: knit across all stitches.  (18 stitches).

Row 47: knit 2 stitches together, knit to end of row.  (17 stitches).

Row 48: knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together.  (16 stitches).

Row 49: knit 2 stitches together, knit to end of row.  (15 stitches).

Row 50: knit to last 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together.  (14 stitches).

Row 51: knit 2 stitches together, knit to end of row.  (13 stitches).

Cast off.

 

 

Underbody – make 1

Cast on 24 stitches

Row 1 – row 6: knit across all rows.  (24 stitches).

Row 7: Cast off 6 stitches, knit to end of row. (18 stitches).

Row 8: Cast off 6 stitches, knit to end of row.  (12 stitches).

Row 9 – row 21: knit across all rows.  (12 stitches).

Row 22: Cast on 6 stitches, knit to end of row. (18 stitches).

Row 23: Cast on 6 stitches, knit to end of row.  (24 stitches).

Row 24 – row 28: knit across all rows.  (24 stitches).

Cast off.

 

 

Ears – make 2

Cast on 10 stitches

Row 1: knit across all stitches.

Row 2: Knit 9 stitches, turn the work around, knit back along these 9 stitches.

Row 3: Knit 8 stitches, turn the work around, knit back along these 8 stitches.

Row 4: Knit 7 stitches, turn the work around, knit back along these 7 stitches.

Row 5: Knit 6 stitches, turn the work around, knit back along these 6 stitches.

Row 6: Knit 5 stitches, turn the work around, knit back along these 5 stitches.

Row 7: Knit 4 stitches, turn the work around, knit back along these 4 stitches.

Row 8: Knit 3 stitches, turn the work around, knit back along these 3 stitches.

Row 9: Knit 2 stitches, turn the work around, knit back along these 2 stitches.

Row 10: Knit 1 stitch, turn the work around, knit back along this stitch.

Cast off.

 

 

 

 

 

Tail - make 1

 

Cut 6 lengths of yarn about 6” long – thread them through the body where you want the tail so that the yarns are equal lengths.  Make a plait using each doubled strand .  Tie a knot to secure the plait when you are happy with the length and fluff out the ends of the yarn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howdah – make 1

Cast on 15 Stitches in the contrast colour

Row 1: knit across all stitches.

Row 2: increase in first stitch, knit to end, increase in last stitch.  (17 stitches).

Row 3: increase in first stitch, knit to end, increase in last stitch.  (19 stitches).

Row 4: increase in first stitch, knit to end, increase in last stitch.  (21 stitches).

Row 5: increase in first stitch, knit to end, increase in last stitch.  (23 stitches).

Row 6: knit across all stitches.  (23 stitches).

Row 7: knit across all stitches.  (23 stitches).

Row 8: knit across all stitches.  (23 stitches).

Row 9: knit 2 stitches together, knit to last stitch, knit 2 stitches together.  (21stitches).

Row 10: knit 2 stitches together, knit to last stitch, knit 2 stitches together.  (19 stitches).

Row 11: knit 2 stitches together, knit to last stitch, knit 2 stitches together.  (17 stitches).

Row 12: knit 2 stitches together, knit to last stitch, knit 2 stitches together.  (15 stitches).

Cast off.

 

Head piece – make 1

Cast on 8 stitches in the contrast colour

Row 1: knit across all stitches.

Row 2: knit across all stitches.

Row 3: knit across all stitches.

Row 4: knit 2 stitches together, knit 4 stitches, Knit 2 stitches together.  (6 stitches).

Row 5: knit across all stitches.

Row 6: knit 2 stitches together, knit 2 stitches, Knit 2 stitches together.  (4 stitches).

Row 7: knit across all stitches.

Row 8: knit 2 stitches together, knit 2 stitches together. (2 stitches).

Row 9: knit 2 stitches together, draw yarn through stitch.

 

To make up

There is no back and front to the knitted pieces – just make sure that the head shapes are at the same end of the under body.

Fold the under body in half, and run a row of stitches along the fold to create a seam.

Sew half of the under body to one of the body pieces, matching the legs and tummy.

Sew the other half of the under body to the other body piece matching the legs and tummy.

Sew up the back to the centre of the back

Sew around the trunk, up the head – leave about a 2” gap on the back.

Turn the toy inside out to hide your stitching.

Lightly stuff the elephant – do not put any stuffing in the trunk.

Sew up the gap.

The toy is designed to be very soft and squishy.  The seam along the under body helps to keep the legs in place – but just pull the shapes around until you are happy with the look of your elephant.

 

 

Sew the ears - you will see that one edge has a tiny row of holes – this is the edge you stitch.  Lay the ear onto the head at an angle and just over sew to the head between the holes and the edge.  The row of holes enables the ear to ‘flap’ about – you can pull it forwards to droop over the elephants face.

 

 

Sew the eyes on to the head with a fine needle and thread.

 

Sit the headpiece and howdah onto the body and add a few stitches round the edge to keep them in place.

 

 

Take a step further

• Knit each piece in a different colour.
• Go mad with stripes
• Dress up the head piece and howdah as much as you like.
• knit with 2 strands of double knitting together (which is chunky weight yarn) on 6mm needles for a bigger elephant.