How to Crochet an Adorable Elephant

Crocheting an adorable elephant is such a delightful project! With their cute floppy ears and gentle eyes, these handmade creations make for the perfect cuddly companion or a charming addition to any nursery decor. Whether you're an experienced crocheter or just starting out, the step-by-step process of crafting these sweet elephants is both rewarding and relaxing.

Skill Level

Intermediate

Abbreviations

• ch – chain
• mr – magic ring (magic circle)
• st / sts – stitch / stitches
• sl st – slip stitch
• sc – single crochet
• sc inc – single crochet increase
• dec – decrease
• inv dec – invisible decrease
• hdc – half double crochet
• dc – double crochet
• tr – treble crochet

Needed Materials and Tools

• 2 Skeins Baby Bee Adore – A – Ball yarn (92 yards each)
• Size I or 5.5 mm hook
• 2 Safety Eyes (approximately 9 mm in diameter)
• Tapestry Needle
• Scissors
• Stitch Marker (optional)

Recommended Sequence

When making this crochet elephant pattern, I prefer to start with the elephant’s trunk and head. Then make the ears, followed by its body, legs, and finally, its tail. This way I know that each part will fit together nicely.

Elephant’s Trunk and Head

Round 1: make a mr, in the mr make 6 sc sts. Pull the mr tight, and join with a sl st to the first sc. (6 st)

Round 2: ch 1, inc x 6 around. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (12 st)

Round 3: ch 1, work in BLO sc in each st around. Join with a sl st. (12 st)

Round 4-10: ch 1, sc in each st around, join with a sl st. (12 st)

Round 11: ch 1, 5 sc, inc x 2, 5 sc sts. Join with sl st to the first sc st. (14 st)

Round 12: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (14 st)

Round 13: ch 1, 5 sc around, inc x 4, 5 sc. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (18 st)

Round 14: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (18 st)

Round 15: ch 1, 5 sc, inc x 8, 5 sc sts. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (26 st)

Round 16: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (26 st)

Round 17: ch 1, 5 sc, (inc, sc) x 10, 5 sc sts. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (34 st)

Round 18: ch 1, 5 sc, (inc, 2 sc) x 10, 5 sc sts. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (42 st)

Round 19 – 26: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (42 st)

Round 27: ch 1, (inv dec, 5 sc) x 6. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (36 st)

Round 28: ch 1, (inv dec, 4 sc) x 6. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (30 st)

Round 29: ch 1, (inv dec, 3 sc) x 6. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (24 st)

Round 30: ch 1, (inv dec, 2 sc) x 6. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (18 st)

Round 31: ch 1, (inv dec, sc) x 6. Join with a sl st to the first sc st. (12 st)

Round 32: ch 1, dec around, join with a sl st to the first sc st. (6 st)

Round 33: weave the circle tight. Finish off and weave in the ends.

The Big Ears (Make 2)

Round 1: ch 5, sc in 2nd ch from the hook. Sc in next 2 sts, in last make 3 sc sts, turn. Sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in last st. join with sl st. (10 st)

Round 2: ch 1, 3 sc, inc, inc, 3 sc, inc, inc. join with sl st to the first sc. (14 st)

Round 3: ch 1, 3 sc, inc x 4, 3 sc, inc x 4. Join with sl st to the first sc st. (22 st)

Round 4 – 7: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (22 st)

Round 8: ch 1, 9 sc sts, dec, 9 sc sts, dec. join with sl st. (20 st)

Round 9: ch 1, dec, 6 sc, dec, dec, 6 sc, dec. join with sl st. (16 st)

Round 10: ch 1, dec, 2 sc, dec, dec, 4 sc, dec. join with sl st. (12 st)

Round 11: ch 1, 4 sc, dec, 4 sc, dec. join with sl st. (10 st)

Finish off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Elephant’s Body

Round 1: make mr, in the mr, make 8 sc sts. Join with sl st to the first sc st. (8 st)

Round 2: ch 1, inc x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (16 st)

Round 3: ch 1, (inc, sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (24 st)

Round 4: ch 1, (inc, 2 sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (32 st)

Round 5: ch 1, (inc, 3 sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (40 st)

Round 6: ch 1, (inc, 4 sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (48 st)

Round 7: ch 1, (inc, 5 sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (56 st)

Round 8: ch 1, (inc, 6 sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (64 st)

Round 9 – 15: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to the first sc st. (64 st)

Round 16: ch 1, (dec, 6 sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (56 st)

Round 17: ch 1, (dec, 5 sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (48 st)

Round 18: ch 1, (dec, 4 sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (40 st)

Round 19: ch 1, (dec, 3 sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (32 st)

Round 20: ch 1, (dec, 2 sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (24 st)

Round 21: ch 1, (dec, sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (16 st)

Round 22: ch 1, dec x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (8 st)

Round 23: ch 1, weave around and finish off. Weave in the end of the yarn tail.

Elephant Legs (Make 4)

Round 1: make mr, in the mr make 8 sc sts. Join with sl st to the first sc st. (8 st)

Round 2: ch 1, inc x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (16 st)

Round 3: ch 1, (inc, sc) x 8, join with sl st to the first sc st. (24 st)

Round 4: ch 1, in BLO, (2 sc, dec) repeat around. Join with sl st to the first sc st. (18 st)

Round 5: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to the first sc st. (18 st)

Round 6: ch 1, (dec, 3 sc) x 3, 3 sc. Join with sl st to the first sc st. (15 st)

Round 7 – 10: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to the first sc st. (15 st)

Round 11: ch 1, (inc, 3 sc) x 5. Repeat around, join with sl st to the first sc st. (19 st)

Round 12: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st to the first sc st. (15 st)

Elephant Tail

Row 1: chain 12 st

Row 2: in the 2nd ch, make hdc, ch 2, hdc in the 2nd ch from hook, ch 2, hdc once more in the 2nd ch from the hook. Hdc in each ch space back to the beginning. Leave a yarn tail for sewing.

Final Assembly

To make the finished elephant you will need to use the tapestry needle and yarn to sew each of the body parts together. First, sew the ears as desired to the head. Then sew the four legs to the bottom of the body. Once attached, sew the head to the body. Finally, sew the tail to the butt. Make sure that each body part is sewn securely so that it won’t fall off.

Finished Measurement

My finished elephant measured eight inches tall, at its tallest point, and approximately ten inches long, at its longest point. Please keep in mind that your finished size might vary slightly.

Finishing Touches

If your elephant is a baby girl elephant, or you are making it for a little girl, you might enjoy adding a flower crown like you see pictured. After all, it’s the details that take an average crochet toy and make it absolutely irresistible.

I used a mint green and a light pink crochet thread for these accents. This is a very thin crochet thread that is perfect for small accent items like this. Here are the instructions to make the small crochet roses and the crochet leaf wreath for her head.

Small Crochet Roses (Make 3)

Row 1: ch 30 sts

Row 2: in the 3rd st from hook, make hdc, hdc in next st, ch 2, sl st in next st, ch 2, dc in next 3 sts, ch 2, sl st, ch 2, dc in next 3 sts, ch 2, sl st, ch 2, dc in next 3 sts, ch 2, sl st, ch 2, dc in next 4 sts, ch 2, sl st, ch 2, dc in next 4 sts, ch 2, sl st. Finish off, but leave a long yarn tail for sewing.

Roll the flower between your fingers, starting with the hdc end, until the flower is rolled onto itself. Use the yarn tail and a sewing needle to sew the bottom of the flower together. Finish off and attach the small flowers to the crochet leaf headband once completed.

Crochet Leaf Headband

Row 1: ch 16 sts, * in the 2nd ch from the hook, make a sl st, sc in next st, hdc in next, dc, and tr. This makes one side of the leaf.

Ch 1, sl st in the top of the leaf at the biggest part, ch 1, and tr opposite the previous tr made, working down the opposite side, make dc, hdc, sc, and sl st.

When you reach the point of the leaf, ch 1, and slip stitch down the center of the leaf. Chain 16 sts. * Repeat from * to * until the leaf wreath is your desired size. I made 9 leaves total. To finish, ch 5 sts, and join with a sl st to the first ch space. Finish off.