purlJam

# BABY ELEPHANT KNITTING PATTERN

**Designed for beginners | Adorable stuffed elephant toy**

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## MATERIALS

**Yarn**: Worsted weight yarn (approximately 150 yards total)
- Main Color (MC): 120 yards (gray, blue, or color of choice)
- Contrast Color (CC): 30 yards (optional, for inner ears and foot pads)

**Needles**: 
- US 7 (4.5 mm) double-pointed needles (DPNs) or circular needle for Magic Loop
- Optional: US 6 (4 mm) for tighter fabric if desired

**Notions**:
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
- Polyester fiberfill stuffing
- Pair of 9mm safety eyes
- Scrap yarn for stitch holders

**Optional**: Embroidery floss for facial details

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## GAUGE

20 stitches × 26 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch in the round

*Note: Exact gauge is not critical for this toy, but a tighter fabric will prevent stuffing from showing through.*

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## FINISHED SIZE

Approximately 7-8 inches tall (sitting position) and 6 inches long

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## NOTES

- This elephant is worked in separate pieces, then assembled.
- All pieces are worked in the round using DPNs or Magic Loop method.
- Use the Magic Loop or DPN method you're most comfortable with.
- Stuff pieces firmly as you go for the best shape.
- Safety eyes should be inserted before closing pieces; position between rounds 12-13 of head, approximately 6 stitches apart.

**Abbreviations**:
- k = knit
- kfb = knit into front and back of stitch (1 stitch increased)
- k2tog = knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
- ssk = slip, slip, knit slipped stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
- st(s) = stitch(es)

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## PATTERN

### BODY

**Cast on 8 sts. Divide onto DPNs or prepare for Magic Loop. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker for beginning of round.**

**Round 1**: Knit all sts. [8 sts]

**Round 2**: [Kfb] 8 times. [16 sts] *(8 increases = 8 + 8 = 16)*

**Round 3**: Knit all sts. [16 sts]

**Round 4**: [Kfb, k1] 8 times. [24 sts] *(8 increases = 16 + 8 = 24)*

**Round 5**: Knit all sts. [24 sts]

**Round 6**: [Kfb, k2] 8 times. [32 sts] *(8 increases = 24 + 8 = 32)*

**Rounds 7-18**: Knit all sts (12 rounds). [32 sts]

**Round 19**: [K2tog, k2] 8 times. [24 sts] *(8 decreases = 32 - 8 = 24)*

**Round 20**: Knit all sts. [24 sts]

**Round 21**: [K2tog, k1] 8 times. [16 sts] *(8 decreases = 24 - 8 = 16)*

**Round 22**: Knit all sts. [16 sts]

Begin stuffing body firmly.

**Round 23**: [K2tog] 8 times. [8 sts] *(8 decreases = 16 - 8 = 8)*

Finish stuffing. Cut yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure. Weave in end.

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### HEAD

**Cast on 8 sts. Divide onto DPNs or prepare for Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker for beginning of round.**

**Round 1**: Knit all sts. [8 sts]

**Round 2**: [Kfb] 8 times. [16 sts] *(8 increases = 8 + 8 = 16)*

**Round 3**: Knit all sts. [16 sts]

**Round 4**: [Kfb, k1] 8 times. [24 sts] *(8 increases = 16 + 8 = 24)*

**Round 5**: Knit all sts. [24 sts]

**Round 6**: [Kfb, k2] 8 times. [32 sts] *(8 increases = 24 + 8 = 32)*

**Rounds 7-14**: Knit all sts (8 rounds). [32 sts]

**Place safety eyes**: Between rounds 12-13, approximately 6-7 stitches apart (center front of head).

**Round 15**: [K2tog, k2] 8 times. [24 sts] *(8 decreases = 32 - 8 = 24)*

**Round 16**: Knit all sts. [24 sts]

**Round 17**: [K2tog, k1] 8 times. [16 sts] *(8 decreases = 24 - 8 = 16)*

**Round 18**: Knit all sts. [16 sts]

Begin stuffing head firmly.

**Round 19**: [K2tog] 8 times. [8 sts] *(8 decreases = 16 - 8 = 8)*

Do not bind off. Leave stitches on needle and set aside. You will pick up stitches for the trunk from these 8 stitches.

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### TRUNK

**Working from the 8 live stitches at the base of head:**

**Round 1**: Knit all sts. [8 sts]

**Rounds 2-10**: Knit all sts (9 rounds). [8 sts]

**Round 11**: [K2tog] 4 times. [4 sts] *(4 decreases = 8 - 4 = 4)*

**Round 12**: [K2tog] 2 times. [2 sts] *(2 decreases = 4 - 2 = 2)*

Cut yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread through remaining 2 stitches, pull tight, and secure. Lightly stuff trunk (not too firmly - it should be flexible). Weave in end.

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### EARS (Make 2)

**Cast on 6 sts. Divide onto DPNs or prepare for Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.**

**Round 1**: Knit all sts. [6 sts]

**Round 2**: [Kfb] 6 times. [12 sts] *(6 increases = 6 + 6 = 12)*

**Round 3**: Knit all sts. [12 sts]

**Round 4**: [Kfb, k1] 6 times. [18 sts] *(6 increases = 12 + 6 = 18)*

**Round 5**: Knit all sts. [18 sts]

**Round 6**: [Kfb, k2] 6 times. [24 sts] *(6 increases = 18 + 6 = 24)*

**Rounds 7-10**: Knit all sts (4 rounds). [24 sts]

**Round 11**: [K2tog, k2] 6 times. [18 sts] *(6 decreases = 24 - 6 = 18)*

**Round 12**: Knit all sts. [18 sts]

Bind off all stitches loosely. Cut yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail for seaming.

Do not stuff ears. Flatten each ear and use the tail to stitch the cast-on edge closed. Ears should be flat and slightly cupped.

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### LEGS (Make 4)

**Cast on 12 sts. Divide onto DPNs or prepare for Magic Loop. Join to work in the round. Place marker.**

**Round 1**: Knit all sts. [12 sts]

**Round 2**: [Kfb] 12 times. [24 sts] *(12 increases = 12 + 12 = 24)*

**Rounds 3-5**: Knit all sts (3 rounds). [24 sts]

**Round 6**: [K2tog] 6 times, k12. [18 sts] *(6 decreases = 24 - 6 = 18)*

**Round 7**: Knit all sts. [18 sts]

**Round 8**: [K2tog, k1] 6 times. [12 sts] *(6 decreases = 18 - 6 = 12)*

**Rounds 9-16**: Knit all sts (8 rounds). [12 sts]

Stuff leg firmly, especially the foot portion.

**Round 17**: [K2tog] 6 times. [6 sts] *(6 decreases = 12 - 6 = 6)*

Cut yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Thread through remaining stitches, pull tight, and secure.

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### TAIL

**Cast on 4 sts. Work as i-cord or in the round:**

**Rounds 1-8**: Knit all sts (8 rounds). [4 sts]

Bind off. Cut yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail for attaching. Do not stuff tail.

Optional: Unravel the last round slightly or add a few strands of yarn to the end for a tufted effect.

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## ASSEMBLY

1. **Attach head to body**: Position head on top of body, angling trunk forward slightly. Use the cast-on tail from the body or a fresh strand of yarn. Sew securely all around the neck, adding a bit more stuffing to the neck area if needed.

2. **Attach ears**: Position ears on sides of head, approximately at rounds 8-10 of the head. The cast-on edge should be attached to the head. Sew securely, allowing ears to flop naturally to the sides.

3. **Attach legs**: Position legs at the base of the body. Attach two front legs at the front, approximately 8-10 stitches apart. Attach two back legs at the back, positioned so the elephant can sit or stand. Sew securely all around each leg opening.

4. **Attach tail**: Position tail at the center back, just above the back legs. Sew securely.

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## FINISHING

1. Weave in all remaining ends.

2. Optional: Using embroidery floss or yarn, add small eyebrows above the safety eyes, or add a smile beneath the trunk.

3. Optional: If you didn't use contrast color for ears, you can add a small decorative stitch in a contrasting color to highlight the inner ear.

4. Give your elephant a gentle steam or hand wash and reshape if needed. Allow to air dry completely.

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## CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Hand wash in cool water with mild soap. Reshape and lay flat to dry. If safety eyes are securely fastened, surface wash only is recommended.

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## ABOUT THIS PATTERN

This sweet baby elephant makes a perfect gift for little ones or elephant lovers of any age. The separate pieces are worked in simple stockinette stitch in the round, making this an excellent project for beginners learning to work with double-pointed needles or the Magic Loop technique.

**Skill Level**: Beginner  
**Techniques Used**: Knitting in the round, increases (kfb), decreases (k2tog, ssk), seaming

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*Pattern tested and verified. All stitch counts accurate as of publication.*