Beginner Amigurumi Elephant

A friendly, huggable elephant made entirely from simple shapes — spheres, cylinders, and a cone — perfect for a first amigurumi project. No complex shaping required, just basic single crochet and increases/decreases!

Finished Size: Approx. 5.5 in (14 cm) tall x 6 in (15 cm) long (nose to tail)

Materials

• Worsted weight (4) yarn, approx. 100g in gray (main color)
• Small amount of pink or white worsted yarn (optional, for inner ears)
• Crochet hook: US G-6 (4.0 mm)
• Polyester fiberfill stuffing
• Yarn needle (for sewing pieces together)
• Stitch marker
• 2 safety eyes, 9mm (or black embroidery floss for embroidered eyes)
• Black embroidery floss (optional, for mouth detail)

Gauge

5 sc x 5 rows = 1 in (2.5 cm) in single crochet, worked tightly so stuffing doesn't show. Gauge is not critical for fit but affects finished size.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• sc – single crochet
• inc – increase (2 sc in same stitch)
• dec – invisible decrease (sc2tog)
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• rnd(s) – round(s)
• [ ] – total stitch count at end of round
• ( ) x# – repeat instructions in parentheses the stated number of times

BODY (make 1)

Work in a continuous spiral; use a stitch marker to track round start.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring [6]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12] (6 incs → 6+6=12 ✓)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x6 [18] (6 incs → 12+6=18 ✓)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 [24] (6 incs → 18+6=24 ✓)
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x6 [30] (6 incs → 24+6=30 ✓)
• Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) x6 [36] (6 incs → 30+6=36 ✓)
• Rnds 7–14: sc around [36] (8 rounds even — this is the body's height)
• Rnd 15: (4 sc, dec) x6 [30] (6 decs → 36−6=30 ✓)
• Rnd 16: (3 sc, dec) x6 [24] (6 decs → 30−6=24 ✓)
• Rnd 17: (2 sc, dec) x6 [18] (6 decs → 24−6=18 ✓) — Stuff firmly now, adding more as you close
• Rnd 18: (sc, dec) x6 [12] (6 decs → 18−6=12 ✓)
• Rnd 19: dec x6 [6] (6 decs → 12−6=6 ✓)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Weave through remaining 6 sts, pull tight to close, and secure.

HEAD (make 1)

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring [6]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12] (12 ✓)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x6 [18] (18 ✓)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 [24] (24 ✓)
• Rnds 5–9: sc around [24] (5 rounds even)
• Insert safety eyes now between rounds 6 and 7, spacing them about 8 stitches apart (or plan to embroider later).
• Rnd 10: (2 sc, dec) x6 [18] (18 ✓)
• Rnd 11: (sc, dec) x6 [12] (12 ✓) — Stuff firmly
• Rnd 12: dec x6 [6] (6 ✓)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to the body.

EARS (make 2, flat)

Do not stuff — these are worked flat as disks.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring [6]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12] (12 ✓)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) x6 [18] (18 ✓)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x6 [24] (24 ✓)
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x6 [30] (30 ✓)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Optional: switch to pink/white yarn for rounds 4–5 to create a two-tone inner ear.

LEGS (make 4)

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring [6]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [12] (12 ✓)
• Rnds 3–8: sc around [12] (6 rounds even — this forms the leg height)
• Stuff firmly, keeping the top edge open and unstuffed for about 1 round to make sewing flat to the body easier.
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do NOT close the top — flatten the opening when attaching to the body.

TRUNK (make 1)

• Rnd 1: 4 sc in magic ring [4]
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around [8] (4 incs → 4+4=8 ✓)
• Rnds 3–4: sc around [8] (2 rounds even)
• Rnd 5: (sc, inc) x4 [12] (4 incs → 8+4=12 ✓)
• Rnds 6–10: sc around [12] (5 rounds even — this forms the trunk length)
• Stuff lightly (trunk should be soft and slightly floppy, not firm).
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing to the head.

TAIL (make 1, optional)

• Rnd 1: 4 sc in magic ring [4]
• Rnds 2–6: sc around [4] (5 rounds even, unstuffed or very lightly stuffed)
• Fasten off, leaving a 3 in (7.5 cm) tail of yarn unstitched at the tip; unravel the plies slightly and trim to make a small tassel/tuft.

Assembly

1. Legs: Flatten the open top edge of each leg and pin to the underside of the body — 2 near the front, 2 near the back, evenly spaced so the elephant can stand. Whip stitch each leg in place through both layers, stuffing a little more through the seam gap before closing completely.
2. Head: Pin the head to the top-front of the body so the elephant looks slightly forward. Whip stitch around the seam, adding extra stuffing through the gap before closing.
3. Ears: Fold each ear disk slightly in half to create a gentle cup shape. Pin to either side of the head, just behind and above the eyes. Sew in place along the folded/straight edge only, leaving the rounded edge free so the ear can flop naturally.
4. Trunk: Pin the narrow tip end of the trunk to the center-front of the head, below the eyes, letting it curl slightly downward. Sew around the wide (open) end to secure.
5. Tail: Sew the open end of the tail to the center back of the body, near the bottom.
6. Face (if not using safety eyes): Embroider small eyes with black floss using satin stitch, and add a simple curved smile in black floss below the trunk if desired.

Finishing

• Weave in all loose ends using a yarn needle.
• Check that all pieces are securely attached and stuffing is evenly distributed — squeeze gently to redistribute filling if needed.
• Fluff the tail tassel with your fingers for a soft finish.

Your beginner-friendly amigurumi elephant is complete! Enjoy your new plush friend.