Chubby Elephant Free Crochet Pattern

You may remember this squishy, velvety pachyderm from last year when it was featured in the Festival Amigurumi event in July 2020. I’m so pleased to announce that I can now release the Chubby Elephant pattern to everyone here on the blog!

The Details

As usual, this pattern is made in the same style as my Ragdoll patterns; separate pieces worked in flat rows and then joined together to give them that unique 2-D look. This ami has just 5 pieces.

This pattern has the option of incorporating the tapestry crochet technique (if you opt to do stripes), which means there may be a bit of colour-work involved so please be sure to read the “Pattern Details” section!

The finished measurements are approximately 18cm/7″ high by 28cm/11″ wide.

Let’s get started! (Or Pin/Shop for later!)

If you’d prefer a downloadable or printable version of this pattern, an inexpensive, formatted, and ad-free PDF can be purchased HERE or through the “Shop It” button above!

Materials:

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• 3.25mm hook for main (I use THESE hooks!);
• Bernat Velvet in Pink Dusk (25 grams);
• Bernat Velvet in Blissful Greige (less than 300 grams)
• Bernat Handicrafter Crochet Thread, Size 5, in Black;
• Scissors
• Stuffing;
• Tapestry needle.

Pattern Details

All pieces are worked flat and are worked bottom up. Body panels are assembled together by holding both panels together and single crocheting around the edges. The piece is then stuffed.

To change colours, insert your hook into the stitch for the last stitch of Colour “A” and pull up a loop. Yarn over with Colour “B” and complete the stitch.

When working on the front panel, yarn tails should remain on the back. When working on the back panel, yarn tails should be on the front, so that all yarn tails are facing inside when the panels are lined up and joined.

Ch 1 at end of each row does not count as a stitch.

Terms and Stitches:

Ch – Chain

MR – Magic Ring

Slst – Slip stitch

Sc – Single Crochet (again, in rows with colour changes, sc stitches will be indicated with the Colour Legend letter instead of “sc”)

Inc – Increase. Work a regular sc increase

Dec – Decrease. Work a regular sc decrease

Pattern

Piece #1: Back Leg (x1) 

With Bernat Velvet in Blissful Greige:

Row 1: Ch 8, starting in 2^nd ch from hook, sc 7 (7 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Inc, sc 5, inc (9 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc 9 (9 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 4: Inc, sc 7, inc (11 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 5: Sc 10, inc (12 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Sc 11, inc (13 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 7: Sc 12, inc (14 sts).

Tie off.

Piece #2: Front Leg (x1) 

With Bernat Velvet in Blissful Greige:

Row 1: Ch 4, starting in 2^nd ch from hook, sc 3 (3 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Inc in each st (6 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Inc, sc 5 (7 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 4: Inc, sc 5, inc (9 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 5: Sc 9 (9 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Inc, sc 7, inc (11 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 7: Inc, sc 10 (12 sts).

Tie off.

Piece #3: Trunk (x1) 

With Bernat Velvet in Blissful Greige:

Row 1: Ch 5, starting in 2^nd ch from hook, sc 4, (4 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Inc in first 2 sts, sc 1, inc (7 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Inc, sc 4, inc in last 2 sts (10 sts).

Tie off.

Join Pieces #1-3: 

With Bernat Velvet in Pink Dusk (if not working stripes, continue using Blissful Greige):

Position pieces 1 through 3 from right to left, with all starting/ending yarn tails on the right.

In the next row, crochet across all 3 pieces to join them:

Row 1: Starting with Piece #1: sc 13, inc, ch 2, join Piece #2: inc, sc 10, inc, join Piece #3: inc, sc 8, inc (43 sts incl. ch 2) (Ch 2 counts as 2 sts in next row), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Inc, sc 41, inc (45 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc 45 (45 sts), ch 1, turn.

Do not tie off. Continue to next section.

Finish Trunk (x1)

With Bernat Velvet in Pink Dusk (if working stripes):

Work only part way across the row before chaining and turning, leaving remaining sts of previous row unworked.

Row 4: Inc, sc 2 (4 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 5: Dec, sc 2 (3 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Sc 3 (3 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 7: Sc 2, dc (3 sts).

Tie off.

Body (x1) 

Position panel so that the trunk is on the right. Skip 2 sts immediately to the left of the trunk and rejoin yarn into 3^rd st.

With Bernat Velvet in Pink Dusk:

Row 1: Sc 39, inc (41 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Sc 39, dec (40 sts), ch 1, turn.

Rows 3-4: Sc 40 (40 sts), ch 1, turn).

If working stripes, switch to Blissful Greige:

Row 5: Sc 40 (40 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Inc, sc 37, dec (40 sts), ch 1, turn.

Rows 7-11: Sc 40 (40 sts), ch 1, turn.

If working stripes, switch to Pink Dusk:

Row12-13: Sc 40 (40 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 14: Dec, sc 38 (39 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 15: Dec, sc 35, dec (37 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 16: Sc 37 (37 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 17: Dec, sc 33, dec (35 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 18: Dec, sc 33 (34 sts), ch 1, turn.

If working stripes, switch to Blissful Greige:

Row 19: Dec, sc 32 (33 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 20: Dec, sc 29, dec (31 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 21: Dec, sc 27, dec (29 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 22: Dec, sc 25, dec (27 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 23: Dec twice, sc 19, dec twice (23 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 24: Dec twice, sc 15, dec twice (19 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 25: Dec twice, sc 11, dec twice (15 sts).

Tie off.

Repeat all of the above for the back panel.

Ear (x2) 

With Bernat Velvet in Blissful Greige (if working stripes, start in Pink Dusk):

Row 1: Ch 7, starting in 2^nd ch from hook, sc 6 (6 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Inc in first 2 sts, sc 4 (8 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 3: Sc 6, inc in last 2 sts (10 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 4: Inc, sc 9 (11 sts), ch 1, turn.

If working stripes, switch to Blissful Greige:

Row 5: Sc 10, inc (12 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 6: Inc, sc 11 (13 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 7: Sc 13 (13 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 8: Inc, sc 12 (14 sts), ch 1, turn.

If working stripes, switch to Pink Dusk:

Rows 9-12: Sc 14 (14 sts), ch 1, turn.

If working stripes, switch to Blissful Greige:

Row 13: Sc 14 (14 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 14: Dec, sc 12 (13 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 15: Sc 13 (13 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 16: Dec, sc 11 (12 sts), ch 1, turn.

If working stripes, switch to Pink Dusk:

Row 17: Sc 10, dec (11 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 18: Dec, sc 9 (10 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 19: Sc 6, dec twice (8 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 20: Dec twice, sc 4 (6 sts).

Tie off. Weave in ends.

Tail (x1) 

With Bernat Velvet in Blissful Greige:

Row 1: Ch 3, starting in 2^nd ch from hook, sc 2 (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 2: Sc 2 (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

If working stripes, switch to Pink Dusk:

Rows 3-4: Sc 2 (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

If working stripes, switch to Blissful Greige:

Rows 5-6: Sc 2 (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

If working stripes, switch to Pink Dusk:

Rows 7-8: Sc 2 (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

If working stripes, switch to Blissful Greige:

Row 9: Sc 2 (2 sts), ch 1, turn.

Row 10: Sc 2 (2 sts).

Tie off. Weave in ends.

Move on to assembly below!

Assembly:

1. Eye

Cut a length of black crochet thread about 30 cm long. Using a tapestry needle, stitch an eye on the front panel around two stitches in rows 14/15 counting up from the bottom of the trunk and 4 stitches in from the right. Tie a knot on the back to secure.

 2. Ear

Place an ear diagonally on the front panel and stitch in place. Fold the ear toward the back of the elephant. Repeat for back panel.

3. Body

Cut a length of Blissful Greige yarn about 30cm long and set aside.

Place the two body panels together, matching up all sides, so that all yarn tails are facing the inside. Ensure the front is facing you as you crochet around the outside.

Starting on the left side, at the top of the body, begin attaching the panels together by single crocheting around the outside of the panels in grey.

Crochet half-way down the body and stop. Sew the tail in place at rows 17/18 of the body by placing the tail between the panels and stitching through all three pieces: the back panel, the tail, and the front panel. Tie a knot in the yarn tails to secure and hide ends between the panels.

Continue crocheting down the body. When you get to the tail, crochet in the stitches of the front panel only (since this section is already sewn shut). Continue crocheting both panels together as usual once you pass the tail.

Crochet down and around the legs and trunk. 

(Sc, ch 1, sc) into each of the top corners of the trunk.

Stop here for now and stuff, being sure to push the stuffing down into the legs and up into the trunk.

Continue crocheting up the side of the head, topping up stuffing as you go. 

Continue to crochet across the top of the head. Continue topping up stuffing as you go, being sure to push the stuffing up into the top of the head.

When you are satisfied with the stuffing, close with a slst to first st. Tie off. With your tapestry needle, poke the yarn tail back inside the piece.

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