Elihu the Elephant Crochet Pattern – inspired by one of my favorite childhood books

Elihu the Elephant is a softie crochet pattern that’s a variation of Amir the Elephant. He’s also inspired by one of my favorite childhood books.

After making the Amir pillow/softie, I thought it would be fun to make another version with the legs spit so there would be 4 legs instead of just 2. I also wanted a smaller version. I did find the main pattern had to be adjusted a little bit for proportions when it became smaller, but the two of them are very similar. They could certainly be used as a pillow and softie duel gift for your favorite elephant fan.

Products for this design were provided by Fairfield World, BeCraftee, and WeCrochet. All opinions are my own.

This year Poly-Fil® is CELEBRATING it’s 80th Anniversary with 80 Days of Poly-Fil® projects. Elihu the Elephant is my contribution. Check out the Fairfield World Instagram account daily to see all of the fabulous projects!

Elihu the Elephant

Crochet Pattern inspired by a favorite story
Intermediate Skill Level
Designed by Jessie Rayot

Supplies

Size
8.5” long x 5.5” tall

Yarn
Knit Picks Gloss DK Bare: (70% Merino Wool, 30% Silk), Size 3 (11 wpi, DK weight), 250 yds / 100 g (yds/g = 2.5)
Hand dyed (see how HERE): 1 skein or (90 yds / 35 g) each of 2 colorways
~or choose colors from WeCrochet~
Knit Picks Gloss DK: (70% Merino Wool, 30% Silk), Size 3 (11 wpi, DK weight), 123 yds / 50 g (yds/g = 2.5)
1 skein, (90 yds / 35 g) each of Colors A & B

Hook – Get your hook and notions together in THIS awesome set from BeCraftee!
4.0 mm (US G/6)

Gauge: Learn about gauge HERE
Gauge ruler in BeCraftee Crochet Hook Set HERE.
20 sts x 24 rows = 4” [10 cm] in single crochet

Other Supplies
Yarn Needle – in BeCraftee Crochet Hook Set HERE
PolyFil Stuffing
2 Removable Stitch Markers– in BeCraftee Crochet Hook Set HERE
1/4 yd of Lining Fabric
Thread to match Lining Fabric
Sewing Needle

Stitches and Abbreviations: click on highlighted sts for tutorials
blo – back loop only
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
hdc – half double crochet
pm – place marker
rs – right side
rnd – round
sc – single crochet
sc2tog – single crochet two together
sc3tog – single crochet three together
sl st – slip stitch
sp(s) – space(s)
st(s) – stitch(es)
ws – wrong side
( ) – work step in parentheses in indicated stitch
[ ] – work step in brackets number of times indicated

Getting Started

• Read through all instructions before beginning.
• Rnd/Row counts are at the end of each Rnd/Row after the period, if the count has changed from the previous Rnd/Row. {count here}
• Chs and sl sts are not included in Rnd/Row counts unless specified.

Elihu the Elephant Pattern

Body: Make 1 in each Color

Row 1: Ch 8, sc in second ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 3 chs, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. {7 sts}
Rows 2-7: Ch 1 (does not count as a st here or throughout), turn, sc in each st across. {7 sts}
Cut yarn, fasten off, then repeat Rows 1-7, and continue without fastening off.

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, ch 10, sc in top of each 7 sts on top of first leg. {14 sc}

Row 9: Ch 1, turn, (hdc, sc) in first st, sc in each of next 6 sts, sc in each of next 10 chs, sc in each of next 6 sts, (sc, hdc) in last st. {26 sts}
Row 10: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 11: Ch 1, turn, (hdc, sc) in first st, sc in each remaining st across. {27 sts}
Rows 12: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Rows 13: Ch 1, pm around ch just made, turn, sc in each st across, pm around side of last sc made.
Row 14: Ch 1, turn, (hdc, sc) in first st, sc in each st across. {28 sts}
Row 15: Ch 1, turn, sc in each of first 27 sts, (sc, hdc) in last st, ch 28. {29 sts}
Row 16: Turn, sc in second ch from hook, sc in next ch, [sc2tog, sc in each of next 2 chs] 2 times, sc2tog, sc in each of next 11 chs, 2 sc in each of next 3 chs, sc in next ch, sc in each st across. {56 sts}

Row 17: Ch 1, turn, sc in each of first 30 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, skip 1, sl st in blo of each of next 21 sts. {35 sts}
Row 18: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sc in next st, [sc2tog, sc in next st] 2 times, sc2tog, sc in each of next 13 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each st across. {53 sts}
Row 19: Ch 1, turn, sc in each of first 33 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 7 sts, skip 1, sl st in blo of next st, leave remaining sts unworked. {42 sts}
Row 20: Ch 1, pm around ch just made, turn, skip 1, sl st in blo of each of next 2 sts, sc in each of next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each remaining st across. {41 sts}
Row 21: Ch 1, turn, sc in each of first 35 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 5 sts, skip 1, sl st in blo of next st. {42 sts}
Row 22: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sl st in blo of each of next 2 sts, sc in each of the next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each remaining st across. {41 sts}
Row 23: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sc in each of next 36 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 3 sts, skip 1, sl st in blo of next st. {41 sts}
Row 24: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sl st in blo of each of next 2 sts, sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each st across. {40 sts}
Row 25: Ch 1, place marker around ch just made, turn, skip 1, sc in each of next 36 sts, 2 sc in next st, sc in each of next 2 sts, skip 1, sl st in blo of next st. {40 sts}
Row 26: Ch 1, turn,  skip 1, sl st in blo of each of next 2 sts, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, sc in each st across. {39 sts}
Row 27: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sc in each of next 34 sts, sc2tog, leave remaining sts unworked. {35 sts}
Row 28: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sc in each of next 32 sts, sc2tog. {33 sts}
Row 29: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sc in each of next 30 sts, sc2tog. {31 sts}
Row 30: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sc in each of next 27 sts, sc3tog. {28 sts}
Row 31: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sc2tog, sc in each of next 13 sts, sc3tog, leave remaining sts unworked. {15 sts}
Row 32: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sc in each of next 11 sts, sc3tog. {12 sts}
Row 33: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sc in each of next 11 sts, sc in ch-1, sc around side of last st from Row 31, sc in each of next 6 sts, sc3tog. {20 sts}
Continue to Border without fastening off.

Border of Color A Body

Rnd 1 (Right Side): Ch 1, 15 sc around sides of sts down front of head to marker (last sc will be around marked st),
sc2tog from front of head to first unworked st of Row 18 (trunk), sc in each of next 4 sts, sc2tog, sc in next st, sc2tog, sc in next ch, sc in next st, 2 sc in next st, 2 sc in tip of trunk, sc in bottom of each of next 5 chs, 2 sc in bottom of next ch, sc in bottom of each of next 3 chs, 2 sc in bottom of next ch, sc in bottom of each of next 7 chs, sc2tog, [sc in bottom of next ch, sc2tog] 3 times, sc2tog around side of body to just before marker, place marker around loop on hook,
sc2tog around side of marked st (Row 13) and side of next st, 11 sc around side of leg, 2 sc in bottom of first ch of foot, sc in bottom of each of next 5 chs on bottom of foot, 2 sc in bottom of last ch of foot, 6 sc around side of leg, sc2tog from side of leg to bottom of belly, sc in bottom of each of next 8 chs on belly, sc2tog from bottom of belly to side of leg, 6 sc around side of leg, 2 sc in bottom of first ch of foot, sc in bottom of each of next 5 chs on bottom of foot, 2 sc in bottom of last ch of foot, 13 sc around side of leg to marker (last sc will be around marked st), place marker around loop on hook,
12 sc around side of body to marker (last sc will be around marked st),
9 sc around side of body to first st of Row 33, sc in each of next 20 sts, sl st to top of fist sc of Border..

Cut yarn then fasten off and weave in ends.

Border of Color B Body

Rnd 1 (Right Side): Ch 1, turn, sc in each of first 20 sts, 9 sc around side of body to just before marker,
sc in marked st, 11 sc around side of body to just before marker,
place marker around top of last completed st, sc in marked st, 12 sc around side of leg, 2 sc in bottom of first ch of foot,  sc in bottom of each of next 5 chs on bottom of foot, 2 sc in bottom of last ch of foot, 6 sc around side of leg, sc2tog from side of leg to bottom of belly, sc in bottom of each of next 8 chs on belly, sc2tog from bottom of belly to side of leg, 6 sc around side of leg, 2 sc in bottom of first ch of foot, sc in bottom of each of next 5 chs on bottom of foot, 2 sc in bottom of last ch of foot, 11 sc around side of leg, to just before marked st, sc2tog around side of next st and side of marked st, place marker around loop on hook, sc2tog around side of next 2 sts, sc2tog in bottom of next 2 chs, [sc in bottom of next ch, sc2tog] 3 times, sc in bottom of each of next 7 chs, 2 sc in bottom of next ch, sc in bottom of each of next 3 chs, 2 sc in bottom of next ch, sc in bottom of each of next 5 chs, 2 sc in tip of trunk, 2 sc in next st,sc in next st, sc in next ch, sc2tog, sc in next st, sc2tog, sc in each of next 4 sts, sc2tog in last unworked st of Row 18 (trunk) and around side of next st, sc around marked st, 14 sc around sides of sts up front of head to Row 33, sl st to top of fist sc of Border..

Cut yarn then fasten off and weave in ends.

Inside Legs: Make 1 in each Color

Row 1: Ch 8, sc in second ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in each of next 3 chs, hdc in next ch, sc in last ch. {7 sts}
Rows 2-7: Ch 1 (does not count as a st here or throughout), turn, sc in each st across. {7 sts}
Cut yarn, fasten off, then repeat Rows 1-7, and continue without fastening off.

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, ch 10, sc in top of each 7 sts on top of first leg. {14 sc}
Row 9: Ch 1, turn, (hdc, sc) in first st, sc in each of next 6 sts, sc in each of next 10 chs, sc in each of next 6 sts, (sc, hdc) in last st. {26 sts}
Row 10: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Row 11: Ch 1, turn, (hdc, sc) in first st, sc in each remaining st across. {27 sts}
Row 12: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across.
Continue to Border without fastening off.

Border of Color A Inside Legs

Rnd 1 (Right Side): Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across, ch 1, sc2tog around side of Rows 13 and 12, 11 sc around side of leg, 2 sc in bottom of first ch of foot, sc in bottom of each of next 5 chs on bottom of foot, 2 sc in bottom of last ch of foot, 6 sc around side of leg, sc2tog from side of leg to bottom of belly, sc in bottom of each of next 8 chs on belly, sc2tog from bottom of belly to side of leg, 6 sc around side of leg, 2 sc in bottom of first ch of foot, sc in bottom of each of next 5 chs on bottom of foot, 13 sc around side of leg to top, sl st to top of beginning sc.

Border of Color A Inside Legs

Rnd 1 (Right Side): Ch 1, 12 sc around side of leg, 2 sc in bottom of first ch of foot, sc in bottom of each of next 5 chs on bottom of foot, 2 sc in bottom of last ch of foot, 6 sc around side of leg, sc2tog from side of leg to bottom of belly, sc in bottom of each of next 8 chs on belly, sc2tog from bottom of belly to side of leg, 6 sc around side of leg, 2 sc in bottom of first ch of foot, sc in bottom of each of next 5 chs on bottom of foot, 12 sc around side of leg, ch 1, sc in each st across, ch 1, sc around side of last st made, sl st to top of beginning sc.

Cut yarn then fasten off and weave in ends.

Ears: Make 1 in each Color.

Row 1: Ch 5, sc in second ch from hook, sc in each of next 2 chs, 2 sc in last ch. {5 sts}
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in each of next 3 sts, (sc, hdc) in last st. {7 sts}
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of first 2 sts, sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in last st. {8 sts}
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in each of next 4 sts, hdc in each of next 2 sts, 2 hdc in last st. {10 sts}
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of first 5 sts, sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in last st. {11 sts}
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in each of next 4 sts, hdc in each of next 6 sts. {12 sts}
Row 7: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of first 7 sts, sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in last st. {13 sts}
Row 8: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in each of next 4 sts, hdc in each of next 8 sts. {14 sts}
Row 9: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of first 9 sts, sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in last st. {15 sts}
Row 10: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in each of next 4 sts, hdc in each of next 10 sts. {16 sts}
Row 11: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of first 9 sts, sc in each of next 7 sts.
Row 12: Ch 1, turn, sc in each of first 8 sts, hdc in each of next 6 sts, hdc2tog. {15 sts}
Row 13: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, hdc in each of next 5 sts, sc in each of next 7 sts, sc2tog. {13 sts}
Row 14: Ch 1, turn, skip 1, sc in each of next 8 sts, hdc in each of next 2 sts, hdc2tog. {12 sts}
Continue to Border without fastening off.

Border of Color A Ear:

Rnd 1 (Right Side): Ch 1, turn, sc in each of 11 sts on long side of ear, 14 sc around sides of sts on bottom of ear, 2 sc in first st on short side of ear, sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, 19 sc around sides of sts on top of ear, sl st in beginning sc. {x sts}
Cut yarn then fasten off and weave in one end, leaving the other to sew ear to body.

Border of Color B Ear:

Rnd 1 (Right Side):  Ch 1, 19 sc around sides of sts on top of ear, 2 sc in first st on short side of ear, sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st, 14 sc around sides of sts on bottom of ear, sc in each of 11 sts on long side of ear, sl st in beginning sc. {x sts}
Cut yarn then fasten off and weave in one end, leaving the other to sew ear to body.

Elihu the Elephant Fabric Lining:

• Lay each Body and each Inner Legs on lining fabric with right sides of both fabric and crochet up.
• Trace around each piece and mark each fabric piece as A or B, following the colors of the crochet pieces.
• Cut around each traced fabric piece leaving around ½” seam allowance, you will be sewing on the tracing lines, so the cutting doesn’t have to be perfect.

• Lay the two Inner Legs lining pieces together with wrong sides together.
• Sew across top of Inner Legs lining on the line, using a backstitch or a sewing machine.

• Place Inner Legs A lining on top of Body B lining with wrong sides together.
• Sew Inner Legs A lining to Body B lining on the line, using a backstitch or a sewing machine.

• Place Inner Legs B lining on top of Body A lining with wrong sides together.
• Sew Inner Legs B lining to Body A lining on the line, using a backstitch or a sewing machine.

• Place remainder of Body B lining on top of remainder of Body A lining with wrong sides together.
• Sew Body B lining to Body A lining starting where they join at the neck and working around to the back and across the back, do not finish sewing down to the leg join, instead leave an opening.
• Clip seam allowances at inside curves.

• Turn lining right side out.
• Stuff firmly with PolyFil, using stuffing tool as needed.

• Whip stitch opening closed.

• Turn right side out and stuff firmly.
• Stitch opening shut.
• Use 2 doubled long strands of thread to sew from center belly seam up through PolyFil to top of back seam and back again in a zig zag pattern to pull the belly section up so the legs point down instead of out.

Joining Crochet Parts

• Place both Inner Legs sections right sides together.
• With either color, sl st through both layers across all 27 sts on top.

• Place Inner Legs A and Body B wrong sides together, lining up top of Inner Legs with marked sts on Body.
• With Color B, sl st though both layers with Inner Legs A on top.

• Place Inner Legs B and Body A wrong sides together, lining up top of Inner Legs with marked sts on Body.
• With Color A, sl st though both layers with Inner Legs B on top.

• Slide the stuffed lining into the crochet outer.

• Make a slip knot with Color A and pull the loop through the marked st on the neck of Body A and marked st of Body B.
• Continue joining both Body parts with Body B on top making a sl st through both layers of every st all the way around back through marked sts on back end, continue making a sl st through both layers of Body B and Inner Legs A around to original slip knot.
• Fasten off and weave in ends.
• Make a slip knot with Colot B and pull the loop through the marked st on the back end of Body B and marked st of Body A.
• Continue joining both Body parts with Body A on top making a sl st through both layers of every st all the way around back and head through marked sts on neck, continue making a sl st through both layers of Body A and Inner Legs B around to original slip knot.
• Fasten off and weave in ends.
• Sew Ear A to Body B and Ear B to Body A.

Tail

• Cut 3 strands of each Color, each 36″ long.
• Pull strands half way through border where tail should connect to body (Row 25).
• There will not be 12 strands of yarn, each 18″ long. 
• Holding in bunches of 4, braid yarn together for 2″.
• Tie a knot at end of braid and cut ends unevenly from 0.5-1.5″ long.

Eyes

• Use Color A on Body B and Color B on Body A.
• To embroider eye, first make a + with the vertical line longer than the horizontal.
• Next make an x over the +.

Cuddle or give and enjoy!

If you are going to make Elihu the Elephant then get some supplies from these affiliate links.