It’s the elephant’s turn to become a pillow pet! A while back I saw an amazingly detailed elephant pillow pet. It was totally different, made with thin yarn, the ears were a virus pattern I think, etc. It wasn’t a TOY, it was a nursery statement piece. But I wanted a chunky yarn version so that I wouldn’t feel bad if my daughter was rough with it. I was browsing in the Michaels sales bin and saw some two-tone dark and light gray Bernat Blanket yarn, and knew it was meant to become this elephant pillow pet! And it was only $2.50! WIN!!!
You can also add a bow or rosette to the top of one ear if you want to specify that it’s a girl elephant – or a bow tie under the trunk for a boy!
So, without further ado, here’s the Big Elephant Pillow Pet!
9mm Hook, 6mm hook, optional 4mm hook
Bernat Blanket Yarn – One skein
Small amount of white #5 yarn for the eyes
Small amount of black #4 yarn OR 2 half inch black buttons
Polyfil
Main body, in Bernat Blanket yarn in Main Color, using 9mm hook:
You will be working in rounds, without slip stitching at the end of each round. Instead, put a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round, so you always find your way back to the beginning!
Round 1: Magic Circle. Ch1, 6sc (6sc)
Round 2: 2sc in each st around (12sc)
Round 3: (Sc, 2sc in the next st) around (18sc)
Round 4: (Sc in next 2 sts, 2sc in the next st) around (24sc)
Round 5: (Sc in next 3 sts, 2sc in the next st) around (30sc)
Round 6: (Sc in next 4 sts, 2sc in the next st) around (36sc)
Round 7: (Sc in next 5 sts, 2sc in the next st) around (42sc)
Round 8: (Sc in next 6 sts, 2sc in the next st) around (48sc)
Round 9: (Sc in next 7 sts, 2sc in the next st) around (54sc)
Round 10: (Sc in next 8 sts, 2sc in the next st) around (60sc)
Rounds 11-18: Sc in ea st around. (60sc)
Round 19: (Sc in the next 8 sts, sc2tog) around. (54sc)
Round 20: (Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog) around. (48sc)
Round 21: (Sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog) around. (42sc)
Round 22: (Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog) around. (36sc)
Round 23: (Sc in next 4 sts. Sc2tog) around. (30sc)
Round 24: (Sc in next 8 sts, sc2tog) around. (27sc)
Round 25: (Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog) around. (24sc)
Round 26: (Sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog) around. (21sc)
Round 27: (Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog) around. (18sc)
Round 28: (Sc in next 7 sts, sc2tog) around. (16sc)
Round 29: (Sc in next 6 sts, sc2tog) around. (14sc)
Round 30: (Sc in next 5 sts, sc2tog) around. (12sc)
Stuff to desired firmness.
Rounds 31-34: Sc in each sc around. (12sc)
Rounds 35-39: Sc in next 9 sts. Sl st in the next 3 sts. This will curve the trunk.
Round 40: Sc in each sc around (12sc)
Finish stuffing the trunk to desired firmness.
Round 41: Sc2tog around. (6sc)
FO. Close up the hole. Weave in ends.
Eyes (make two), in #5 yarn in white and using 6mm hook:
MC. Ch3 (counts as dc), 11 dc. Sl st to first dc. FO, leaving a long tail. (12dc)
Sew onto Main Body at approximately rounds 12/13, leaving 5 sts between the eyes.
Sew the black buttons on the white eyes, slightly lower than center, using small amount of black #4 yarn. If not using buttons, with #4 black yarn and a #4 hook, do 6 sc in a Magic Circle, sl st to first sc, and FO. Sew onto white, slightly lower than center.
Ears (make two), in Bernat Blanket yarn in Main Color, using 9mm hook:
Chain 19
Row 1: Dc in 5th chain from the hook (creates dc and ch1). Dc in next 2 chains. Ch3, skip 3 chains. Dc in the next 3 chains. Ch3, skip 3 chains. Dc in the next 2 chains. (Dc, ch1, dc) in the last chain.
Row 2: Ch3 (counts as dc). Dc in ch1 sp. (Skip 1 st. Sc in next st. Skip 1 st. 5dc in ch3 sp) repeat twice. Skip 1 st. Sc in next st. Skip 1 st. 2dc in ch1 sp.
Row 3: Ch1, sc in same st. (Ch3, skip 1 dc, sc in next 3 dc, skip 1 dc) repeat twice. Ch3. Sc in last st.
Row 4: Ch3 (counts as dc). (5dc in ch3 sp. Skip sc. Sc in next st. Skip sc.) repeat twice. 5dc in ch3 sp. Dc in last st.
Row 5: Ch1, sc in same st. (Ch3, skip 1 dc, sc in next 3 dc, skip 1 dc) repeat until last st. Ch3. Sc in last st.
Row 6: Ch3 (counts as dc). (5dc in ch3 sp. Skip sc. Sc in next st. Skip sc.) repeat until last ch3 sp. 5dc in ch3 sp. Dc in last st.
Row 7: Ch4 (counts as dc and ch1). Dc in same sp. (Skip first dc. Sc in next 3 dc. Skip next dc. Ch3.) Repeat twice. Skip first dc. Sc in next 3 dc. Skip next dc. (dc, ch1, dc) in last st.
Row 8: Ch3 (counts as dc). 2dc in ch1 sp. Skip sc. Sc in next st. Skip sc. (5dc in ch3 sp. Skip sc. Sc in next st. Skip sc.) repeat twice. 3dc in ch1 sp.
Rows 9-11: Repeat Rows 5-7.
Row 12: Ch1. Sc in same space. Sc in ch1 sp. (5dc in ch3 sp. Skip sc. Sc in next st. Skip sc.) repeat twice. Sc in ch1 sp. Sc in last st.
Sew onto body, starting at approximately round 10 and ending at round 18. To help visualize where you want the ears to sit, you may want to attach to the main body with stitch markers before you begin sewing them on.
And that’s it! As always, I’d love to hear from you about what you think about the Big Elephant Pillow Pet, or any of my other creations, so feel free to leave a comment or ask a question! If you make it, I’d love to see it in action, so tag me on Instagram @springintofalldesigns and on Ravelry at SpringintoFall. Also, follow me on Instagram to be the first to know what new patterns are on their way!!!
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