phila*craft

a knitted elephant

Here's another pattern that makes its way from knitter to knitter at my son's school. I've retooled it for you here. I most often use Lamb's Pride, but it looks great small in a lighter weight yarn and big using two different shades of gray LP held together. Of course, a Kureyon elephant would be very cool.
MATERIALS: worsted weight wool yarn, size US4 or 5 needles, wool or poly stuffing, short lengths of yarn for embroidering eyes and for crocheting tusks (if desired)
STITCH: Knit every row.
PATTERN: (The elephant's rear legs and behind are the cast-on edge and you make your way up to the trunk from there by knitting the whole body as one piece. See the photo of an unsewn elephant below.) Cast on 36 stitches. Knit 10 rows. Cast off 4 stitches at the beginning of the next 2 rows (28 stitches remain). Knit 2 rows. Decrease 1 stitch at the start of the next 8 rows by knitting the first 2 stitches of each row together (20 stitches remain). Cast on 8 stitches at the start of the next 2 rows (36 stitches). Knit 10 rows. Cast off 8 stitches at the start of the next 2 rows (20 stitches remain). SHORT-ROW SHAPING THE HEAD: Decreases and angling are achieved in a manner similar to turning the heel of a sock. Knit to within 3 stitches of the end of the first row of the head. WITHOUT knitting the last 3 stitches, turn and knit to within 3 stitches of the other end. WITHOUT working the last 3 stitches, turn. (Short rows are created across the middle 14 stitches with a gap between them and a set of 3 stitches at each end.) Knit 13 stitches then knit the 14th stitch together with the first of the 3 reserved stitches at the end. Turn and knit 13 stitches then knit the 14th stitch together with the first of the 3 reserved stitches at the other end. Turn and continue as established knitting 13 stitches and then a 14th together with a reserved stitch at the end until all the reserved end stitches are used up (the 14 middle stitches remain). Go through the short-row shaping process again dividing the 14 stitches into 2 groups of 3 at each end with 8 at the center. When you have used up the reserved stitches at each end, knit the remaining 8 stitches evenly for 12 rows for the trunk. Instead of binding off, cut the yarn, leaving a good 10 inches for sewing up, and thread it through the live stitches drawing the yarn to close. First sew the front legs threading the yarn through the edge stitches to draw the ends closed. Stuff the front legs. Using the yarn you left at the trunk, sew up the trunk pulling the yarn a bit to make it curve under. Stuff the trunk. Continue sewing and stuffing the head/neck, belly, and the rear legs. Make sure legs are stuffed firmly especially where they join the body. Sew the back seam. Add a crochet chain tail tying a knot at the end and snipping so that the end forms a tuft. Sew in all ends. EARS: From the top down of the left side of the elephant's head, pick up 7 stitches from the purl ridge that is continuous with the front of the left foreleg. Knit 1 row. Knit a second row increasing 1 at the end by knitting into the front and the back of the last stitch (8 stitches). Knit 1 row. Repeat increase row (9 stitches). Knit 2 rows. Knit 2 stitches together at the start of the next row (8 stitches). Knit the next row knitting together the last 2 stitches of the row (7 stitches). Knit 2 stitches together at the start of the next row (6 stitches). Knit the next row knitting together the last 2 stitches of the row (5 stitches). Bind off and sew in the end. Repeat the process for the other ear. (optional)TUSKS: Chain 12 stitches using cotton crochet thread and a fine hook. Attach tusks to the underside of the trunk at the second line of decreases. EYES: Embroider eyes just above the second decrease line using black floss or fine yarn and pulling back sharply when pushing the needle through the head to work the second eye to form indents.