🧶 Beautiful ✨ Detailed 💝 Adorable

Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern

Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern
4.2★ Rating
6-8 Hours Time Needed
3.6K Made This
✂️

Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic knitting experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Weekend Treat

Takes 5-7 hours, making it an enjoyable project to finish over a couple of days.

🧸

Cute Companion

An adorable friend to cherish, handcrafted with love to bring comfort and joy for years to come.

About This Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern

Nina the Elephant is a beautifully crafted amigurumi pattern that combines classic crochet techniques with creative design elements. The pattern features head sculpting to create realistic facial features, a charming trunk with carefully shaped curves, and a sweet two-toned dress with a ruffled bottom. With decorative flowers adorning the ears and dress, plus carefully embroidered facial details, this elephant has personality and charm that will delight both makers and recipients.

Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

This pattern uses plush yarn which creates a wonderfully soft and huggable texture perfect for a cuddle toy. The finished elephant stands proudly at 26-30 cm tall, making it an ideal size for little hands to hold or as a decorative piece in any room.

Why You'll Love This Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it strikes the perfect balance between adorable and achievable! The head sculpting technique creates such wonderful dimension and character in Nina's face, giving her that sweet, gentle expression that elephants are known for. I'm particularly fond of the layered dress design with the color-changing technique that adds visual interest without being overly complicated. The small details like the embroidered eyebrows, rosy cheeks, and decorative flowers really bring Nina to life and make the finished project feel extra special. It's one of those patterns where you can truly see your skills growing as you work through each section!

Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I absolutely love experimenting with different color combinations for Nina! While the pattern uses grey, pink, and purple, I've had wonderful success creating her in soft pastels like mint green with lavender accents, or even bold jewel tones like teal with coral details.

One of my favorite modifications is adding embroidered details to the dress - tiny French knots or lazy daisy stitches scattered across the bodice create a delicate floral pattern that's truly enchanting. You could also experiment with the dress style by making it longer or adding multiple color stripes for a playful look.

I sometimes like to personalize Nina by adding a small crocheted bow between her ears or creating a tiny vest instead of the dress for a different look entirely. The trunk can be shortened by a few rounds if you prefer a baby elephant appearance, or you can add wire inside to make it poseable.

For a seasonal twist, I've created holiday versions with festive color combinations - think red and white for Christmas or pastel rainbow for Easter. You could even add small crocheted accessories like a tiny bag, hat, or scarf to give your elephant extra personality and charm that reflects the recipient's interests!

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Not stuffing the trunk firmly enough which causes it to droop instead of holding its shape properly throughout the project ✗ Missing the back loops only instruction in various rounds which changes the texture and appearance of the finished piece significantly ✗ Placing safety eyes too far apart or in wrong rounds creating an unbalanced facial expression that affects the character ✗ Skipping the head sculpting step which results in a flat face without the dimensional cheek definition that makes Nina special ✗ Not checking arm symmetry before finalizing attachment leading to uneven positioning that's difficult to correct later on

Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern

Create your own adorable Nina the Elephant with this charming crochet pattern! This delightful design features a sweet elephant with a sculpted face, floppy ears, and a beautiful dress adorned with decorative flowers. Standing approximately 26-30 cm tall, Nina makes the perfect handmade gift or nursery companion. The pattern includes detailed instructions for creating the body, head with trunk, ears, dress, and lovely finishing touches that bring this gentle elephant to life.

Intermediate 6-8 Hours

Materials Needed for Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Plush yarn 100g/120m in grey (Himalaya Dolphin baby 80325 or 80347)
  • 02
    Plush yarn in pink (Himalaya Dolphin baby 80319)
  • 03
    Plush yarn in purple (Himalaya Dolphin baby 80305)
  • 04
    Black embroidery thread for eyebrows

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook 4.00 mm
  • 02
    Safety eyes 12 mm
  • 03
    Polyester fiber fill stuffing
  • 04
    Yarn needle for sewing
  • 05
    Scissors
  • 06
    Stitch markers
  • 07
    Pins for head sculpting
  • 08
    Black marker or black thread for mouth detailing
  • 09
    Pink blush for cheeks

Progress Tracker

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— Arms :

Info :

Crochet with grey yarn. Stuff only 2/3 of the arm. Make 2 pieces.

Round 1 :

7 sc into a magic ring (7)

Round 2 :

7 inc (14)

Round 3 :

Back loops only: 14 sc

Round 4-5 :

14 sc (2 rounds)

Round 6 :

(5 sc, dec) x 2 (12)

Round 7-9 :

12 sc (3 rounds)

Round 10 :

(2 sc, dec) x 3 (9)

Round 11 :

9 sc

Round 12 :

Crochet only 4 sc. Fold the arm in half and crochet 4 sc through both sides. Fasten off and cut the yarn.

— Legs :

Info :

Crochet with grey yarn. Stuff as you go. Make 2 pieces.

Round 1 :

8 sc into a magic ring (8)

Round 2 :

8 inc (16)

Round 3 :

Back loops only: 16 sc

Round 4 :

3 sc, inc, 7 sc, inc, 4 sc (18)

Round 5-8 :

18 sc (4 rounds)

Round 9 - Left Leg :

Crochet only 15 sc. Fasten off and cut the yarn, leaving a tail for sewing.

Round 9 - Right Leg :

18 sc. Don't cut the yarn, continue with body.

— Body :

Info :

Continue crocheting with grey yarn. Stuff as you go.

Round 1 :

Crochet 5 sc more on the right leg, make chain 2 and attach the yarn to the left leg where you stopped crocheting it. Crochet 18 sc on the left leg, 2 inc on the chain, 18 sc on the right leg, 2 sc on the chain, put the marker here (42). The marker should be on the back. If there is a hole between the legs, take the thread from the left leg and sew the gap.

Round 2-4 :

42 sc (3 rounds)

Info :

Change the yarn to pink color.

Round 5 :

42 sc

Round 6 :

Back loops only: 42 sc

Round 7-9 :

42 sc (3 rounds)

Round 10 :

(5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)

Round 11 :

36 sc

Round 12 :

2 sc, dec, (4 sc, dec) x 5, 2 sc (30)

Round 13 :

30 sc

Round 14 :

(3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)

Info :

Crochet 1-2 sc more, so that the marker is exactly in the middle of the back. Now we will join the arms.

Round 15 :

4 sc, 4 sc through the first arm and the body, 8 sc, 4 sc through the second arm and the body, 4 sc (24). Check if the arms are symmetrical to the legs. If not, correct the stitches.

Info :

Change the yarn to grey color.

Round 16 :

Back loops only: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)

Round 17 :

18 sc. Cut the grey yarn, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the body firmly, especially in the neck.

— Dress :

Info :

Attach the pink yarn to the middle of the back into the front loops of round 6. Crochet with the body turned upside down.

Round 1 :

ch 2, 42 dc inc, sl st (84)

Info :

Change the yarn to purple color.

Round 2 :

ch 2, (2 hdc inc, 3 hdc in one st) x 28, sl st (196). Fasten off and cut the yarn. Hide it inside the dress.

Info :

Now take the purple yarn and crochet 24 sl st into the front loops of round 16. Fasten off and cut the purple yarn. Hide the thread inside.

— Head :

Info :

Crochet with grey yarn. Stuff as you go. We start with the trunk.

Round 1 :

7 sc into a magic ring (7)

Round 2 :

Back loops only: 7 sc

Round 3 :

2 sc, inc, 2 sc, 2 sl st (8)

Round 4 :

6 sc, 2 sl st (8)

Round 5 :

3 sc, inc, 2 sc, 2 sl st (9)

Round 6 :

8 sc, inc (10)

Round 7 :

4 sc, 3 sl st, 3 sc (10)

Round 8 :

4 sc, 3 sl st, 2 sc, inc (11)

Round 9 :

4 sc, 3 sl st, 4 sc (11)

Round 10 :

10 sc, inc (12)

Round 11 :

12 sc. Stuff the trunk, so it holds its shape.

Info :

Now continue with the head.

Round 12 :

2 sc, 8 inc, 2 sc (20)

Round 13 :

2 sc, (sc, inc) x 2, place a marker for the first eye, (sc, inc) x 4, sc, place a marker for the second eye, (inc, sc) x 2, sc (28)

Round 14 :

3 sc, inc, (2 sc, inc) x 7, 3 sc (36)

Round 15 :

(5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)

Round 16 :

3 sc, inc, (6 sc, inc) x 5, 3 sc (48)

Round 17-22 :

48 sc (6 rounds). Insert the safety eyes into the marked points.

Round 23 :

3 sc, dec, (6 sc, dec) x 5, 3 sc (42)

Round 24 :

(5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)

Round 25 :

2 sc, dec, (4 sc, dec) x 5, 2 sc (30)

Round 26 :

(3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)

Round 27 :

sc, dec, (2 sc, dec) x 5, sc (18)

Round 28 :

(sc, dec) x 6 (12)

Round 29 :

6 dec (6). Make sure that the head is stuffed firmly. Close the opening and hide the yarn inside.

— Head Sculpting :

Info :

Mark points 1-6 with pins, as shown in the photo. Points 1 and 2 should be in round 17. Points 3-6 are between rounds 13 and 14.

Step 1 :

Insert a long threaded needle into point 1 and pull it out at point 3. Then insert into point 4 and pull out at point 2.

Step 2 :

Now insert the needle through point 1 and pull it out at point 5. Insert it into point 6 and pull out at point 2. The thread should be under the eyes.

Step 3 :

Pull the thread ends tight until the desired indentation is reached and tie a knot. Hide the thread inside the head.

— Ears :

Info :

Crochet with grey yarn. Make 2 pieces.

Round 1 :

6 sc into a magic ring (6)

Round 2 :

6 inc (12)

Round 3 :

(sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Round 4 :

sc, inc, (2 sc, inc) x 5, sc (24)

Round 5 :

(3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)

Round 6 :

30 sc. Fold the ear in half and crochet 2 sc through both sides. Fasten off and cut the yarn, leaving a tail for sewing.

— Tail :

Info :

Crochet with grey yarn.

Instructions :

Make chain 11 and crochet in it 10 inc. Fasten off and cut the yarn leaving a tail for sewing.

— Flowers :

Info :

Crochet two pink flowers and one purple flower. Start crocheting with the second color (pink or purple center).

Round 1 :

5 sc into a magic ring. Change the yarn to base color (grey).

Round 2 :

(ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st) x 5. Fasten off and cut the yarn, leaving a tail for sewing.

Assembly Instructions

  • Sew the ears to the sides of the head in round 20, ensuring they are positioned symmetrically on both sides.
  • Create the mouth by crocheting a chain 4 with grey yarn and sew it in round 13 of the head.
  • Paint or embroider the middle of the mouth with black thread or marker to add definition.
  • Embroider the eyebrows between rounds 16 and 17 using black thread, creating a gentle curved expression.
  • Apply pink blush to the cheeks for a sweet, rosy finish.
  • Sew the head to the body between head rounds 16-20, stuffing with more fiberfill if needed for neck stability.
  • Sew the tail on the back of the body in round 5.
  • Attach the two pink flowers near the ears and sew the purple flower on the dress as decorative accents.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use stitch markers consistently to track your rounds, especially when working with color changes and back loops only sections
  • 💡Stuff the trunk firmly so it maintains its curved shape and doesn't droop over time
  • 💡When joining the legs to create the body, make sure to close any gaps between them for a professional finish
  • 💡Pin all parts in place before final sewing to ensure proper positioning and symmetry of arms and ears
  • 💡The head sculpting technique is essential for creating Nina's sweet facial expression, so take your time with this step
  • 💡Stuff the neck area very firmly to ensure the head sits securely and doesn't wobble
  • 💡When attaching the dress trim, work with the body upside down as instructed for proper ruffle orientation

This delightful Nina the Elephant pattern brings together classic amigurumi techniques with creative design touches to create a truly special handmade friend. The combination of soft plush yarn, dimensional head sculpting, and sweet decorative elements makes this elephant both huggable and display-worthy. Whether you're creating Nina as a gift for a little one or as a charming addition to your own collection, this pattern offers a rewarding crochet experience with beautiful results. The attention to detail in the trunk shaping, facial features, and lovely dress will make your finished elephant a treasured keepsake. Happy crocheting and enjoy watching Nina come to life! 🐘💕

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What type of yarn works best for this pattern?

The pattern is designed for plush yarn like Himalaya Dolphin Baby, which creates a wonderfully soft and cuddly texture. You can substitute with any similar weight plush or chenille yarn, but keep in mind that different yarn types may affect the final size and texture of your elephant.

Can I skip the head sculpting step?

While you can skip it, the head sculpting is what gives Nina her distinctive sweet facial expression and dimensional cheeks. It's a relatively simple technique that makes a big difference in the final appearance, so I'd recommend giving it a try even if you're new to this method.

How do I prevent holes when joining the legs to the body?

Make sure to follow the instructions about using the yarn tail from the left leg to sew any gaps that appear. Working your stitches snugly and checking for holes as you go will help. You can also use a small amount of matching yarn to close any gaps after completing the body rounds.

What if I want to make Nina in different colors?

Absolutely! You can customize Nina with any color combination you like. Consider keeping the body and head in one main color and choosing coordinating colors for the dress and flower accents. Pastel colors work beautifully, but bold or neutral tones can create stunning results too.

Is this pattern suitable for beginners?

This is an intermediate pattern that requires familiarity with basic crochet stitches, working in rounds, and techniques like back loops only. If you're a confident beginner who has completed a few amigurumi projects, you should be able to tackle this with the detailed instructions provided.