If one animal was simply born to be crocheted, it is the crochet elephant. Those big floppy ears, that curl of a trunk, that round and squeezable tummy — an elephant works as everything from a nursery plushie to a baby lovey, and it looks just as sweet in classic grey as it does in blush pink, lilac or soft sage. Elephants are also the gift that never misses: they stand for luck, wisdom and never forgetting the people you love.
So I have gathered twenty of my favourite elephant makes for you, every single one genuinely free: huggable amigurumi in every size, four snuggly loveys, a rattle for tiny hands, a giant nursery pillow, three quick appliqués and a C2C blanket for graph lovers. I have noted the yarn, the size and the honest little details for each one as we go — including the few where the free version comes with a sign-up or an optional paid PDF, so there are no surprises. Pick your favourite, and let's make a whole parade.
1. Blossom, the Big Huggable Elephant
We are starting with the elephant everyone wants to hug first. Blossom was designed for Marly Bird by Megan Kreiner — yes, the Disney animator — and her character-design magic shows in every curve: a trunk shaped with clever short rows so it curls like a real one, a gently shaped forehead, sunken eyes full of expression, and optional extras like tusks, a flower crown and even false eyelashes. She stands a generous 14 inches tall in super bulky yarn on a big 9 mm hook, which means she works up far faster than her size suggests. The full pattern is free on the blog, with an optional ad-free PDF if you prefer printing. It is rated intermediate for the short rows and seaming, and she is worth every stitch.
Pattern: Blossom the Elephant by Megan Kreiner for Marly Bird — Get the free pattern
2. Ella the Elephant Lovey With the Round Blanket
Tamara Kelly's Ella is the lovey I gift at every baby shower, because she looks like she is twirling. Her little head, ears and trunk are crocheted first, then the round blanket is worked outwards from the base of her head in rings of doubles and shallow post stitches, growing to a lovely 21 inches across in grey, white and lemon. The complete pattern is free on Moogly, with an optional ad-free PDF if you like to work from paper. Tamara's tip to embroider the eyes is the one I always follow for babies, and the colour rings make this a wonderful stash-buster — any three soft shades from your basket will do beautifully.
Pattern: Ella the Elephant Lovey by Tamara Kelly at Moogly — Get the free pattern
3. Ellie the Elephant Lovey With the Star Blanket
This Ellie from Loops and Love Crochet sits on a star-shaped blanket, and those six points are made with cluster V-stitches that are far easier than they look. The amigurumi parts — head, trunk, two-tone ears and arms — are worked on a 3.5 mm hook, then the star blanket is crocheted separately on a 5 mm hook and everything is sewn together; laid flat, the blanket measures about 17 inches wide. The full pattern is free on her site, with an optional paid PDF on Etsy and Ravelry. Worked in worsted weight yarn in dove grey with a cornflower blanket like her sample, it is a modern, unisex baby gift that photographs beautifully for the nursery reveal.
Pattern: Ellie the Elephant Lovey by Loops and Love Crochet — Get the free pattern
4. The One-Piece Elephant Lovey for Beginners
If seams make you nervous, this is your lovey. The Blue Elephants' design grows its 12 by 12 inch granny-style blanket directly out of the bottom of the head, so the whole lovey is one sturdy piece with nothing that can work loose in little hands — only the ears and trunk are sewn on. It is a genuine beginner pattern, worked in two hook sizes with simple single and double crochet, and the sample in sky blue Caron Simply Soft with its shell border is as fresh as a spring morning. The full pattern is written out free on the page, with an optional inexpensive printable PDF in her shops if you prefer one. Sweet, simple and safe — the lovey trifecta.
Pattern: Elephant Lovey by The Blue Elephants — Get the free pattern
5. The Hug Me Elephant Lovey
Nicole Chase named this one perfectly, because the Hug Me lovey genuinely looks like it is reaching out for a cuddle. The trunk and head are crocheted as one continuous piece — no awkward join at the neck — the two-tone ears fold down softly at the top, and the round blanket ripples out in grey, teal and white with pretty V-stitch rounds. It is an advanced beginner pattern with step-by-step tutorial photos for every stage, and the complete pattern is free on her blog, with an optional ad-free PDF available. She also reminds makers to embroider the features if the lovey is for a baby, which is exactly the kind of thoughtful detail I love to pass along.
Pattern: Hug Me Elephant Lovey by Nicole Chase — Get the free pattern
6. The Giant Elephant Pillow for the Nursery
Now for the elephant that doubles as furniture. Heart Hook Home took her little Webster elephant bookmark and scaled him up into a pillow a whopping 34 inches around, 22 inches from ear to ear and about 10 inches tall — a proper nursery statement piece. The secret is triple-stranding blanket yarn and working with a huge 15 mm hook, so despite the size he grows surprisingly quickly in simple spiral rounds. The full pattern is free on her page, eyes and all, and there is no PDF or sign-up involved. In soft grey he suits any nursery; in blush or mustard he becomes the piece everyone asks about. Big hook, big yarn, biggest cuddles on this list.
Pattern: Elephant Pillow by Heart Hook Home — Get the free pattern
7. Meimei, the Tiny No-Sew Baby Elephant
Meimei means "little sister," and Dedri Uys' baby elephant is exactly that: just 11 centimetres from front to back, crocheted from less than 60 metres of DK yarn. Her cleverest trick is that there is no sewing at all — head, body and tail are worked continuously, and the ears and legs are attached as you go, so her little limbs can actually move and she can sit or stand. Short rows shape her trunk and brow, and there is an optional tiny rug for her back worked in waistcoat and crab stitch. The full pattern is free on Look At What I Made; Dedri happily allows small-scale selling of finished Meimeis as long as you credit her as the designer.
Pattern: Meimei the Baby Elephant by Dedri Uys at Look At What I Made — Get the free pattern
8. Edgar, the One-Skein Elephant
Edgar is the stash-friendly elephant of my dreams: one single skein of Lion Brand Homespun and a K hook, and you have a soft, squishy friend with the loveliest nubby texture. Meg works the body in joined rounds — invisible in that textured yarn — then cleverly splits the bottom of the body into two legs, so there is far less sewing than most plushies need. His trunk gets its gentle curve from a few stitches pulled tight, and Meg finishes him with an optional little fabric bow tie that I find completely irresistible. The full pattern is free on Meg Made With Love. In the marled grey-blue "Clouds" colourway he looks like a vintage toy-shop treasure.
Pattern: Edgar the Elephant by Meg Made With Love — Get the free pattern
9. Elzo, the Elephant in Striped Swim Shorts
Elzo is ready for the beach before you are. Chai Coffee Crochet's first-ever amigurumi design stands about 8 inches tall in DK yarn, with his legs and body crocheted in one piece, his arms, tusks and trunk worked in as you go, and a pair of striped swimming shorts built right into the body rounds — just the tail and those big floppy ears need sewing. The full pattern is free on their site; it is for personal use only, although finished elephants may be sold in small quantities with credit to the designers, and an optional ad-free PDF is sold on Ravelry. Swap the shorts colours for every holiday and you will soon have a whole beach parade.
Pattern: Elzo the Elephant by Chai Coffee Crochet — Get the free pattern
10. Lainey, the Velvet Elephant
Hands That Bless designed this sweetheart for a niece who adored elephants, and the love shows. Worked in Baby Bee velvet yarn with a 5.5 mm hook, Lainey finishes about 8 inches tall and 10 inches long — long body, sturdy legs, and ears crocheted as proper little domes. Every body part is made separately and sewn together, and the page walks you through each stitch with refresher instructions, so confident beginners can absolutely follow along even though it is labelled intermediate. Her sample is a glorious sugarplum purple, and there is a suggestion to add a flower crown for baby girls. The complete pattern is free on the page, no downloads or sign-ups needed.
Pattern: Crochet Elephant (Lainey) by Hands That Bless — Get the free pattern
11. The Flip Flop Elephant in Velvet Yarn
Sara at Darling Maple Designs built her Flip Flop series around Bernat Velvet, and the elephant might be the squishiest of them all. Head and body are crocheted in one piece, and you can choose to sew the limbs on or crochet them in as you go — her videos walk you through both — so this is a friendly make for advanced or adventurous beginners. The long trunk and two-part ears give him real elephant presence, and as a bonus the pattern includes a free Christmas hat and scarf to dress him up, which you can recolour for every holiday on the calendar. The full pattern is free on her page, with an optional inexpensive ad-free PDF on Ravelry and Etsy.
Pattern: Flip Flop Elephant by Sara at Darling Maple Designs — Get the free pattern
12. Ollie, the Big Bernat Blanket Elephant
If you want maximum squish for minimum effort, Ollie is your elephant. This Bernat design is worked in squishy Bernat Blanket yarn with nothing fancier than single crochet, increases and decreases, and it finishes a big, huggable 18 inches long and 12 inches tall — the kind of plush that gets dragged around the house by one ear. It is rated easy, so it is a lovely first big toy for a newer crocheter, and the pattern is a completely free download on Yarnspirations with no sign-up required at all. Make him in classic grey, or go gloriously off-script in mint, lilac or butter yellow. Some elephants are heirlooms; Ollie is a best friend.
Pattern: Ollie the Elephant by Bernat at Yarnspirations — Get the free pattern
13. Florence, the Elephant With Her Hands in Her Pockets
Florence has more personality in her pockets than most elephants have in their whole trunk. Zamiguz's design stands about 13 inches tall in mercerised cotton, dressed in built-in overalls with her little hands actually tucked into the pockets, puff-stitch toes peeking out below and embroidered eyelids that give her the sweetest sleepy expression. She was once a premium pattern and is now offered free on the blog when you sign up there — a small step, and completely worth it; an inexpensive PDF bundle is also sold if you prefer. She is an intermediate make with plenty of step-by-step photos, and her crisp stitch definition makes her a real showpiece for your shelf or market stall.
Pattern: Florence the Elephant by Zamiguz — Get the free pattern
14. The Elephant Head for Mobiles and Wall Art
Not every elephant needs a body. Robyn Chachula's elephant head for Marly Bird finishes about 6.5 inches wide and 4.5 inches long — the perfect size for a nursery mobile, a safari wall hanging, a garland, or the front of a baby cardigan. The head and trunk are shaped in one continuous spiral with clever slip-stitch short rows that give the trunk its downward curve, the ears fold at the tip, and the eyes are simply satin-stitched on, so it is completely baby-safe. It is an adventurous-beginner pattern in worsted weight yarn, the full instructions are free on the blog, and an optional ad-free PDF is available if you want one. Make a whole safari of heads and string them up!
Pattern: Elephant Head by Robyn Chachula for Marly Bird — Get the free pattern
15. The Mini Elephant Amigurumi
Small elephant, enormous charm. Loops and Love Crochet's mini elephant stands about 7.5 inches tall with its legs dangling, with the head and body worked in one piece, a trunk that curves thanks to two cleverly placed decrease rounds, and two-tone ears with a sweet little fold stitched at the top. The sample is made in a soft chenille yarn for extra plushness, but ordinary worsted cotton or acrylic works just as well, and at roughly 140 yards total it is a brilliant leftover-yarn project. The full pattern is free on her site, with an optional paid PDF on Etsy and Ravelry. Make one for a desk, then make a whole herd in rainbow colours for party favours.
Pattern: Mini Elephant Amigurumi by Loops and Love Crochet — Get the free pattern
16. The Elephant Baby Rattle on a Wooden Ring
Here is the make for the very smallest elephant fans. Sara at Raffamusa Designs shapes the head, trunk and mouth as one single clever piece — the mouth is sculpted afterwards with a few needle passes — then sews on two big ears and mounts the head firmly onto a natural wooden teething ring. Worked in sport cotton on a 3 mm hook, the head is only about 7 centimetres tall, just right for tiny hands to grip and shake. The full pattern is free on her blog, and she includes sensible safety notes, including embroidering the eyes instead of using plastic ones. As a baby-shower gift paired with a lovey from this list, it is handmade perfection.
Pattern: Elephant Baby Rattle by Sara at Raffamusa Designs — Get the free pattern
17. The Lovable Elephant Appliqué With a Heart Ear
Rachel Choi's little appliqué has my whole heart — mostly because its ear is an actual heart. The elephant is crocheted seamlessly in the round from the centre outwards, trunk and all, finishing just 3 inches wide and 2 and a quarter inches tall from about 10 yards of medium weight yarn; then the contrasting heart-shaped ear is sewn on as the finishing touch. The full pattern is free on Crochet Spot. Because it works up in minutes, you can make a whole parade in different colours for a baby blanket, a tote bag, a hat or a set of birthday cards. It is labelled intermediate, but honestly, if you can crochet in the round, you can make this tonight.
Pattern: Lovable Elephant Applique by Rachel Choi at Crochet Spot — Get the free pattern
18. The Elephant Face Appliqué From the Train Series
Kerri Brown designed this elephant face as one carriage of her crochet train series, and it is the most detailed appliqué on this list: a round head, a long tapered trunk, two gathered ears, separate little eyes and even a pair of tiny tusks, all assembled into one characterful face. The complete pattern is free on her page in US terms, with a video tutorial alongside, and an optional PDF on Ravelry for a dollar if you like printables. Kerri works hers in fine cotton on a 1.25 mm hook for a miniature finish, but the same pattern in DK or worsted yarn gives you a bigger face for blankets, bunting and nursery wall art. All aboard!
Pattern: Elephant Face Appliqué by Kerri Brown at Kerri’s Crochet — Get the free pattern
19. E Is for Elephant Appliqué
The famous crochet alphabet series would not be complete without an E, and this elephant appliqué is a small marvel of economy: the whole body — feet, trunk and tail included — is formed in one final clever round, then a simple half-circle ear is sewn on and a French knot makes the eye. It is worked in worsted weight yarn on a G hook, and the full pattern is free on Repeat Crafter Me. Her samples come in dusty blue and in pink, because as she rightly says, pink elephants are cute too. Sew one onto a baby onesie, a library tote or the corner of a blanket, or make the whole alphabet for a playroom wall.
Pattern: E is for Elephant Appliqué by Repeat Crafter Me — Get the free pattern
20. The Elephant Love C2C Blanket
We are finishing with the blanket makers. Ariana Wimsett at Magic Yarn Pixels has charted the sweetest elephant — complete with a little heart — on a 100 by 80 square graph in greys, soft green and pink, designed for corner-to-corner crochet but just as happy worked as mini C2C, tapestry or single crochet graphghan. Here is the honest part: the chart itself is the free download on her page, while the full written row-by-row pattern is sold in her Etsy and Patreon shops — if you are comfortable following a graph and counting colour blocks, the free chart is all you need. As a nursery blanket or wall hanging, it is a true heirloom piece, and the design is for personal, non-commercial use.
Pattern: Elephant Love C2C Blanket by Ariana Wimsett at Magic Yarn Pixels — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
And that is twenty elephants, my friend — giant pillows and pocket-sized plushies, twirling loveys and a teething rattle, appliqués that take ten minutes and a blanket that becomes an heirloom. If you are making for a new baby, start with Ella, Ellie or the wooden-ring rattle; if you want a weekend project with real presence, Blossom and Ollie are calling your name; and if your yarn stash needs a tiny dent rather than a big one, Meimei uses less than 60 metres. Whichever you choose, remember the elephant's promise: handmade gifts are never forgotten.
Now tell me — are you team big huggable elephant or team tiny keepsake elephant, and which of these twenty is going on your hook first? I read every comment, and I cannot wait to see your parade!
