Little Elephant

MATERIALS
– Any type of main colour yarn will do, just choose your needle size as appropriate to the yarn weight. Ideally you would like to create a fabric tight enough so that the stuffing does not show through.
– Small amount of contrast colour yarn for eyes
– Set of double pointed needles
– Stuffing
– Tapestry needle

Green Elephant was knit with US #4 double pointed needles and measures approx 7.5 cm (3 inches) from trunk to bum, 9 cm (3.5 inches) ear to ear.

Pink elephant was knit with US #6 double pointed needles and measures approx 12.5 cm (5 inches) from trunk to bum, 13.5 cm (5.25 inches) ear to ear.

ABBREVIATIONS
CO = Cast on
BO = Bind off
K = knit
KFB = knit into front and back of stitch
K2T = knit two together
SSK = slip 2 stitches individually as if to knit, then knit those 2 stitches together
M1 = Make 1
sts = stitches

DIRECTIONS
Legs – Knit in the round (make 4)
Using double-point needles, CO 8 sts. Divide sts evenly between needles, place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.
Round 1: [KFB] in each st. 16 sts.
Rounds 2-11: K all sts.
Round 12: BO4, K8, BO4. 8 sts. (Leave a 6 inch tail. This will be used to sew up legs later and will be conveniently in the center of BO stitches.)
Transfer live stitches to holder.

Head/Body – Knit in the round (make 1)
Divide live stitches from all four legs around 3 needles so that BO sts all face the center of triangle.
Needle 1: 8 stitches from leg one, 4 stitches from leg two
Needle 2: 4 stitches from leg two, 4 stitches from leg three
Needle 3: 4 stitches from leg three, 8 stitches from leg four

Rounds 1-2: K all sts.
Round 3: K2, K2T, K8, SSK, K4, K2T, K8, SSK, K2. 28 sts.
Round 4: K all sts.
Round 5: K1, K2T, K8, SSK, K2, K2T, K8, SSK, K1. 24 sts.
Round 6: K all sts.
Now would be a good time to pause, turn your knitting upside down on a table and sew the legs shut using the 6 inch tails you left when casting off earlier. There will be 4 short seems running from the center to the outside edge each joining 2 legs together at a time.
Round 7: K2T, K8, SSK, K2T, K8, SSK. 20 sts.
Round 8: K all sts.
Round 9: K9, K2T, K8, K2T.18 sts.
Stuff legs and body/head. Transfer the lone stitch from Needle 2 to the needle with 8 sts. There should now be two needles with 9 sts each. Kitchener stitch shut, leave approx 4 inch length of yarn at the end, this will form part of the elephants tail.

Trunk – Knit in the round (make 1)
CO 12 sts.
Needle 1: 5 sts.
Needle 2: 2 sts.
Needle 3: 5 sts.

Round 1: K all sts.
Round 2: K to last 2 sts, SSK. 11 sts.
Round 3: K all sts.
Round 4: K2T, K to end. 10 sts.
Round 5: K all sts.
Repeat Rounds 2-5 twice more. 6 sts.
K 4 rows
Cut yarn, thread tail through remaining stitches, gather and tie tightly. Stuff trunk and attach to body on opposite side from the length of yarn remaining from kitchenering the body.

Ears – Knit flat (make 2)
CO 6 sts.
Purl 1st and all odd numbered rows.
Row 2: K2, M1, K2, M1, K2. 8 sts.
Row 4: K3, M1, K2, M1, K3. 10 sts.
Row 6: K4, M1, K2, M1, K4. 12 sts.
Row 8: K5, M1, K2, M1, K5. 14 sts.
Rows 10: K all sts.
Row 12: K all sts.
Row 14: K all sts.
Row 16: K4, K2T, K2, SSK, K4. 12 sts.
Row 18: K3, K2T, K2, SSK, K3. 10 sts.
Row 20: K2, K2T, K2, SSK, K2. 8 sts.
Row 22: K, K2T, K2, SSK, K. 6 sts.
Row 24: BO all sts.
Fold ear in half so that CO and BO edges are together. Sew together side seams (do not stuff), attach to body.

Finishing
Using tapestry needle and an 8 inch length of main colour, pull yarn through the last stitch that was kitchenered on top of the body so that 4 inches dangles on either side. Use this and yarn end left from kitchenering body shut to braid a short tail. Use a contrast colour to embroider eyes. Your little elephant is complete!