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Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern

Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern
4.1★Rating
5-7 HoursTime Needed
2.3KMade This
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Intermediate Level

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

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Weekend Treat

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

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Whimsical Buddy

Playful characters full of personality, designed to spark imagination and become cherished playtime favorites.

About This Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern

Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view

This sweet elephant is the ultimate nursery companion or thoughtful baby shower gift. Her soft texture and gentle expression make her an instant favorite for anyone who loves a bit of handmade magic in their home.

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

I absolutely adore how this pattern uses eye sculpting to give Nina such a soulful expression—it really makes her come to life! The velvet texture is a dream to work with, and seeing the little ruffled skirt take shape is so satisfying. It’s the kind of project that makes you feel like a real amigurumi artist once you see all the pieces come together.

Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern step 1 Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern step 2 Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern step 3 Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern step 4

Switch Things Up

There is something so incredibly satisfying about working with plush yarn, isn't there? It’s like crocheting a literal cloud. When I first saw Nina, I knew she needed to be part of my collection. The way her little trunk curves and those oversized ears just melt my heart every time. If you've never tried head sculpting before, don't let it intimidate you! It’s the secret sauce that gives amigurumi that expressive, 'soulful' look. I remember being so nervous the first time I pulled the yarn through to indent the eyes, but seeing the personality pop out is just magical.

I personally love the contrast between the soft grey and the pop of purple on her dress. If you want to change things up, imagine her in a soft mint green or even a sunny yellow! The little flowers are the perfect finishing touch—they’re like tiny pieces of jewelry for your elephant. I usually make a few extra flowers to scatter around her feet when I’m displaying her on a shelf. It makes the whole scene feel like a little storybook illustration. Just take your time with the assembly, especially the trunk placement, and you'll have a new best friend in no time!

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ If you don't align the slip stitch rounds on the trunk correctly, it might point sideways instead of curving down naturally.✗ When joining the legs, failing to use the leftover yarn tail from the first leg can leave a noticeable hole in the crotch area.✗ Attaching the arms at Round 15 without checking their alignment against the legs can lead to a lopsided look from the front.✗ Pulling the eye sculpting threads too loosely won't create the desired depth, while pulling too hard might distort the head shape.

Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern

Get ready to create the softest, most huggable friend you've ever held! Nina isn't just another toy; she's a squishy masterpiece featuring a darling ruffled dress and tiny floral accents. You'll love how the velvet yarn works up into a substantial, high-quality plushie that feels like a warm hug. This project is perfect for when you want to practice your shaping and assembly skills while making something truly impressive.

Intermediate 5-7 Hours

Materials Needed for Nina the Plush Elephant Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Approximately 100g of grey plush yarn (weight 6) for the main body
  • 02
    Small amount of pink plush yarn for the dress and flower accents
  • 03
    Small amount of purple plush yarn for the dress trim and floral details
  • 04
    Fine black thread for stitching the eyebrows

— Tools Required

  • 01
    4.00 mm crochet hook
  • 02
    12 mm safety eyes
  • 03
    Polyester fiberfill stuffing
  • 04
    Long yarn needle for assembly and sculpting
  • 05
    Stitch markers
  • 06
    Scissors
  • 07
    Pink cosmetic blush for the cheeks

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— 1. Arms (Make 2) :

Round 1 :

Using grey yarn, start by placing 7 sc into a MR (7)

Round 2 :

Work 7 inc around the circle (14)

Round 3 :

Working in BLO, sc in each st (14)

Round 4 :

sc in every st (14)

Round 5 :

sc in every st (14)

Round 6 :

Repeat (5 sc, dec) 2 times (12)

Round 7 :

sc in every st (12)

Round 8 :

sc in every st (12)

Round 9 :

sc in every st (12)

Round 10 :

Repeat (2 sc, dec) 3 times (9)

Round 11 :

sc in every st (9)

Info :

Add stuffing to only the bottom two-thirds of the arm.

Round 12 :

Work 4 sc, then flatten the top of the arm and sc 4 through both layers to close. Fasten off.

— 2. Legs (Make 2) :

Round 1 :

Using grey yarn, place 8 sc into a MR (8)

Round 2 :

Work 8 inc around (16)

Round 3 :

Working in BLO, sc in every st (16)

Round 4 :

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

Round 5 :

sc in every st (18)

Round 6 :

sc in every st (18)

Round 7 :

sc in every st (18)

Round 8 :

sc in every st (18)

Info :

For the left leg: Work 15 sc in Round 9, then fasten off and leave a tail for closing any gaps later. For the right leg: Work 18 sc in Round 9, but do not cut the yarn.

— 3. Body :

Round 1 :

From the right leg, sc 5 more, ch 2, join to the left leg where you finished. sc 18 around left leg, 2 inc across the ch, sc 18 around right leg, 2 sc back across the ch. Place marker here at the back (42)

Round 2 :

sc in every st (42)

Round 3 :

sc in every st (42)

Round 4 :

sc in every st (42)

Colour Change :

Switch to pink yarn.

Round 5 :

sc in every st (42)

Round 6 :

Working in BLO, sc in every st (42)

Round 7 :

sc in every st (42)

Round 8 :

sc in every st (42)

Round 9 :

sc in every st (42)

Round 10 :

Repeat (5 sc, dec) 6 times (36)

Round 11 :

sc in every st (36)

Round 12 :

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

Round 13 :

sc in every st (30)

Round 14 :

Repeat (3 sc, dec) 6 times (24)

Info :

Work 1 or 2 extra sc if needed to ensure your marker is centered on the back before joining arms.

Round 15 :

4 sc, 4 sc joining the first arm through both layers, 8 sc, 4 sc joining the second arm through both layers, 4 sc (24)

Colour Change :

Switch back to grey yarn.

Round 16 :

Working in BLO, repeat (2 sc, dec) 6 times (18)

Round 17 :

sc in every st (18)

Info :

Secure the yarn and leave a long tail. Stuff the body firmly, adding extra to the neck area.

— 4. Dress Skirt & Neck Detail :

Info :

Turn the body upside down. Join pink yarn to the FLO of Round 6 on the body, starting at the back.

Round 1 :

ch 2, work 42 dc inc, sl st to join (84)

Colour Change :

Switch to purple yarn.

Round 2 :

ch 2, repeat (2 hdc inc, 3 hdc in one st) 28 times, sl st to join (196)

Neckline :

Join purple yarn to the FLO of Round 16 on the neck and work 24 sl st around. Fasten off and weave in ends.

— 5. Head & Trunk :

Round 1 :

Using grey yarn, place 7 sc into a MR (7)

Round 2 :

Working in BLO, sc in every st (7)

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 :

sc in every st (12)

Info :

Stuff the trunk firmly to maintain the curve.

Round 12 :

2 sc, 8 inc, 2 sc (20)

Round 13 :

2 sc, (sc, inc) 2 times, mark eye point, (sc, inc) 4 times, sc, mark eye point, (inc, sc) 2 times, sc (28)

Round 14 :

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

Round 15 :

Repeat (5 sc, inc) 6 times (42)

Round 16 :

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

Round 17 :

sc in every st (48)

Round 18 :

sc in every st (48)

Round 19 :

sc in every st (48)

Round 20 :

sc in every st (48)

Round 21 :

sc in every st (48)

Round 22 :

sc in every st (48)

Info :

Insert safety eyes at the marked positions.

Round 23 :

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

Round 24 :

Repeat (5 sc, dec) 6 times (36)

Round 25 :

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

Round 26 :

Repeat (3 sc, dec) 6 times (24)

Round 27 :

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

Round 28 :

Repeat (sc, dec) 6 times (12)

Round 29 :

6 dec (6). Fasten off and close.

— 6. Ears (Make 2) :

Round 1 :

Using grey yarn, place 6 sc into a MR (6)

Round 2 :

Work 6 inc (12)

Round 3 :

Repeat (sc, inc) 6 times (18)

Round 4 :

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

Round 5 :

Repeat (3 sc, inc) 6 times (30)

Round 6 :

sc in every st (30). Fold in half and sc 2 through both layers to pinch slightly. Fasten off with a long tail.

— 7. Tail & Flowers :

Tail :

Using grey yarn, ch 11. Starting in the second ch from hook, work 10 inc. Fasten off.

Flower R1 :

Using the center color (pink or purple), place 5 sc into a MR. Switch to the petal color.

Flower R2 :

Repeat (ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st) in each of the 5 st. Fasten off.

Assembly Instructions

  • Perform the eye sculpting by threading a needle through the base of the head (Round 17) up to the inner and outer corners of the eyes, pulling tight to create depth.
  • Stitch the ears to the sides of the head at Round 20, ensuring they are symmetrical.
  • Create the mouth by crocheting a ch 4 in grey and sewing it onto the face at Round 13.
  • Embroider the eyebrows using black thread between Rounds 16 and 17 of the head.
  • Secure the head to the body, sewing through Rounds 16-20 of the head and the final round of the body.
  • Attach the curly tail to the center back of the elephant at Round 5.
  • Sew the pink flowers near the base of the ears and the purple flower onto the front of the dress.

Important Notes

  • 💡When stuffing the body, focus on making the neck very firm to prevent the head from wobbling.
  • 💡Use a stitch marker at the back of the body to keep your leg and arm joins perfectly centered.
  • 💡The dress skirt is worked directly into the front loops of the body, so don't accidentally crochet through both loops.
  • 💡Apply the pink blush to the cheeks sparingly; you can always add more, but it's hard to remove!
  • 💡If the trunk curve isn't holding its shape, you can add a bit of pipe cleaner or wire, though stuffing firmly usually does the trick.

I can't wait to see the Nina elephants you all create! There’s nothing quite like the feeling of finishing that last stitch, weaving in the final tail, and seeing a character staring back at you. Whether she’s destined for a nursery shelf or a gift for a loved one, she’s sure to bring a lot of joy. Don't forget to add a little blush to her cheeks—it really brings her to life! Happy stitching, and I hope you enjoy every soft, squishy moment of this project. 🧶✨

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

Can I use a different yarn weight for this pattern?

How do I make the trunk curve more?

The curve is built into the pattern with the slip stitches on one side. To enhance it, make sure you stuff the trunk very firmly and slightly 'mold' it with your hands as you go.

My dress looks too short, what should I do?

The skirt starts at Round 6 of the body. If it looks short, ensure you are working into the correct round and that your hdc increases in the second skirt round are consistent to create that full ruffle.

Is the eye sculpting mandatory?

It's not mandatory, but it's highly recommended! Sculpting is what gives Nina her 'kawaii' look. Without it, the face will look flatter and less expressive.