Elephant Dreams Crochet Lovey Free Pattern
Introduction
Meet the Elephant Dreams Lovey, a sweet little companion made for babies, toddlers, and anyone who loves a soft handmade snuggle. It pairs a plump gray amigurumi elephant head with a flat pink double crochet square, so little hands have something to hold while the blanket stays light and breathable. The head is firmly stuffed and about 5 inches tall, with floppy flattened ears, a gently curving trunk, and simple embroidered eyes that are safe for napping. Worked in worsted weight acrylic, it comes out soft, squishy, and easy to wash, which makes it a practical gift for a new baby or a first-birthday present.
Materials Needed
- Yarn: Worsted weight (4) acrylic yarn — 150 yards gray (A), 200 yards pink (B), small amount white (C) for eyes, small amount black (D) for pupils.
- Hooks: 4 mm (G-6) for the head, trunk, ears, and eyes; 5.5 mm (I-9) for the blanket.
- Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, polyester fiberfill stuffing, small amount of black embroidery floss or yarn for pupils.
- Finished size: Approximately 14 inches (35.5 cm) square including the blanket; head about 5 inches (12.7 cm) tall.
Abbreviations
- MR — magic ring: an adjustable loop you work the first stitches into.
- sc — single crochet.
- dc — double crochet.
- ch — chain.
- sl st — slip stitch.
- inc — increase: work 2 sc in the same stitch.
- dec — decrease: work 2 sc together into one stitch.
- sp — space (usually a ch-2 space).
- FO — fasten off.
- sts — stitches.
- rnd(s) — round(s).
Gauge
With the 4 mm hook: 20 sc x 20 rnds = 4 inches (10 cm) in amigurumi; with the 5.5 mm hook: 12 dc x 6 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in the blanket. To check, crochet a small swatch in each hook size and measure a 4-inch section in the middle — if your stitches are bigger than the gauge, drop down a hook size so the head and blanket come out at the listed size.
Tips Before You Start
- Work the head, trunk, ears, and eyes in continuous spiral rounds without joining — place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round so you never lose your place.
- Stuff the head firmly before the final decrease round so it holds a round shape, but stuff the trunk only lightly so it stays soft and can curve downward.
- Use a tight, even tension on the amigurumi pieces so the stuffing does not show through; the blanket is worked more loosely for drape.
- Sew the eyes on securely with the white yarn and embroider the pupils with black, rather than using plastic safety eyes, so the lovey stays soft and nap-safe.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Head (A, 4 mm hook)
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).
Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).
Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).
Rnd 5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts).
Rnds 6-12: sc in each st around (30 sts).
Rnd 13: [3 sc, dec] x6 (24 sts).
Rnd 14: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts).
Rnd 15: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts). Stuff firmly.
Rnd 16: dec x6 (6 sts). FO, close the opening.
Trunk (A, 4 mm hook)
Rnd 1: MR, 4 sc (4 sts).
Rnd 2: inc x4 (8 sts).
Rnds 3-4: sc in each st around (8 sts).
Rnd 5: [sc, inc] x4 (12 sts).
Rnds 6-8: sc in each st around (12 sts).
Rnd 9: [2 sc, dec] x3 (9 sts).
Rnds 10-12: sc in each st around (9 sts).
Rnd 13: [sc, dec] x3 (6 sts). FO, leaving a long tail. Stuff lightly, then sew to the head at Rnds 6-8, curving downward.
Ears (make 2, A, 4 mm hook)
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts).
Rnd 2: inc x6 (12 sts).
Rnd 3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts).
Rnd 4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts).
Rnds 5-8: sc in each st around (24 sts).
Rnd 9: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts).
Rnd 10: sc in each st around (18 sts). FO, leaving a long tail. Flatten each ear and sew to the sides of the head at Rnds 5-7.
Eyes (make 2, C, 4 mm hook)
Rnd 1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts). FO, leaving a long tail. Sew to the head above the trunk. With D, embroider a small pupil in the center of each eye.
Blanket (B, 5.5 mm hook)
Set-up: Ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring.
Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, [ch 2, 3 dc in ring] x3, ch 2, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (12 dc, 4 ch-2 sps).
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 dc, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in ch-2 sp, dc in next 3 dc] x3, 2 dc, ch 2, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (28 dc).
Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in each dc around, [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in each ch-2 sp, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (44 dc).
Rnds 4-10: Repeat Rnd 3, working [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in each ch-2 corner space and 1 dc in every dc, increasing 16 dc each round (60, 76, 92, 108, 124, 140, 156 dc). FO at the end of Rnd 10 (156 dc).
Assembly and Finishing
Sew the head to the center of the blanket, using the long tail and stitching all the way around the base of the head so it sits flat and secure. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, tucking the blanket ends under the stitches. Block the blanket lightly by misting it with water and pinning it into a square to dry, which opens up the double crochet stitches and evens the corners; do not block the stuffed head.
Pro Tips and Variations
- Swap the pink blanket for soft blue, mint, or a self-striping yarn for a different look, or add a simple sc border in gray around the blanket edge to tie the colors together.
- Work the ears in a lighter gray or add a small pink inner ear oval for extra charm.
- Make a matching mini blanket in the same stitch pattern for a stroller-sized set, or add a small ribbon loop at one corner for hanging.
