Crochet Applique – Elephant

If you’re looking for a cute and versatile elephant applique crochet pattern, you’re in the right place! This free crochet elephant applique is quick to make, beginner-friendly, and perfect for adding a sweet handmade touch to your projects. Whether you’re decorating a baby blanket, crochet bag, hat, or creating a fun children’s crochet project, this little elephant is sure to be a favorite.

Designed to use small amounts of yarn, this easy crochet applique is a great scrap yarn project and works up fast. Its simple shape makes it ideal for both beginner crocheters and more experienced makers looking for a quick, satisfying project. This crochet elephant applique pattern is perfect for nursery decor, baby gifts, and animal-themed crochet collections.

With this free crochet animal applique pattern, you can play with colors, sizes, and details to create your own adorable elephant design that fits perfectly into any handmade project.

Don’t forget to join my Facebook group HERE,  you can ask your questions, and share your finished projects. I will regularly ask you what pattern you would like to see next (or you can even suggest something even if I am not asking!).

I hope you enjoy this pattern and find it easy to follow. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out—I’ll do my best to help. And I would love to see your work! Please share your finished projects using #natalinacraft 💛

⭐ Important Update – Plush Yarn Option

This pattern can also be made using fluffy / plush yarn.
I used Premier Parfait Chunky (super bulky yarn, usually paired with an 8 mm / US L-11 hook), but I worked with a 4.5 mm (US 7) hook.

If you use plush yarn, I recommend replacing Round 1 of all circles:

Instead of: Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring, use: Round 1: ch 2, starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, make 6 sc. (6). Then continue with Round 2 as written.

Crochet Elephant Applique

Materials

• Yarn calling for a 5.5 mm hook in grey and blue
• Small amount of black pearl cotton (eyebrows)
• 3.5 mm crochet hook
• 2 black safety eyes (7.5 mm)
• Stitch markers (optional)
• Tapestry needle

What did I use?

Light worsted yarn.
I used “I Love This Cotton” in grey from Hobby Lobby and Rico Creative Cotton in light blue.

Abbreviations

• ch = chain
• mr = magic ring
• sc = single crochet
• inc = increase
• dec = invisible decrease
• sl st = slip stitch
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet

How to Crochet an Elephant Applique

The Head

Work in continuous rounds. Do not turn.
Use a stitch marker if needed.

With grey yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

• Round 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
• Round 2: inc 6 times. (12)
• Round 3: [1 sc in next st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (18)
• Round 4: [1 sc in next 2 st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (24)
• Round 5: [1 sc in next 3 st, 1 inc in next st] x6. (30)

Fasten off.

Eyes placement: between Rounds 2 and 3, spaced by 3 stitches.
Tip: You may want to wait until the ears are sewn on before attaching the safety eyes.

With black pearl cotton, embroider the eyebrows between Rounds 4 and 5, over 2 stitches.

The Ears (make 2)

Left Ear

With blue yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

• Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
• Round 2: [1 inc in all st]. (12)
• Round 3: [1 sc in the next st, 1 inc in the next st] x6. (18)

Change to grey yarn:

• Round 4: (2 sc, 1 inc) × 6. (24)
• Round 5:
  1 sc in next 4 sts,
  2 dc in next 2 sts,
  1 sc in next 8 sts,
  2 hdc in next 4 sts,
  1 sc in next 6 sts. (30)

Fasten off.

The dc stitches form the bottom of the ear, and the hdc stitches form the top.

Right Ear

With blue yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

• Round 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
• Round 2: inc in all sts. (12)
• Round 3: (1 sc, 1 inc) × 6. (18)

Change to grey yarn:

• Round 4: (2 sc, 1 inc) × 6. (24)
• Round 5:
  1 sc in next 6 sts,
  2 hdc in next 4 sts,
  1 sc in next 8 sts,
  2 dc in next 2 sts,
  1 sc in next 4 sts. (30)

Fasten off.

Sew the ears behind the head, aligning the sides of the head with the center of each ear.

Now you can attach the safety eyes.

The Trunk

With grey yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

• ch 3. (3)
• Row 1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in the next ch, 1 dc in the next ch. (2)
• Row 2: ch1, turn; 1 dc in the next st, 1 sc in the next st. (2)
• Row 3: ch1, turn; 1 sc in the st, 1 dc in the next st. (2)
• Row 4: ch1, turn; 1 dc in the next st, 1 sc in the next st. (2)
• Row 5: ch1, turn; 1 sc in the next 2 st. (2)
• Row 6: ch1, turn; 1 sc in the next 2 st. (2)
• Row 7: ch1, turn; 1 sc in the st, 1 dc in the next st. (2)
• Row 8: ch1, turn; 1 sc in the next 2 st. (2)

Fasten off and sew the trunk below the eyes.

The Body

With grey yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

• ch 7. (7)
• Row 1: starting from the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in the next 6 ch. (6)
• Row 2: ch1, turn; 1 inc, 1 sc in the next 4 st, 1 inc. (8)
• Rows 3 to 9: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (8)
• Row 10: ch1, turn; 1 dec, 1 sc in the next 4 st, 1 dec. (6)
• Rows 11 to 12: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (6)
• Row 13: ch1, turn; 1 sc in the next 2 st, 1 dec, 1 sc in the next 2 st. (5)
• Row 14: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (5)

Do not turn. Crochet 1 sc evenly all around (about 32 sts).
Tip: Don’t crochet too tightly—use a larger hook if needed.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Back Legs (make 2)

With blue yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

• Round 1: 5 sc in a magic ring. (5)
• Round 2: [1 inc in all st]. (10)

Change to grey yarn:

• Round 3: [1 sc in the next st, 1 inc in the next st] x5. (15)

Now work in rows:

• Row 4: 1 sc in the next 3 st. (3)
• Rows 5-6: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (3)

Fasten off.

Sew the back legs behind the body so that only the feet are visible from the front.

Front Legs (make 2)

With grey yarn and a 3.5 mm hook:

• Row 1: ch 4. (4)
• Row 2: starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in all st. (3)
• Rows 3 to 11: ch1, turn; 1 sc in all st. (3)

Fasten off.

With blue yarn, embroider 3 toenails at the bottom of each leg.
Sew the front legs to the body.

Final Assembly

Sew the head onto the body.

🎉 All done!
I hope you enjoyed making this crochet elephant appliqué. Don’t forget to share your work—it truly encourages me to create more free patterns 💛

Copyright Notice

All rights reserved. This pattern and all accompanying photographs are the property of Natalina Craft and are protected by copyright law. This pattern is for personal use only. Any unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or publication of this pattern, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern in small quantities. While crediting Natalina Craft as the designer is not required, it is always greatly appreciated—especially when selling online—so others can find the original pattern.
Thank you for respecting these guidelines.