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Introduction
Download a free teddy bear pattern “Small Elephant” and get a free teddy bear pattern tutorial “Small Elephant”, the list of materials and guidance for making a teddy elephant and his outfit (the knitted hat).
Find more free teddy bear clothes patterns – a hat, a jacket, a dress, another jacket, and another dress.
If you are going to create your first teddy bear and you do not know about technics, please read this post and this one.
List of Materials
I was making these elephants from different colored pieces of German viscose Steiff Schulte with a pile length of 6 mm. You can also use fur fabric for miniature teddies.
The full size of the elephant is 12 cm, and he is 10 cm in his sitting position.
Materials:
1. 1/16 piece (25×35 cm) of viscose with a fur length of 6 mm.
2. Strong threads, the same color as your fabric, and a needle for hand sewing.
3. Scissors for cutting fabrics.
4. A pair of blue glass eyes with pupils on a metal loop – 6 mm in diameter.
5. Waxed thread.
6. An awl.
7. Synthetic filler.
8. Metal or glass pellets for the weight (small diameter).
9. Cotton fabric for the ears and feet.
10. Oil paints and brushes.
11. Pins.
12. Discs 12 mm diameter – 6 pieces for the head and hands. Discs 15 mm in diameter – 4 pieces for the legs.
13. Washers 12 mm diameter – 10 pieces.
14. T-shaped cotter pins 1,6×20 – 5 pieces.
15. Pliers like this one.
16. For the hat: yarn and knitting needles. Or if you do not know knitting take a small piece of knitted fabric and sew thread of the same color.
Step-By-Step Pattern Tutorial
When printing a pattern, pay attention to the scale (indicated in the figure).
Arrange the pattern pieces on the fabric so that the direction of the fur matches the arrows.
Leave 5-7 mm for seam allowances.
Before I start sewing, I pluck a little lint at the ends of the arms and legs with tweezers to give them some shape.
Well, let’s start our work:
Step 1: Sew up all the tucks (marked in green).
Step 2: Sew the two sides of the head (1 + 1 mirror) along the marks from A to B.
Step 3: Sew the back part of the head with the sides of the head along the marks from A to C. Leave the opening for eversion unsewn (highlighted with a red dotted line).
Step 4: Sew together body parts (1+1 mirror). Leave the opening for the eversion unsewn (highlighted with a red dotted line).
Step 5: Sew the outer and inner parts of the arms (1+1 mirror). Leave the opening for the eversion unsewn (highlighted with a red dotted line).
Step 6: Sew the outer and inner parts of the legs (1 + 1 mirror). Leave the opening for the eversion unsewn (highlighted with a red dotted line).
Step 7: Sew on the feet.
Step 8: Sew the ears (1 viscose part + 1 cotton part).
Making Teddy Elephant
Turn out the finished parts of the elephant using a wooden stick with a blunt end.
Stuff the toy’s head tightly with synthetic filler. To do this, use a wooden stick with a blunt end. Be careful not to pierce the fabric.
Insert the disc with a cotter pin into the hole and tighten with waxed thread and needle.
Set the eyes. Use an awl to make holes for the eyes. Pass the waxed thread through the metal loop above the eyelet. Pass both ends of the thread through the eye of a long needle. Use pliers to squeeze the loop lightly.
Do not use force, otherwise, the glass eye may crack. Insert a long needle with thread and an eye into the hole you made with the awl. Bring the needle from the bottom of the head to the cotter pin and secure it.
Do the same with the second eye. Hide all the threads.
Attach the ears to the head.
Insert the head into the body of the elephant (according to the mark on the pattern) and secure the cotter pin.
Insert discs with cotter pins inside of the limb. Fill the limbs with the synthetic filler and sew up the holes.
Connect all the body parts together, then stuff the body. Add some metal or glass pellets for weight and sew up the hole.
I you like you can add the tail. I decided not to add a tail as this elephant looks more like a character than a real animal. And with the characters, you can do what you want, as much as your fantasy flies.
Final Touches
Remove the pile from all seams using an awl or needle and comb the toy with a special metal brush. In the area of the seams, comb in different directions.
Tone the elephant in the area of eyes, ears, and limbs. Use the colors you like best. These can be pastels, oil paints, fabric paints, and felt-tip pens for fabric. I use oil paints.
Always start tinting with a transition from light to dark tones.
Let your toy dry, and then add some cute patches to it.
Congratulations! Your small elephant is ready!
How To Make His Hat – 2 Easy Ways
If you know how to knit hats on circular needles, then this tutorial part will not be useful to you. It is for beginners.
The way №1. If you do not know knitting you take a piece of knitted fabric, fold the edge so that the fabric does not fray, sew it on one side, and tighten it at the top. Overlock the seam. The hat is ready!
Even better will be if you find a piece of knitted fabric with an elasticated edge. In such a case you do not need to fold the edge.
The way №2. If you know at least the basics of knitting, then you can knit a hat like mine.
To do this, first knit a trial small canvas and count how many loops there are per 1 cm.
Then measure the circumference of the elephant’s head and multiply by the number of loops in one centimeter.
Then add 2-3 more loops to the resulting number.
For example, in 1 cm you have 5 loops. The perimeter of the elephant’s head is 12 cm.
We consider 5×12=60,
60+2=62
In total, we need 62 loops. Please note that this is not an exact calculation, but only an example of how to count. The exact numbers depend on your yarn and the size of your knitting needles.
Now tie an even rectangular or square fabric. Sew it on one side (this will be the back seam) and pull it off at the top.
The hat is ready!
You also can add to your elephant a scarf, a ribbon, or a charm pendant to finish his look.
Congratulations!
So, now you know how to make a teddy elephant and how to sew or knit a hat for him.
If you know other easy ways for beginners to make knitted hats it will be very pleasant for me to read in the comments below.
Feel free to sell elephants made from this pattern. I will be pleased if you mention my name.
If you ever need a hand or have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below and I will be more than happy to help you out.
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How to download a pattern:
- From a computer (Windows).
Click on the photo of the pattern, and select the “Save image as …” option. - From a phone or a tablet (Android). There should be something similar for the iPad.
Click on the image. Save it by holding your finger on the image and selecting the “Save As” option. Then go to your photo gallery and print it (there is an option).
