ELEPHANT COMFORTER
Cosy and cuddly, Becky Skuse’s elephant comforter is an easy way to soothe your baby’s snooze
YOU WILL NEED
■ Sirdar Snuggle Baby Bamboo (80% bamboo, 20% wool, 50g/95m), 1 ball of each:
Yarn A Nellie (099)
Yarn B Lemonade (116)
■ A 3.5mm (US E/4) hook
■ Toy stuffing
■ Stitch markers
■ Black stranded cotton
For yarn stockists contact Sirdar 01924 231682 www.sirdar.co.uk TENSION
Tension is not critical for this project, but it may affect the yarn quantities required
MEASUREMENTS
Elephant Snuggle Comforter measures 13x13cm (5x5in)
ABBREVIATIONS
inv dec (invisible decrease) Insert hook under front loop only of next 2 sts, yrh and pull up a loop, yrh and pull through both loops on hook (alternatively work a dc2tog)
For a full list, see page 92
Any parent with long hair will know the surprising power of an infant’s grabby fist. Spare your tresses and let this sleepy elephant take the strain. Be sure to block the square after hooking to keep it smooth.
NOTES
Comforter is worked in rounds, changing colour each round by fastening off working yarn and joining new yarn into any corner ch-2 sp.
Elephant is worked using the amigurumi method. Work in a continuous spiral without closing off each round with a slip stitch. You may find it helpful to place a stitch marker in the first st of each round moving it up as you work.
COMFORTER
Using Yarn A, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr throughout), (2tr, ch2) into loop, (3tr, ch2) 3 times into the loop, ss to top of beg ch-3. [12 tr, 4 ch-2 sps]
Fasten o Yarn A. Join Yarn B into any ch-2 sp.
Round 2 Ch3, (tr, ch2, 2tr) into same ch-2 sp, *tr in each st across to next ch-2 sp, (2tr, ch2, 2tr) in ch-2 sp; rep from * around, ss to top of beg ch-3. [28 tr, 4 ch-2 sps]
Fasten o Yarn B. Join Yarn A into any ch-2 sp.
Rounds 3-7 As Round 2 alternating colour for each round. [108 tr, 4 ch-2 sps]
Fasten o .
ELEPHANT
HEAD
Head is worked from the tip of the trunk to the back of the Head.
Using Yarn A, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1 (does not count as a stitch throughout), 6dc into the loop. [6 dc]
Rounds 2-6 Dc in each st around.
Round 7 2dc in each st around. [12 dc]
Round 8 (Dc in next st, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [18 dc]
Round 9 (Dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next st) 6 times. [24 dc]
Rounds 10-12 Dc in each st around.
Round 13 (Dc in next 2 sts, inv dec) 6 times. [18 sts]
Tuck in starting tail and stu , continue stu ng as you work.
Round 14 (Dc in next st, inv dec) 6 times. [12 sts]
Round 15 (Inv dec) 6 times. [6 sts]
Fasten o and use tail to close nal round. Weave in ends.
EARS MAKE 2
Using Yarn A and leaving a long tail at the beginning, make a magic loop.
Row 1 (RS) Ch1, dc, 2htr, 2tr, 2dtr, 2tr into loop. [9 sts]
Do not close o the round with a ss but pull tail
The head is worked from the trunk back, so you’ll finish by pulling in the last few stitches
Stitch black stranded cotton into a pair of shut peepers to make baby-safe closed eyes tight to close magic loop. Fasten o leaving a long tail.
ARMS MAKE 2
Using Yarn A, make a magic loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch1, 6dc into the loop. [6 dc]
Round 2 (2dc in next st, dc in next st) 6 times. [9 dc]
Rounds 3-8 Dc into each st around.
Fasten o leaving a long tail.
TO FINISH
Use the image as a guide. Stitch tip of trunk to base of Head. Attach Ears to sides of Head and sew short sts on Head to create eyes using the black stranded cotton.
Cut approx 20cm of Yarn A and secure to base of Head with a knot. Sew Head to centre of Comforter. Do not fasten o yet.
Push beg tail inside Arm and stu bottom of Arm only. Flatten top of Arm and stitch it closed. Tuck top of Arms between Head and Comforter, on sides of Head, and sew to Comforter.
Use leftover tail from securing Head to Comforter to secure Head, Arms and Comforter together.
Weave in all ends.