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Today, we’re excited to make a sweet felt elephant plushie that’s perfect for kids ages 6 and up (with a bit of adult help)! This beginner project is a great way to dive into sewing, and create something fun without being too complicated for beginners. Ready? Let’s get started!
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What You’ll Need:
- Felt (I used gray and white
- Free Elephant pattern (link below)
- Markers (or similar) for tracing
- Embroidery floss (try to match the colors to your felt, I used gray, white and black)
- Needle with the big eye / Embroidery Needle (a child-friendly one works best)
- Scissors
- Stuffing (polyester filler, scrap felt, or even ripped-up plastic grocery bags)
(Two pattern options below, one with an image of the finished project, one without)
Before we begin, make sure you grab the free pattern, print it out, and let’s get tracing! This pattern includes the elephant’s body, legs, ears, truck, and tail.
[Free Printable Felt Elephant Pattern For Beginners – Simple Easy Hand Sew Project for Kids]
Click Image To Download and Print
Click Image to Download and Print
Step 1: Trace and Cut
First, place the pattern pieces on your felt and trace around them using a marker. A sharpie works best for good visibility on felt. Don’t forget to flip the pattern for any pieces that need to be traced twice; this ensures they match up nicely when sewn together. After tracing, carefully cut out your felt pieces, trimming away any visible marker lines. (Keep the scraps; they’re perfect for stuffing!)
Step 2: Add Eyes
Stitch the Eyes:
To sew on the eyes, start by knotting one end of your embroidery floss. Push the needle from the back of the elephant’s body to the front where you want the eye. Secure it with a “knot stitch” by pulling the thread tight and tying a small knot. If you prefer larger eyes, you can stitch a few more times—three stitches usually do the trick. Repeat for the second eye, ensuring that the knots are hidden inside the elephant’s body.
Step 3: Add Ears, Tusks and Legs
Next, it’s time to attach the ears, tusks and legs. Position the ear pieces on each side of the elephant’s head. Secure each ear by using a single knot stitch with your needle and thread.
Add the tusks, and front and back legs the same way.
Step 3: Start Sewing the Body
Begin sewing at the back leg of your elephant. Knot your starting stitch behind one of the legs. Use a blanket stitch around the bottom of the body, stopping where you plan to attach the tail.
How to Blanket Stitch:
To create a blanket stitch, insert your needle through both pieces of fabric and pause before pulling it all the way through. Pull the thread end (from your last stitch) around the top of your needle, then pull the needle fully through the fabric. Move down your felt slightly, poke the needle back through on the same side as your previous stitch, and again loop the tail end of the thread over the top of the needle before pulling it all the way out. Keep repeating this process, ensuring your stitches are evenly spaced and snug, until you reach the end of your stitching line.
Step 4: Attach the Tail
Once you reach the back side of the elephant, it’s time to attach the tail. Place the tail piece between the two body pieces and secure it in place using a running stitch.
How to Do a Running Stitch: Start by bringing your needle up through the fabric from the back to the front and pull it all the way through. Move the needle a little forward and push it back down through the fabric, leaving a small gap. Pull the thread tight. Then, bring the needle back up through the same spot where it just came down, creating a small stitch. Continue this back-and-forth motion, moving slightly forward each time until you reach the desired end point of your stitching.
Step 5: Add the Truck
Continue with a blanket stitch up the back of the elephant, being careful to only get the two sides of the body piece of the elephant as you’re going around it’s head, and not sewing in the ears.
For the trunk, position it between the fabric layers, ensuring it’s placed nicely, and sew it down with a running stitch as well.
Continue with the blanket stitch along the bottom of the elephants face until you’ve reached its front set of legs.
Step 6: Fill and Finish
Leave a small opening near one of the front legs to stuff your elephant. Use small pieces of polyester stuffing or even small felt scraps. If needed, gently push the stuffing into tight areas using the back of a pencil. Once your elephant is as fluffy as you want, close the opening with a blanket stitch and tie a tight knot where you started.
