Just realized that I haven’t done any sock doll for more than a year, wow, how time flies!!! A while ago I received a message from a reader who is looking for Sock Elephant Pattern, I feel bad that I have to answer her “Sorry, I do not have at the meantime” but now I am happy to answer her “YES, YES, YES, here it is!!!”. I can get excited every time I share a new pattern and tutorial, as I know that there is someone out there looking for it!
Just like all my sock doll designs, this sock elephant pattern doesn’t come easy. I have made 3 funny looking sock elephants before I am completely pleased with this pattern. Through the design process I have gone through, I’ve learned that the ears of the elephant must be big enough to bring out the feature of an elephant. In order not to waste the sock material, I was trying to use up all from a pair of socks to sew the sock elephant, with that in mind I have to compromise with the size of the ears of the elephant, that was a huge, huge, huge mistake where I end up with a sock animal that looks like rate but with long nose . Therefore, I have to give in to use other fabrics to make up the big ears. Tada….. that’s the sock elephant I want, Ella, the Sock Elephant.
The pattern comes in 2 options, short legs sock elephant and long legs sock elephant. The short legs sock elephant is sewn from a pair of ankle socks while the the long legs sock elephant is sewn from a pair of crew socks. The ears of the short legs sock elephant are full fabric while the long legs sock elephant has a half fabric ears (another half is from sock material). Another difference between these two versions is the size of the toes, short legs sock elephant has smaller toe size which is made of white felt.
The sock elephant is about 10″ high if sew from an adult sock. Some socks yield bigger doll and some smaller, the size also depends on the amount of stuffing your put in. Besides adult sock, you may also use toddler or baby socks. The picture below shows the toddler sock elephant and baby sock elephant which were sewed from toddler and baby socks respectively. If you are using plain socks to sew the sock elephant, you may add a pattern sock as the shirt of the sock elephant before sewing up the arms (just like what I did for the gray sock elephant below).
The color of the socks brings personality to the sock elephant, at times you will be surprised and get amused by how the sock elephant turns out. It happens to me all the time, this time I laughed out loud to see my sock elephant with chickenpox infection, that’s when I used a red polka-dot on cream base to sew, so choose your sock carefully. I especially love the black/ blue with white stripes sock elephant below, the color makes me feel calm and the little feet are so cute.
Hope you having fun time sewing Ella the sock elephant! Ping me (via contact form) with your photos of sock elephant after you have done it.
Hi, I’m making the elephant for a school project and I can’t get the elephant to sit down! How do you make the bottom flat? Thank you 🙂
Hi Ava, glad to know that you are sewing sock elephant for the school project. In order for the elephant to sit on its own, do not stuff the groin line (between the legs and the body), massage to separate the stuffing material at that area. Once the legs are able to bend, the elephant will sit on its own.
Hope this helps.
So cute. I know a little girl who loves elephants. I am planning on making a few for her. Thank you for you time and effort.
Dear Joanne,
you’ve put so many nice & beautiful patterns on your site, but those big, long-legged elephants are one of my favs.
But got a question though.
What kind of sock material would you recommend? I thought, cotton would be the best, but after I planned to sew an elephant this weekend & therefore went through 5 or 6 stores I literally wasn’t able to find socks without stretch.
(Okay, I could have get some, if I’d payed around 10€ & more, which is too pricey for me & a first try)
I decided to ask you first, because I haven’t any child around who could wear them if they wouldn’t be suitable.
So please tell me, Joanne & you other girls, what do you use? Are socks with some spandex okay or are they to stretchy when it comes to fill the toy?
Many thanks,
Nele
You can get the socks I sewed to make the sock elephant from Craft Passion Shop 🙂 I think I did put the link on the material list.
oh wow, may thanks for your quick reply !
I didn’t note that before, had a look for those ( & other socks you listed) & yep, they’ve got spandex in.
So I know what to buy tomorrow morning after my night shift, to be prepared for my next night off.
So many thanks again 🙂
I’m looking forward for the next cute idea you’ll present.
I need to say, that I really enjoy the easy follow instructions you make. I can imagine how many work it is to figure a project out & then writing down the thing understandable for others.
Now I’m off to try out your delicious looking Japanese cheese cake.
I’ve never baked one with cream cheese. It’s uncommon over here & I’m noisy how it’ll taste.
Enjoy our weekend Joanne, you’re a darling
♥
Nele
You are most welcome 🙂
I have a question regarding the elephant sock plush, I made one and I’m looking to make another but I really struggled with making the tail. I just can’t get how you did it! I tried sewing it then turning it inside out so the stitches didn’t show but because its so thing, it just frayed. I resorted to using a wider bit of fabric but it didn’t look the same or as good, any tips?
thin*
It is not easy to turn right-side out, but with a little patience and a pair of blunt tweezer or turning tool, you should be able to get it done. Make sure the seam allowance is not too small so that the raw edges won’t appear within the stitches. Another option is to handstitch the seam with hidden stitch, or ladder stitch or slip stitch.
Hi, I’ve had a go at making some elephants and was wondering how you get their trunk to curl under…mine hang straight down.
Hi Diana, I find that stuffing the nose densely helps in making the trunk curl under. The logic behind is that the sock material stretched out with the heavy stuffing while the stitches on the seam restrain the seamline to expend thus it will curl under.
I would like your input and help with a sock puppet. The school I work for would like to teach the kids how to make one for the school. Hopefully using our mascot. Please email me directly so we may speak if you have time. I love your designs.
thank you
I made one sox elephant that that my grandson will love. Thank you for the instructions.
I have tried several times and can not get the pattern. Is there another way to access it.
Hi Marilyn, I have fixed the link to the pattern page, please click again to go there. If you are still unable to get it, please clear your browsing cache or click this link directly. Sorry for the inconvenient caused.
Thank you! Love elephants and these are adorable!!!!
so creative, cute, and original !! *:P tongue
dodie
Your elephants are amazing! Pattern is well written and great photos. I definitely have to give this a try.
So cute! They brought a big smile to me ! Thanks for the pattern, will try it soon. Regards from South Africa.