Elijah
I took these pictures rather hastily while getting ready to visit the real baby Elijah and give him his gift, but I think you can see how he turned out well enough.
Since he was a gift for a teeny wee baby I didn’t want to use safety eyes, although they might look cute on a toy for an older child (or yourself). These are just french knots in navy yarn because I think that black almost always looks to harsh for this sort of thing.
Like most babies he’s fascinated by who the elephant in the glass might be.
Bobbi told me that elephants with the trunk turned up are said to bring good luck, and as I wanted to wish Elijah and his parent’s all the luck possible with their move to Germany so that his sick mama can be well taken care of by her mother, I made sure to turn his trunk up. Good luck Elijah, Juliana and Richard!
Some details:
Yarn: Rowan Cashsoft Baby DK, just over 1 ball.
Needles: 3mm dpns, for some parts I used 4 needles and some parts I used 5 depending on the shape.
Construction: all knit in the round without seams, except for grafting the top of the ears. The most complex shaping is short rows on the ears, but they’re so effective that I didn’t want to leave them out to make the design easier. Short rows really aren’t that challenging anyway and far too useful to ignore / avoid. I found a crochet hook invaluable in helping to pick up stitches, especially when picking them up from already stuffed body parts.
Stuffing: he’s stuffed with polyester toy stuffing, because although I love the idea of wool stuffing for toys I wanted him to be pretty washable. I know that pretty much every toy making guide ever tells you to stuff firmly, but I don’t think that really applies to knitted toys. Stuffing carefully with small amounts is certainly important, it’s so much fun to mould the toy into shape while stuffing and he’s nice and squishy.
Design: I just began with a quick doodle and let him take shape as I went along. I did keep a couple of points in mind though, I wanted him to be nice and round and cuddly but still be easy for little hands to grasp. So his limbs trunk and neck were all designed to be small and easy to hold onto, no doubt he’ll be tugged along by his ears though! Well loved toys are the best kind of all though, so that’s ok.
Pattern: my own, in case you didn’t guess. I don’t think it will be too long before I get this one up for sale, little things like this are so, so much less work than the sweaters. Of course I know that it might be annoying to some of you who have been patiently waiting for some of the sweater patterns to be made available to see me working on littler things, but don’t worry I am working on the big things too. Progress is just much slower.
Posted: October 14th, 2007 under knitting.
Comments: 48
Comments
Comment from Reve
Time: October 14, 2007, 2:30 pm
i love him!! can’t wait to make one of my own!
Comment from gleek
Time: October 14, 2007, 2:31 pm
oh good! i was hoping you’d put up a pattern for sale :) he’s just adorable. i especially love the feet! and i have some cashsoft DK in the stash!
Comment from Knittypants
Time: October 14, 2007, 2:32 pm
Elijah is so dear, I love that his turned up trunk is for good luck. What a sweetie, hope the new baby and family get all the luck they need with him.
Comment from Bobbi
Time: October 14, 2007, 2:40 pm
He’s really cute! Good luck to everyone!
Comment from Cat Morley
Time: October 14, 2007, 2:43 pm
Awww, so cute Ys. x
Comment from Sarah
Time: October 14, 2007, 2:48 pm
He’s a dear, handsome chap and sure to bring all the best to the family he is going to.
Comment from casey
Time: October 14, 2007, 3:03 pm
Oh! he’s so sweet and cuddly looking! :)
Comment from Alice from france
Time: October 14, 2007, 3:14 pm
So, so pretty! Love that elefant!
Comment from Estelle
Time: October 14, 2007, 4:32 pm
That has got to be one of the best knit stuffed animals I have encountered, and I have seen/made many! Very excellent, perfect for little folks and little hands. Looking forward to making one when you get the pattern up.
Comment from Christelle
Time: October 14, 2007, 4:36 pm
So sweet elephant…and I saw little baby…I think a beautiful story will begin soon :)
Comment from carrie
Time: October 14, 2007, 4:48 pm
Elijah is adorable! I know you must have heard this tons of times by now, but you are one talented chica!!
Comment from Birgitte
Time: October 14, 2007, 4:50 pm
Oh, he is so cute! I’m looking forward to the pattern! :)
Comment from Claire
Time: October 14, 2007, 4:57 pm
Those ears are just incredible!Fantastic job, lucky baby!
Comment from Julie
Time: October 14, 2007, 4:58 pm
I love him, he’s so adorable! Looks like some really nice shaping around the trunk. Great job!
Comment from Jessica
Time: October 14, 2007, 5:41 pm
I can’t get over how freakin’ cute he is! :D
Comment from BlackRayne
Time: October 14, 2007, 5:48 pm
He is wonderful - can’t wait for the pattern!
Comment from Hege
Time: October 14, 2007, 6:09 pm
He’s adorable!!
Comment from sarah
Time: October 14, 2007, 6:40 pm
:) look forward to the pattern! what a lovely poignant gift for elijah!
Comment from Veruca
Time: October 14, 2007, 6:47 pm
That is the cutest stuffed animal in the world! I can’t wait for the pattern to come out!
Comment from Andrea
Time: October 14, 2007, 7:21 pm
I love Elijah he is sooo cute. Fabulous!
Comment from kodachrome
Time: October 14, 2007, 7:41 pm
He’s adorable. And what a great photo shoot, he had… I wish the mother well in her health.
Comment from Lin
Time: October 14, 2007, 8:54 pm
Fabulous! I need a child young enough to knit him for, my boy is a bit beyond cuddly toys although I might show him it to see!
Comment from Alyssa
Time: October 14, 2007, 8:57 pm
He’s so adorable. I do hope you put the pattern up for sale I’d love to make one myself.
Comment from ruby
Time: October 14, 2007, 9:32 pm
I really love Elijah. There’s something just wonderfully whimsical and quirky about him. Love the photo of him in the mirror.
Comment from marri
Time: October 14, 2007, 9:46 pm
so! adorable!
Comment from Theresa
Time: October 14, 2007, 10:22 pm
That is AMAZINGLY adorable! He looks so cuddly!
Comment from –Deb
Time: October 14, 2007, 11:37 pm
Aww, he looks so CUTE! And very lovable . . .
Comment from ~Knitting Up a Storm~
Time: October 15, 2007, 12:08 am
Wow- you did an excellent job at shaping the elephant (with the different increases and decreases)! It really gives that little creature some edge!
Great Job!
Comment from claudine
Time: October 15, 2007, 12:47 am
Oh he’s adorable!! I love all the shaping you put on him. Looks very cuddly indeed.
Comment from Joan
Time: October 15, 2007, 5:56 am
I love it! It’s the perfect little elephant.
PS: I started a cloud bolero tonight and wow, it is an amazingly well-written pattern. I will be gushing more on my blog later.
Comment from Ming Ching
Time: October 15, 2007, 10:54 am
He’s absolutely ADORABLE!
You are so talented! : )
Comment from Kirsty
Time: October 15, 2007, 12:16 pm
Sooo sweet- I love the decreases at the front of his face, leading into the trunk- what a smart wee chap he is!
I wonder if a few short rows in the trunk might help that curl stay put?
Comment from Sarahfish
Time: October 15, 2007, 3:13 pm
He’s fantastic! I was hoping you’d make the pattern available… :) Well done!
Comment from Chelsea
Time: October 15, 2007, 3:33 pm
Good work! I am looking forward to the pattern.
Comment from Marie
Time: October 15, 2007, 4:12 pm
Awww. He’s so cute!
Comment from Lindsey
Time: October 15, 2007, 4:18 pm
That is honestly the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
Comment from Marnie
Time: October 15, 2007, 11:00 pm
He is just gorgeous. I love how you worked the decreases above his trunk to extend the lines of the trunk. It just adds to his cuteness and is a nice detail. He seems really huggable. I think the recipient is going to love him.
Comment from Jeanie
Time: October 16, 2007, 1:03 am
I think he is the cutest elephant ever. I really need to make him. I hope you sell the pattern (hint, hint):) What a lucky baby!
Comment from NosieRosie
Time: October 16, 2007, 2:36 am
Your blog is so beautiful! My new favorite ^_^
Comment from Ceylan
Time: October 16, 2007, 7:36 am
He is so darn cute! I’m gonna be an aunt soon and think Elijah would make a great toy for my first niece/nephew!
Comment from Heather
Time: October 16, 2007, 2:53 pm
Love him, love him, love him, can’t wait to knit my own..
Comment from Crystal
Time: October 16, 2007, 9:35 pm
I love him! I can’t wait till you get this pattern up. I think this will be the first toy I actually bother to knit! SOOO ADORABLE!
Comment from weeza
Time: October 17, 2007, 1:13 pm
When I was little(er) I had an elephant toy I used to carry round by its trunk, I wish I stlll had it! Please get the pattern up soon! I have to knit one for my forthcoming niecephew! And maybe one for me…
Comment from Chelsey
Time: October 17, 2007, 10:53 pm
Sooo adorable!
Comment from Mindie
Time: October 18, 2007, 12:28 pm
Beautiful, such a good design. My brother has the same ability to ’see’ things in three dimentions, it’s a real skill.
Comment from Nicole
Time: October 18, 2007, 1:57 pm
Adorable!
Comment from melanie
Time: October 18, 2007, 6:08 pm
Totally adorable!
Comment from Nubiancraftster
Time: October 19, 2007, 5:39 am
Wow he is super cute!! I am sure that the baby “will love him and squeeze him and call him George” (ala Bugs Bunny cartoon).
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