Amigurumi Intermediate 4-6 hours Super Bulky yarn

Worked on the glider, counted out loud —

Baby blue elephant toilet paper cozy crochet pattern

A chenille elephant cozy for a standard TP roll, with a curled trunk and tiny tail. About 4-6 hours, friendly for confident beginners.

Jump to the rounds

What this one is

You know that little stretch of shelf in a nursery or guest bath that could use something soft to look at. This elephant cozy is made for exactly that spot - a small, huggable cover that turns a plain toilet paper roll into a baby blue character with a curled trunk. It is a quick gift for a baby shower, or a little something to tuck into a changing table basket.

Your hands will spend most of the time in plain single crochet, with the trunk being the one part that asks for a bit of patience as you shape and stuff it round by round. Between the body, the trunk shaping, and the optional tail, you are looking at a few relaxed hours with chenille yarn in your lap - nothing that demands a whole evening, but enough to keep your hook busy.

Try it another way

The easiest swap here is color - this pattern is written in baby blue, but the same super bulky chenille works just as well in gray, pink, or any plush shade you have 150 yards of, and the optional contrasting color for the inner ears is an easy way to add a second tone without extra yarn math. If you want a slightly firmer cover, go up or down from the 6.0mm hook by half a size and crochet a touch tighter, since gauge is forgiving as long as the finished piece still fits snugly over a standard roll. For the trunk, you can experiment with how much you stuff it - a little less fiberfill gives a softer, floppier trunk, while packing it fuller through those 5 rounds gives a sturdier curve that holds its pose. Skip the tail entirely if you want a cleaner, more streamlined shape, or make it in a contrasting color to match the inner ears for a little color echo at both ends. If you are making this for a child under 3, swap the safety eyes for embroidered ones as the pattern suggests, which also opens the door to giving your elephant a slightly different expression with longer or shorter stitched lashes.

There is something deeply satisfying about working with super bulky chenille - it grows fast, it feels like a stuffed animal before you have even finished a round, and the plush texture does half the design work for you. The real charm here is the trunk: six rounds of straight single crochet that you lightly stuff as you go, coaxing it into a gentle curve rather than a stiff tube. Adding the safety eyes and watching a flat cover suddenly become a face is the moment this project earns its keep. The optional tiny tail, worked in a single short row of mixed stitches, is a nice low-stakes way to practice sl st, sc, and hdc in quick succession without committing to anything fussy.

The rounds, in full

Written out, round by round

Intermediate4-6 hours6.0 mmSuper Bulky

Bring to the porch

Everything this one takes, in the order you will reach for it.

  • for Your Elephant Cozy

Yarn

  • Approximately 150 yards of super bulky (weight 6) chenille yarn in baby blue
  • Small amount of contrasting color for the inner ears (optional)

Hook

  • 6.0mm (US J/10) crochet hook
  • You may need to adjust based on your tension

Notions

  • Two 12mm black safety eyes
  • Tapestry needle for weaving ends
  • Stitch marker
  • Fiberfill stuffing for the trunk
  • Scissors

Gauge

  • 10 stitches and 8 rows = 4 inches in single crochet with chenille yarn. Gauge is not critical for this project, but your cover should fit snugly around a standard toilet paper roll.
  • Stitch Abbreviations and Definitions
  • Ch (Chain): The foundation stitch. Wrap yarn over hook and pull through the loop on your hook. Think of it like creating links in a chain.
  • Sl st (Slip Stitch): Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion. This creates an invisible join.
  • Sc (Single Crochet): Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops. This is your basic short stitch.
  • Hdc (Half Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all 3 loops. Slightly taller than single crochet.
  • Dc (Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through remaining 2 loops. This is your tall stitch for the waffle texture.
  • FPdc (Front Post Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook from front to back around the POST of the stitch below (not into the top of the stitch), yarn over and pull up a loop, complete as a regular double crochet. This creates raised texture.
  • Inc (Increase): Work 2 stitches into the same stitch.
  • Main Body Cover

Notions

Two 12mm black safety eyes Tapestry needle for weaving ends Stitch marker Fiberfill stuffing for the trunk Scissors

Gauge: 10 stitches and 8 rows = 4 inches in single crochet with chenille yarn. Gauge is not critical for this project, but your cover should fit snugly around a standard toilet paper roll.

Stitch Abbreviations and Definitions

Before we dive into the step by step instructions, let me explain each stitch you will use. Even if you are familiar with these, a quick refresher never hurts.

Ch (Chain): The foundation stitch. Wrap yarn over hook and pull through the loop on your hook. Think of it like creating links in a chain.

Sl st (Slip Stitch): Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion. This creates an invisible join.

Sc (Single Crochet): Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops. This is your basic short stitch.

Hdc (Half Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all 3 loops. Slightly taller than single crochet.

Dc (Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through 2 loops, yarn over and pull through remaining 2 loops. This is your tall stitch for the waffle texture.

FPdc (Front Post Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook from front to back around the POST of the stitch below (not into the top of the stitch), yarn over and pull up a loop, complete as a regular double crochet. This creates raised texture.

Inc (Increase): Work 2 stitches into the same stitch.

Dec (Decrease): Work 2 stitches together as one, reducing your stitch count.

Crochet Pattern Instructions

Now for the fun part! I have broken this elephant toilet paper cozy pattern into separate components. Work each piece individually, then assemble at the end.

Main Body Cover

The body is worked in rounds from the top down. Do not join rounds unless instructed. Use a stitch marker to track your first stitch.

Step by step: The ears give your elephant that sweet, recognizable silhouette.

  1. Round 1Using a magic ring, work 6 sc into the ring. Pull tight. (6 sts)
  2. Round 2Inc in each st around. (12 sts)Step by step: Sc in each st around. (12 sts).Step by step: Sc in each st around. (12 sts).
  3. Round 3*Sc 1, inc in next st* repeat around. (18 sts)
  4. Round 4*Sc 2, inc in next st* repeat around. (24 sts)Step by step: Sc in each st around. (24 sts).Fold the ear in half and sc through both layers to close. (12 sts) Fasten off, leaving a long tail. The fold creates that natural ear curve you see in the photo.

Optional inner ear contrast: Before closing, you can single crochet a smaller oval in pink or cream and sew it to the center of each ear for added detail.

Step by step: Front Legs (Make 2).

These adorable dangling legs are what make the cozy look like it is sitting on your shelf!

  1. Round 5*Sc 3, inc in next st* repeat around. (30 sts)
  2. Round 6*Sc 4, inc in next st* repeat around. (36 sts)
  3. Round 7*Sc 5, inc in next st* repeat around. (42 sts) At this point, your circle should be roughly 4.5 inches across. If it is smaller, add another increase round.
  4. Rounds 8–10Sc in each st around. (42 sts) Now we begin the waffle stitch texture. This is where the magic happens!
  5. Round 11Ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc in each st around, sl st to top of ch-2 to join. (42 sts)
  6. Round 12Ch 2, *FPdc around next st, dc in next st* repeat around, sl st to join. (42 sts)
  7. Round 13Ch 2, *dc in next st, FPdc around next st* repeat around, sl st to join. (42 sts)Sc in each st around. (8 sts) Fasten off, leaving a tail. Stuff the same way as the front legs.

Sc in each st around. (8 sts) This creates approximately 4 inches of leg length. Adjust if you want longer or shorter legs based on where your cozy will sit.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Stuff the foot portion firmly and the leg portion lightly so the legs can dangle freely.

Step by step: Back Legs (Make 2); The back legs are slightly shorter since they sit behind the front legs.

Rounds 14-17: Repeat Rounds 12 and 13 two more times.

  1. Round 18Sc in each st around. (42 sts)
  2. Round 19Sc in each st around. Fasten off and weave in ends. (42 sts) The bottom remains open so you can slide the toilet paper roll inside. The cover should fit snugly but not too tight.

Trunk

The trunk is what really brings this little elephant to life! Work in continuous rounds.

  1. Round 1Using a magic ring, work 6 sc into the ring. (6 sts)
  2. Round 2Inc in each st around. (12 sts)
  3. Rounds 3–12Sc in each st around. (12 sts) After 10 rounds of straight single crochet, your trunk should be approximately 3 inches long. Add light stuffing as you work to help it hold its curved shape.
  4. Round 13*Sc 1, dec* repeat around. (8 sts)
  5. Round 14Sc in each st around. (8 sts) Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff the trunk lightly, keeping it flexible enough to curve upward.

Tail (Optional)

A tiny tail adds the finishing touch!

Ch 12. Working back along the chain, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch, hdc in next 2 ch, sc in remaining ch.

Fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing. The tail will naturally curl a bit.

Assembly Instructions This is where your elephant comes together! Take your time with placement.

Step 1: Position the eyes on the front of the body, about 2 inches down from the top and 1.5 inches apart. Insert safety eyes and secure with backings before sewing anything else. If you are making this for a child under 3, embroider the eyes instead.

Step 2: Sew the trunk between and slightly below the eyes. Angle it so the tip curves upward in that classic elephant pose.

Step 3: Attach the ears to either side of the head, level with the eyes. The folded edge should face forward.

Step 4: Position the front legs at the bottom front edge of the body. Sew them securely so they hang down in front.

Step 5: Sew the back legs behind the front legs, slightly toward the sides.

Step 6: Attach the tail at center back, near the bottom edge.

Weave in all remaining ends. Give your elephant a gentle squeeze to even out the stuffing.

Helpful Tips for Success

Working with chenille yarn can be tricky if you are not used to it. The fibers tend to hide your stitches, so count carefully at the end of each round. A stitch marker is your best friend here.

If your cover seems too loose, try going down a hook size. Too tight? Go up a size. The beauty of this crochet pattern is that exact gauge does not matter as long as the fit works.

For gift giving, consider making a set in different colors. Gray, pink, and sage green elephants look stunning displayed together.

Perfect for Every Bathroom Style

What I love about this elephant toilet paper cozy is how it works in so many settings. Nursery bathroom? Absolutely. Guest powder room that needs a conversation piece? Perfect. Your own bathroom because you deserve something cute? One hundred percent yes.

The baby blue colorway shown here is classic and gender neutral, but this crochet tutorial works beautifully in any shade. Imagine a soft gray elephant or a blush pink version for a baby girl’s nursery.

I really hope you enjoy making this sweet little elephant as much as I enjoyed designing it! If you create your own version, I would absolutely love to see it. Tag me on Instagram or share a photo in my Facebook group. There is nothing better than seeing your beautiful finished projects pop up in my feed.

Do not forget to save this pattern to your Pinterest boards so you can find it whenever the crocheting mood strikes. And please drop a comment below if you have any questions or just want to say hello. Happy hooking, friend!

Marlene's notes

Note 01

Because gauge is not critical here, focus less on matching 10 stitches and 8 rows exactly and more on making sure the finished cover fits snugly around a standard toilet paper roll.

Note 02

Chenille yarn can be slippery to work with on a 6.0mm hook, so keep your tension even and check your stitch count at the end of each round, especially through the increase and decrease rounds.

Note 03

Add fiberfill to the trunk gradually as you crochet each round rather than stuffing it all at the end, since this is what lets it hold its curved shape instead of flopping straight.

Porch photos

Baby blue elephant toilet paper cozy crochet pattern — photo 2
Baby blue elephant toilet paper cozy crochet pattern — photo 3

Before you sit down

  • Check that you have close to the full 150 yards of super bulky chenille on hand, since this yarn eats up length fast in single crochet.
  • Have your 6.0mm hook ready along with a stitch marker - you will want it to track the start of each continuous round on the trunk.
  • Read through the trunk rounds once before you begin, especially the increase in Round 2 and the decrease in Round 13, so the shaping does not surprise you mid-round.
  • Set aside a small amount of fiberfill specifically for the trunk, and decide now whether you want a contrasting color for the inner ears before you start.

How the hours go

Notions and prep
about 15-20 minutes because you are gathering safety eyes, stuffing, and setting up your stitch marker before the real crocheting starts
Trunk
about 45-60 minutes because of the 5 rounds of careful shaping, with light stuffing added as you go to build the curve
Tail and assembly
about 30-40 minutes because the tail itself is quick, but placing the eyes and sewing everything together takes a steady hand

Looking after it

  • Spot clean the chenille with a damp cloth and mild soap whenever possible, since this plush yarn can shed or felt slightly if machine washed too often.
  • Let it air dry fully away from direct heat, then fluff the stitches gently with your fingers to restore the nap and reshape the trunk's curve if it has flattened in storage.
FAQs

Asked on the glider

the ones that come up on the glider

Will this cozy really fit a standard toilet paper roll?

Yes, that is exactly what it is sized for. The pattern notes that gauge is not critical as long as your finished cover sits snugly around a standard roll, so you have some flexibility in tension.

Do I need the contrasting color for the inner ears?

No, it is listed as optional in the materials. If you skip it, the ears will simply be worked entirely in the baby blue chenille, which looks just as sweet.

Why does the trunk need stuffing as I go instead of at the end?

Adding light stuffing round by round through the 5 trunk rounds is what helps it hold a gentle curve rather than sitting flat. Stuffing only at the end makes it much harder to shape.

Is the tail necessary to finish the elephant?

No, the tail is marked as optional. It is a quick finishing touch worked in a short row of sl st, sc, and hdc, but the elephant looks complete without it.

What hook size does this pattern use?

A 6.0mm (US J/10) hook is recommended throughout. You may need to adjust slightly based on your own tension to get a snug fit around the roll.

Can I use embroidered eyes instead of safety eyes?

Yes, and the pattern specifically recommends this if you are making the cozy for a child under 3. Simply embroider the eyes in the same placement instead of inserting the 12mm safety eyes.