Everyone loves the circus elephants. Now they are knit right into this thick, soft blanket for crib, or use as floor mat at playtime. Large enough to roll around on, 36” X 38” in soft Double Knit. Blanket is knit in two panels with colorful borders added all around.
Loom: All-n-One Loom set up for double knit with 1cm spacing
Yarn: Red Heart Essentials #5, 100% acrylic, machine wash and dry. 131 yds per skein. Colors: Greyhound, 8 skeins. Peony Pink and Teal, 2 skeins each. For a lighter Teal, use Turquoise. Scrap of black yarn for eyes
Stitches: Stockinette and Purl (as in single knit)
Notions: Knit hook, crochet hook, large sewing needle, graph of elephant for reference, or just use the written instructions. Optional: If you have (5) plastic sewing needles, they are great for holding the pieces in place for sewing.
Gauge: 3 stitches X 4 rows=1 inch
Size: Approx 36” long X 38” wide
Abbreviations: Approximately= aprox St (sts)= stitch (stitches) G=greyhound yarn P=pink yarn T=teal yarn L=left R=right
TECHNIQUES
Basic Bind Off
1. Work from end opposite the yarn tail; use your crochet hook to lift off the first loop on the back peg.
2. Pick up the first loop on the front peg. Pull the front loop on hook through back loop.
Then, repeat picking up next back peg, then front loop; pull 1 thru 1. Repeat process to the end of the loom. Secure final stitch by pulling yarn tail through last loop on hook. With crochet hook, pull yarn tail into finished knit. Finish off at anchor yarns with this basic or crochet bind off.
Purl Stitch as in Single Knit
This is used in top and bottom border, alternating with Stockinette stitch. After a row of Stockinette stitch is complete, start the Purl stitches on back loom where yarn is connected. Work around, R to L, on each peg, working the purl stitches. You will end at beginning of loom, ready for next row of Stockinette.
1. Place the working yarn in front of the peg, below the loop on the peg. Insert the knit hook thru the loop on the peg from the top down.
2. Reach down to catch the working yarn with the knit hook. Pull the working yarn up through the loop on the peg, forming a new loop.
3. Hold the new loop on your hook. Then pull the loop that is still on the peg up and off the peg.
4. Place the new loop onto the peg. Gently tug on the working yarn to tighten the stitch.
Sewing together…
Start with the 2 pieces that are being sewn, lined up, so you can see the top of edge of each piece. Insert the sewing needle into the edge of one piece. Pick up the cross stitch in center of edge of knit. Pull the needle out and pick up the same cross stitch on other piece of knit
(border and panel). Work along both edges, continuing to pick up the cross yarn and alternating between the pieces. Draw the yarn snug as you move down the edges of the knit. This will pull the edges together without showing the sewing yarn. You do not want to sew the edge stitches, only pull them together for the invisible joining.
Instructions
Main panel: Cast on in Stockinette stitch for (48) sts in (P) yarn. Lay an anchor yarn.
Row 1: Knit in Stockinette
Row 2: Purl as in single knit. This means to work around the entire loom on all (96) pegs doing single-knit Purl sts.
Repeat rows 1 and 2, 3 times. (6 rows). Cut yarn with 3” tail.
Tie on (T) yarn and work rows 1 and 2, for a total of 3 times. (6 rows).
This completes the 2- color border on bottom of panel. Cut (T) yarn and tie on (G) yarn.
Work 12 rows in Stockinette st.
Working the Design: (See blog entry for full instructions on color change.)
Design (use graph above for guidance, or just follow row instructions):
Row 13: Weave 14 sts in stockinette in (G). At peg 15, tie on (T) yarn. Lay (G) yarn aside and do not cut. Work 3 sts in (T) yarn, and drag yarn across the next 4 sts. Wrap the next 3 leg stitches and return the circular, carrying across the (G) sts. to cover all sides of the (P) sts, and lay aside. Hook over the (P) stitches. Pick up (G) and wrap all remaining pegs with full circular. Continue the row with (G) yarn on last 24 sts. When you work the return, carry the (G) yarn across the (T) sts. Do not cut either yarn. (See process below.)
Tie on (T) yarn in center between rows of pegs. Wrap the number of pegs needed. 
Take yarn across the (G) area to next (T) pegs, wrap number of pegs needed.
Pick up (G) yarn and wrap all pegs that are not covered with (T) yarn.
Wrap empty pegs maintaining the Stockinette wrap. All pegs should be covered for this row. Hook over.
Row 14-15: Repeat row 1.
Row 16-17: Work 13 sts in Stockinette with (G) yarn. Work (P) yarn on next 4 sts , skip next 4 stitches, and wrap the next 3 leg stitches, and return, and hook over. Complete the row with the (G) yarn and hook over all (G) pegs.
Row 18: There will be 3 sections of pink in this row, because you will be starting the elephant’s trunk. Work the (P) sts, and then the (G) sts.
(G) 13 sts, (P)4 sts, (G) 4 sts, (P) 3 sts, (G) 5 sts, (P) 5 sts,(G) last 14 sts. Hook over all.
Starting with row 19, the pink will be dominant section. So start next rows with gray section and cut yarn at beginning of pink section. Tie on (P) and work section. Tie on new (G) yarn, once done with body of elephant. You will not have the (G) yarn going thru the (P) sts. Therefore, you will need to twist the 2 yarns at beginning of each section, so the sections will be continuous.
Row 19: This row will have 2 sections of (P) yarn. (G) 13 sts, (P) 11 sts, (G) 4 sts, (P) 7 sts, (G) 13 sts.
Row 20: This row will have 2 sections of (P) yarn. (G) 13 sts, (P) 12 sts, (G) 2 sts, (P) 9 sts, (G) 12 sts.
Row 21: (G) 9 sts, (P) 1 st, (G) 2 sts, (P) 19 sts, (G) 3 sts, (P) 3 sts, (G) 11
Row 22: (G) 9 sts, (P) 1 st, (G) 2 sts, (P) 19 sts, (G) 4 sts, (P) 2 sts, (G) 11
Row 23: (G) 9 sts, (P) 1 st, (G)1 st, , (P) 21 sts, (G) 3 sts, (P) 3 sts, (G) 10
Row 24: (G) 9sts, (P) 1 st, (G) 1 st, (P) 21 sts, (G) 4 sts, (P) 1 st, (G) 11
Row 25: (G) 9 sts, (P) 23 sts, (G) 16 sts
Row 26: Repeat row 25.
Row 27: (G) 10 sts, (P) 22 sts, (G) 16 sts.
Row 28: (G) 11 sts, (P) 21 sts, (G) 16 sts.
Row 29: (G) 12 sts, (P) 19 sts, (G) 17 sts.
Row 30: (G) 12 sts, (P) 18 sts, (G) 18 sts.
Row 31: (G) 13 sts, (P) 9 sts, (G) 2 sts, (P) 5 sts, (G) 19 sts.
Row 32: (G) 15 sts, (P) 5 sts, (G) 5 sts, (P) 3 sts, (G) 20 sts.
Cut and tie all (P) yarns together. Make sure the (G) yarn is ready to continue at beginning of row 33.
Continue in Stockinette stitch with (G) yarn for 116 rows, unless you want a smaller blanket.
Top Border of blanket
Work these border rows just as you did the bottom border, only start with the (T) yarn. Work rows 1 and 2, 3 times. (6 rows)
Tie off (T) yarn; add (P) yarn. Work rows 1 and 2, 3 times. (6 rows)
Work the basic bind off to remove from loom. Bind off at anchor yarn so that the edges match on both ends.
You will want to add some black yarn for the elephant’s eye, but this can be done later.
Panel 2 (Working the 2nd panel with the (T) Teal Elephant.)
Repeat all instructions for 2nd panel as for 1st panel, only substitute the (T) yarn for the (P) when working the Elephant design.
Borders of stripes are sewn into the blanket in center between the 2 panels, and down each side to give the blanket a wider size and more color.
Border strips (Knit 3)
Cast on 10 sts in Stockinette with (P) yarn. Lay anchor yarn.
Work (6) rows as in the Main Panel, rows 1 and 2.
Tie on the (T) yarn. Work (6) rows as in the Main Panel, rows 1 and 2.
Note: There is no need to cut and tie at all the color changes as the yarn can be carried thru the knit and not show. So lay the (P) yarn aside and carry thru between pegs 2 and 3 as you work the next (T) rows.
All stripes will be worked with Stockinette from this point to top border.
Work (6) rows in Stockinette with (P) yarn.
Work (8) rows in Stockinette with (T) yarn.
Continue working, alternating the colors with (8) rows each. Work a total of (9) sections with (T) yarn. Finish the border with one section of (6) rows in (P) yarn. Then work the (T) and (P) sections again as in Main Panel, rows 1 and 2.
The entire border is (12) sections of (P), and (11) sections of (T).
Once complete, bind off with basic bind off. Your border is a total of 172 rows, which matches the center panels.
Work (2) additional border strips.
Finishing and Sewing your Blanket
Be sure to give each elephant an eye. You can use the scrape of black yarn and sewing needle. Wrap thru to both sides on one stitch, and just tuck the yarn tails into the knit.
Lay the blanket out on bed or floor with the (3) borders in place. When sewing, be sure that the Purl stripes match across the top and bottom of the blanket. You may want to put a few plastic pins in each section before sewing to keep lined up.
Use invisible stitch to sew the sections together. Knot securely at each edge of a seam.
Blocking is not required, but may be done around the elephant designs to give them the best shape.
Your blanket is complete. You have a wonderful play pad for your little one. If a thinner blanket is desired, substitute the #5 yarn for a #4 worsted weight. Total size will be a bit smaller, but the designs will look just as nice.
This is so cute! I adore it! <3