I sewed on fleece eyes, instead of buttons like my previous elephants. I made these guys as toddler-friendly as possible, expecting them to be picked up by their ears and tails!
I kind of want to make 1,479 of them -- in all different fabrics! At this size, I'm even thinking of adding a loop so the toy can be attached to strollers or diaper bags. And how about adding crinkles, bells or squeakers?
I have made elephant plushies in the past, which were much more like pillows. I couldn't figure out how to give them dimension or four legs! I learned a lot about making stuffed animals from the Bustle & Sew pattern. It's all about gussets, baby!
If you want to practice making plushies, Helen at Bustle & Sew is giving away a few tutorials. Along with "Charlie the Elephant" (which I modified to make my elephants), she has an adorable hedgehog plushie! I might have to try that one soon.