Why does my dog adore its plush dog elephant toy so much? Understanding the special fun and comfort they provide.

My Dog Elephant Toy Project

Alright, so the other day, I figured the dog needed a new chew thing. His old toys were looking pretty sad. I had this idea, why not try making an elephant? Seemed like a fun shape, you know, with the trunk and big ears.

First thing, I needed materials. Didn't want to buy anything new if I could help it. I rummaged through my old fabric box. Found some leftover sturdy canvas material from another project, kind of a grey color. Perfect for an elephant, right? Also grabbed some thick thread, the kind used for upholstery, thinking it would hold up better against teeth. And of course, stuffing. Had a bag of poly-fill from fixing a cushion ages ago.

Getting Started - The Shape

I'm no artist, so I just sketched a really basic elephant shape onto some paper. Like, super simple. A body, four stumpy legs all in one piece, a curve for the trunk. Then I drew some big floppy ear shapes separately. Didn't want anything too complicated that would get torn off in seconds.

I pinned the paper pattern onto the canvas, folded the fabric so I'd get two identical sides, and started cutting. The canvas was pretty tough, so it took a bit of effort with the scissors.

Putting it Together

Okay, sewing time. I decided to sew it inside out first, like you do with pillows. Laid the two elephant body pieces together, good sides facing each other. I used a simple backstitch, trying to keep the stitches fairly small and tight for strength. Went all the way around the edge, leaving a gap open along the back for turning and stuffing later.

• Sewed the main body shape.
• Remembered the ears! Almost forgot.
• Sewed the ear pieces together, turned them right side out.
• Tucked the raw edge of the ears into the seam between the two body pieces before sewing that section, so they'd stick out nicely when turned. This was a bit fiddly.

Stuffing and Finishing

Once the main sewing was done, I carefully turned the whole thing right side out through the gap I left. Pushed out the corners and the trunk with the end of a wooden spoon. It actually looked kind of like an elephant, which was a relief!

Then came the stuffing. I pushed the poly-fill in, making sure to get it into the trunk and legs. Didn't stuff it rock hard, wanted it to have a bit of squish. I decided against adding a squeaker this time, sometimes they just get ripped out immediately.

Finally, the last step was closing the gap. I folded the raw edges inward and used a ladder stitch, trying to make it as invisible and strong as possible. Pulled the thread tight, knotted it off securely, and snipped the end.

The Result

So there it was, one homemade dog elephant toy. Looked a bit rough, definitely handmade, but felt solid. Gave it a good tug myself to check the seams. Seemed okay.

Handed it over to Max. He gave it a good sniff, then grabbed it by the trunk and started shaking it like crazy. So far, it's holding up. Let's see how long this one lasts! Making stuff yourself is pretty satisfying, even if it's just a simple dog toy.