Knitting Tutorial: Blue Elephant in Rainbow Overalls – Free Knitting Pattern

This cheerful knitted blue elephant is made with a round oversized head, soft circular ears, a short raised trunk, blush cheeks, black bead eyes, rainbow striped overalls, tiny buttons, a red winter hat with a white pom-pom, sandals, a crossbody flower bag, two knitted acorns, and a separate rainbow cap. The finished toy is designed as a detailed display amigurumi-style knit with bright colors and sweet handmade character.

 

Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.

Finished Size

• Main elephant: about 11 inches tall from feet to top of head, not including the red hat pom-pom.
• Head width: about 5 inches across the cheeks.
• Body width: about 3.25 inches across the rainbow overalls.
• Separate rainbow cap: about 4.5 inches wide when laid flat.
• Acorns: about 1.25 inches tall each.

The sample look uses tight knitting, firm stuffing, and small needles so the fabric stays smooth and rounded. The toy is knitted mostly in the round, with small seams used for shaping, closing, and attaching details.

Skill Level

Confident beginner to intermediate. You should know how to knit in the round, increase, decrease, pick up stitches, change colors, make i-cord, seam neatly, and embroider simple facial details.

Materials

• DK weight yarn in soft baby blue for the elephant head, body, arms, legs, ears, and trunk.
• DK weight yarn in red, orange, yellow, green, aqua blue, purple, and pink for rainbow overalls and rainbow cap.
• DK weight yarn in red for the winter hat and red overall bands.
• Small amounts of lavender, teal, yellow, tan, brown, cream, pink, black, and white yarn.
• US size 2 needles, 2.75 mm, for the main toy.
• US size 1 needles, 2.25 mm, for straps, flowers, sandal details, and small pieces.
• Set of double-pointed needles or magic loop circular needle.
• Polyester fiberfill stuffing.
• Two 6 mm black safety eyes or black beads.
• Two 7 mm light wood buttons for the front overalls.
• Tapestry needle.
• Removable stitch markers.
• Scrap yarn for holding stitches.
• Small pom-pom maker or white faux pom-pom, about 0.75 inch wide.

Gauge

• Stockinette in the round: 7 stitches and 10 rounds = 1 inch with DK yarn on US size 2 needles.
• Ribbing: 8 stitches and 11 rounds = 1 inch, lightly stretched.

Gauge matters because this toy needs firm shaping. If your fabric has visible holes after stuffing, use smaller needles. If your fabric is stiff and difficult to shape, use a slightly larger needle, but keep the stitches close enough to hide the stuffing.

Abbreviations

• CO: cast on.
• BO: bind off.
• K: knit.
• P: purl.
• Sts: stitches.
• Rnd: round.
• RS: right side.
• WS: wrong side.
• K2tog: knit 2 stitches together.
• SSK: slip, slip, knit.
• M1R: make 1 right-leaning stitch.
• M1L: make 1 left-leaning stitch.
• KFB: knit into front and back of the same stitch.
• St st: stockinette stitch.
• PM: place marker.
• SM: slip marker.

Important Construction Notes

This elephant is built in separate knitted pieces for clean toy shaping. The head is a large sphere with the trunk sewn onto the center front. The ears are round padded discs attached to the sides of the head, slightly behind the eyes.

The body is knitted as a small blue torso that is partly covered by rainbow overalls. The legs are long blue cylinders with red cuffs and rainbow short legs attached above them. The arms are soft blue tubes sewn at a downward angle from the shoulders.

• Stuff each piece firmly, but do not overfill the ears, trunk, arms, or straps.
• Use mattress stitch for side seams and ladder stitch for attaching rounded toy parts.
• Keep all color changes at the center back or inner leg whenever possible.
• When changing rainbow stripes, twist yarns neatly on the inside to avoid holes.
• Leave long yarn tails on small parts because they are useful for sewing.

Color Order for Rainbow Overalls

The overalls in the image have bright horizontal stripes. Use this order from top to bottom for the main shorts section: red, orange, yellow, green, aqua blue, purple, pale yellow, orange, and red at the cuffs.

• Upper bib: solid red.
• Shorts body: two rounds each of orange, yellow, green, aqua blue, purple, pale yellow, orange, and red.
• Leg cuffs: red ribbing.
• Shoulder straps: red straps with small front buttons.

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Head

Work the head in baby blue yarn. Knit tightly so the head becomes round and smooth like the image. The head is larger than the body and should have a soft, plush, almost balloon-like shape.

1. CO 8 sts onto double-pointed needles. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. PM for beginning of round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts. 8 sts.
3. Rnd 2: KFB in every st around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: K all sts.
5. Rnd 4: K1, KFB, repeat around. 24 sts.
6. Rnd 5: K all sts.
7. Rnd 6: K2, KFB, repeat around. 32 sts.
8. Rnd 7: K all sts.
9. Rnd 8: K3, KFB, repeat around. 40 sts.
10. Rnd 9: K all sts.
11. Rnd 10: K4, KFB, repeat around. 48 sts.
12. Rnd 11: K all sts.
13. Rnd 12: K5, KFB, repeat around. 56 sts.
14. Rnd 13: K all sts.
15. Rnd 14: K6, KFB, repeat around. 64 sts.
16. Rnd 15: K all sts.
17. Rnd 16: K7, KFB, repeat around. 72 sts.
18. Rnds 17-31: K all sts for 15 rounds.
19. Rnd 32: K7, K2tog, repeat around. 64 sts.
20. Rnd 33: K all sts.
21. Rnd 34: K6, K2tog, repeat around. 56 sts.
22. Rnd 35: K all sts.
23. Rnd 36: K5, K2tog, repeat around. 48 sts.
24. Rnd 37: K all sts.
25. Rnd 38: K4, K2tog, repeat around. 40 sts.

Pause here and begin stuffing the head. Shape the front slightly flatter than the back by pressing gently with your fingers. Add stuffing in small pieces so the surface stays even.

1. Rnd 39: K all sts.
2. Rnd 40: K3, K2tog, repeat around. 32 sts.
3. Rnd 41: K all sts.
4. Rnd 42: K2, K2tog, repeat around. 24 sts.
5. Rnd 43: K1, K2tog, repeat around. 16 sts.
6. Rnd 44: K2tog around. 8 sts.
7. Cut yarn, thread through remaining 8 sts, pull closed, and weave in end.

Trunk

The trunk is short, rounded, and centered vertically between the eyes. It is thicker at the base and softly rounded at the tip. It should project straight forward, not hang down.

1. With baby blue yarn, CO 12 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-2: K all sts.
3. Rnd 3: K3, KFB, repeat around. 15 sts.
4. Rnds 4-11: K all sts.
5. Rnd 12: K3, K2tog, repeat around. 12 sts.
6. Rnd 13: K all sts.
7. Rnd 14: K2, K2tog, repeat around. 9 sts.
8. Rnd 15: K all sts.
9. Cut yarn, thread through 9 sts, pull closed, and secure.

Stuff the trunk very lightly. The tip should be rounded but not hard. Sew the wider base to the center front of the head over Rnds 21-31 of the head, using baby blue yarn and small ladder stitches.

Ears

The ears are round, wide discs placed on both sides of the head. They sit slightly lower than the top of the head and slightly behind the eye line. Each ear is worked as two circles joined together for a soft padded look.

Make 4 Ear Circles

1. With baby blue yarn, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts. 8 sts.
3. Rnd 2: KFB in every st around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: K all sts.
5. Rnd 4: K1, KFB, repeat around. 24 sts.
6. Rnd 5: K all sts.
7. Rnd 6: K2, KFB, repeat around. 32 sts.
8. Rnd 7: K all sts.
9. Rnd 8: K3, KFB, repeat around. 40 sts.
10. Rnds 9-10: K all sts.
11. BO loosely, leaving a long tail on two of the four circles.

Place two circles wrong sides together. Sew around the edge with the long tail, adding a thin layer of stuffing before closing completely. Repeat for the second ear.

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Attach ears to the head from Rnds 19-31, centered on each side. The front edge of each ear should start about 8 stitches behind the trunk base. Sew firmly around the inner third of the ear so the outer edge remains rounded.

Body

The body is smaller than the head and slightly tapered at the neck. The upper part is blue, but much of it is covered by the rainbow overalls. Work firmly and keep the front smooth.

1. With baby blue yarn, CO 12 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: KFB in every st around. 24 sts.
4. Rnd 3: K all sts.
5. Rnd 4: K3, KFB, repeat around. 30 sts.
6. Rnd 5: K all sts.
7. Rnd 6: K4, KFB, repeat around. 36 sts.
8. Rnds 7-12: K all sts.
9. Rnd 13: K5, KFB, repeat around. 42 sts.
10. Rnds 14-23: K all sts.
11. Rnd 24: K5, K2tog, repeat around. 36 sts.
12. Rnd 25: K all sts.
13. Rnd 26: K4, K2tog, repeat around. 30 sts.
14. Rnd 27: K all sts.
15. Rnd 28: K3, K2tog, repeat around. 24 sts.

Stuff the body firmly, shaping the belly rounder than the neck. The lower body should be wide enough to support the overalls and legs.

1. Rnd 29: K2, K2tog, repeat around. 18 sts.
2. Rnd 30: K1, K2tog, repeat around. 12 sts.
3. BO, leaving a long tail for sewing the head to the body.

Legs

The legs are long blue tubes visible below the rainbow shorts. They are straight, soft, and slightly tapered at the ankle. Make two identical legs.

1. With baby blue yarn, CO 18 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-5: K1, P1 rib around.
3. Rnds 6-23: K all sts.
4. Rnd 24: K4, K2tog, repeat around. 15 sts.
5. Rnds 25-27: K all sts.
6. BO loosely, leaving a long tail.

Stuff the legs lightly so they remain flexible. Sew the top of each leg to the lower body, spacing them with a small gap at the center front. The feet and sandals will be added separately.

Feet

The feet are oval and sit flat under the legs. The front is rounded and slightly larger than the heel. Make two feet.

1. With baby blue yarn, CO 8 sts.
2. Row 1: K all sts.
3. Row 2: KFB, K6, KFB. 10 sts.
4. Row 3: K all sts.
5. Row 4: KFB, K8, KFB. 12 sts.
6. Rows 5-12: Work in St st, knitting RS rows and purling WS rows.
7. Row 13: SSK, K8, K2tog. 10 sts.
8. Row 14: P all sts.
9. Row 15: SSK, K6, K2tog. 8 sts.
10. BO, leaving a long tail.

Fold each foot slightly lengthwise and sew the side edges together to form a shallow oval. Add a small amount of stuffing. Sew one foot under each leg with the toe pointing forward.

Arms

The arms are blue, rounded at the ends, and hang downward at the sides. They are wider near the shoulder and narrower near the hand. Make two.

1. With baby blue yarn, CO 14 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: KFB, K5, KFB, K6, KFB. 17 sts.
4. Rnds 3-17: K all sts.
5. Rnd 18: K3, K2tog, repeat to last 2 sts, K2. 14 sts.
6. Rnds 19-21: K all sts.
7. Rnd 22: K2tog around. 7 sts.
8. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull closed, and secure.

Stuff each arm lightly. Sew the open shoulder edge to the upper sides of the body, just below the head seam. Angle the arms slightly forward so they frame the overalls.

Rainbow Overalls Shorts

The rainbow overalls are the main clothing feature. They fit over the body and upper legs like knitted shorts with a front bib. Work the shorts in the round from the waist downward, then divide for the leg openings.

Waist and Shorts Body

1. With red yarn, CO 48 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-4: K1, P1 rib around for the red waistband.
3. Change to orange.
4. Rnds 5-6: K all sts.
5. Change to yellow.
6. Rnds 7-8: K all sts.
7. Change to green.
8. Rnds 9-10: K all sts.
9. Change to aqua blue.
10. Rnds 11-12: K all sts.
11. Change to purple.
12. Rnds 13-14: K all sts.
13. Change to pale yellow.
14. Rnds 15-16: K all sts.
15. Change to orange.
16. Rnds 17-18: K all sts.

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Try the shorts body over the elephant body before dividing. It should sit below the blue neck and cover the lower belly. The stripe joins should stay at the center back.

Divide for Short Legs

1. Place first 24 sts on one needle for the right short leg and the remaining 24 sts on scrap yarn for the left short leg.
2. With red yarn, join to the first 24 sts.
3. Rnds 1-4: K1, P1 rib around for the red cuff.
4. BO in rib, leaving a tail to sew any gap at the crotch.
5. Return 24 held sts to needles.
6. Join red yarn and repeat Rnds 1-4 for the second cuff.
7. BO in rib.

Pull the overalls onto the body and legs. Sew the crotch gap closed with red yarn. Tack the waistband at center back with two tiny stitches so it stays in place.

Front Bib

The bib is solid red and rises from the front waistband to the upper chest. It has two small buttons at the top corners where the straps meet.

1. With red yarn and RS facing, pick up 18 sts from the front center of the red waistband.
2. Row 1: K all sts.
3. Row 2: P all sts.
4. Rows 3-10: Continue in St st.
5. Row 11: SSK, K14, K2tog. 16 sts.
6. Row 12: P all sts.
7. Row 13: SSK, K12, K2tog. 14 sts.
8. Row 14: P all sts.
9. Rows 15-16: Work in St st.
10. BO, leaving a tail for neatening side edges.

Sew the side edges of the bib lightly to the blue chest or to the waistband so the bib lies flat. Do not pull too tightly, because the rounded body needs room to stay smooth.

Overall Straps

The straps are red and cross over the shoulders from back waist to front bib. In the image, the buttons sit clearly at the top front corners.

1. With red yarn, CO 4 sts.
2. Knit every row until the strap measures 4.25 inches.
3. BO, leaving a long tail.
4. Make a second strap the same way.

Sew one end of each strap to the back waistband, about 7 stitches from the center back. Bring each strap over the shoulder and sew it to the top front corner of the bib. Sew a small wood button over each front strap end.

Red Winter Hat

The red hat sits on the upper left side of the elephant’s head. It has a folded ribbed brim, a pointed gathered top, and a white pom-pom.

1. With red yarn, CO 42 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-10: K1, P1 rib around for the folded brim.
3. Rnds 11-18: K all sts.
4. Rnd 19: K5, K2tog, repeat around. 36 sts.
5. Rnd 20: K all sts.
6. Rnd 21: K4, K2tog, repeat around. 30 sts.
7. Rnd 22: K all sts.
8. Rnd 23: K3, K2tog, repeat around. 24 sts.
9. Rnd 24: K all sts.
10. Rnd 25: K2, K2tog, repeat around. 18 sts.
11. Rnd 26: K1, K2tog, repeat around. 12 sts.
12. Rnd 27: K2tog around. 6 sts.
13. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull closed, and secure.

Fold the ribbed brim upward about 0.5 inch. Sew the hat to the head at a slight angle, with the lower brim touching the left ear area. Add a small white pom-pom to the tip.

Separate Rainbow Cap

The separate cap shown beside the elephant is a half-dome rainbow hat. It has horizontal rainbow stripes, a red lower edge, and a rounded crown.

1. With red yarn, CO 64 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-5: K1, P1 rib around.
3. Change to orange. Rnds 6-8: K all sts.
4. Change to yellow. Rnds 9-11: K all sts.
5. Change to green. Rnds 12-14: K all sts.
6. Change to aqua blue. Rnds 15-17: K all sts.
7. Change to purple. Rnds 18-20: K all sts.
8. Change to pink. Rnds 21-23: K all sts.
9. Change to red. Rnd 24: K6, K2tog, repeat around. 56 sts.
10. Rnd 25: K all sts.
11. Change to purple. Rnd 26: K5, K2tog, repeat around. 48 sts.
12. Rnd 27: K all sts.
13. Change to blue. Rnd 28: K4, K2tog, repeat around. 40 sts.
14. Rnd 29: K all sts.
15. Change to green. Rnd 30: K3, K2tog, repeat around. 32 sts.
16. Change to yellow. Rnd 31: K2, K2tog, repeat around. 24 sts.
17. Change to orange. Rnd 32: K1, K2tog, repeat around. 16 sts.
18. Change to red. Rnd 33: K2tog around. 8 sts.
19. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, pull closed, and weave in ends.

Lightly steam the cap without pressing it flat. Shape it into a soft dome with the red brim at the bottom and the rainbow crown facing upward.

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Crossbody Strap

The crossbody strap is lavender and runs diagonally from the elephant’s right shoulder to the small bag at the left hip. Make it narrow but visible.

1. With lavender yarn and smaller needles, CO 3 sts.
2. Work i-cord for 8.5 inches: K3, slide sts to the other end of the needle, bring yarn behind, and K3 again.
3. Repeat until the cord reaches the correct length.
4. BO and leave a tail at both ends.

Sew one end behind the right shoulder and the other end to the upper corner of the small bag. The strap should cross over the red bib and rainbow overalls.

Small Flower Bag

The bag is small, colorful, and worn at the front left hip. It has a turquoise lower body, rainbow stripes, and a tiny flower decoration on the front.

Bag Body

1. With teal yarn, CO 16 sts.
2. Row 1: K all sts.
3. Row 2: P all sts.
4. Rows 3-4: Continue in St st with teal.
5. Change to purple. Rows 5-6: St st.
6. Change to yellow. Rows 7-8: St st.
7. Change to red. Rows 9-10: St st.
8. Change to teal. Rows 11-12: St st.
9. BO, leaving a long sewing tail.

Fold the rectangle in half with RS facing out. Sew the side edges closed, leaving the top open. Lightly flatten the bag instead of stuffing it heavily.

Bag Flap

1. With teal yarn, CO 16 sts.
2. Rows 1-4: Work in garter stitch.
3. Row 5: SSK, K12, K2tog. 14 sts.
4. Row 6: K all sts.
5. BO.

Sew the straight edge of the flap to the top back of the bag. Let the shaped edge fold over the front.

Bag Flower

1. With yellow yarn, CO 5 sts and join carefully in the round.
2. Rnd 1: KFB in every st. 10 sts.
3. Rnd 2: K2tog around. 5 sts.
4. Cut yarn, pull closed, and sew to the front of the bag.
5. For petals, use pink or red yarn and make five small straight stitches around the yellow center.

Attach the bag to the elephant’s left hip, just over the purple and yellow stripes. Sew through the back of the bag only so the front remains neat.

Sandals

The sandals sit over the blue feet. They have tan soles, pale mint edging, brown top straps, and small flower accents on the outer sides.

Sandal Soles

1. With tan yarn and smaller needles, CO 10 sts.
2. Row 1: K all sts.
3. Row 2: KFB, K8, KFB. 12 sts.
4. Rows 3-8: K all sts for garter texture.
5. Row 9: SSK, K8, K2tog. 10 sts.
6. Row 10: K all sts.
7. BO.
8. Make a second sole.

Sew each tan sole under the blue foot. The sole should show slightly around the edge, like a little sandal base.

Mint Edge

1. With mint yarn, embroider a chain stitch or whipstitch around the outer edge of each tan sole.
2. Place stitches about 0.12 inch apart so the edging looks even.
3. Hide yarn tails under the foot.

Brown Straps

1. With brown yarn, CO 3 sts.
2. Knit 16 rows in garter stitch.
3. BO and leave tails.
4. Make two straps.

Sew one strap across the top of each foot from inner side to outer side. Curve the strap slightly so it looks like it wraps over the blue foot.

Tiny Sandal Flowers

1. With pink yarn, make three short straight stitches in one spot on the outer side of the first sandal.
2. With mint yarn, make three short straight stitches on the outer side of the second sandal.
3. Add one tiny yellow center stitch to each flower.

Acorns

The two small acorns beside the elephant are knitted separately. One is lighter tan and one is warmer brown. Both have textured caps and small pointed stems.

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Acorn Body

1. With tan or brown yarn, CO 8 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: K all sts.
3. Rnd 2: KFB in every st around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 3: K all sts.
5. Rnd 4: K3, KFB, repeat around. 20 sts.
6. Rnds 5-10: K all sts.
7. Rnd 11: K3, K2tog, repeat around. 16 sts.
8. Rnd 12: K2, K2tog, repeat around. 12 sts.
9. Stuff lightly.
10. Rnd 13: K2tog around. 6 sts.
11. Cut yarn, thread through remaining sts, and close.

Acorn Cap

1. With darker brown yarn, CO 20 sts. Join in the round.
2. Rnds 1-4: K1, P1 rib around for texture.
3. Rnd 5: K3, K2tog, repeat around. 16 sts.
4. Rnd 6: K2, K2tog, repeat around. 12 sts.
5. Rnd 7: K1, K2tog, repeat around. 8 sts.
6. BO, leaving a tail.

Sew the cap over the wider top of the acorn body. For the little stem, CO 3 sts with brown yarn, knit 4 rows, BO, roll tightly, and sew to the cap top.

Facial Details

The face is sweet and minimal. The trunk is centered, the black eyes sit on either side, the eyebrows are fine curved stitches, and the cheeks are soft pink circles.

• Place eyes between head Rnds 24 and 25, about 8 stitches apart, with the trunk centered between them.
• If using beads, sew them on after the trunk is attached so you can align the expression correctly.
• Use black embroidery thread to make one small curved eyebrow above each eye.
• Each eyebrow should be about 0.35 inch long and angled gently upward toward the outside.
• Use pink yarn or embroidery floss to stitch round blush patches below the eyes.
• Each blush patch should be about 0.65 inch wide and made with 7 to 9 soft horizontal stitches.

Joining Head to Body

Place the body upright and position the head on top. The head should sit slightly forward so the elephant looks balanced and cute. The trunk must point forward, not downward.

1. Pin the head to the neck opening of the body.
2. Check that both ears are level and the overalls are centered under the face.
3. Using baby blue yarn, sew around the neck twice with firm ladder stitches.
4. Add a little extra stuffing into the neck before closing the last inch.
5. Pull the yarn snug, knot securely, and bury the end inside the body.

Final Assembly and Facial Detailing

Attach the arms after the head is secure. Place each arm at the side of the body, beginning just under the head seam. The arms should angle slightly downward and rest beside the rainbow overalls.

Sew the red hat at an angle on the upper left side of the head. Attach the pom-pom firmly so it does not tilt too far forward. Add the crossbody strap after the hat and arms are finished.

• Check that the trunk is centered between the eyes.
• Check that the ears sit evenly on both sides of the head.
• Check that the bib is centered on the body front.
• Check that the buttons are level and visible.
• Check that the bag rests at the lower left front of the overalls.
• Check that the sandals are even and the flowers face outward.

Care Notes

Spot clean the toy with a damp cloth and mild soap. Do not soak the elephant if you used wooden buttons, beads, or a faux pom-pom. Let the toy air dry fully before storing or displaying.

If the toy is intended for a young child, replace beads and buttons with embroidered details. Sew all accessories very securely and skip any detachable acorns or separate cap for safety.

Quick Checklist Before You Finish

• The head is round, smooth, and larger than the body.
• The trunk is short, raised, and centered.
• The ears are padded circles attached slightly behind the eyes.
• The overalls have clear rainbow stripes and a red bib.
• The red hat has a folded brim and white pom-pom.
• The lavender strap crosses diagonally across the chest.
• The small flower bag sits on the left hip.
• The sandals have tan soles, brown straps, mint edging, and tiny flowers.
• The rainbow cap and acorns are finished as matching display pieces.

Detailed Cleaning and Preservation Guidelines

Keep the knitted elephant away from direct sunlight for long periods because the rainbow colors may fade. Store it in a dry place with gentle support around the head and ears so the shape does not flatten.

To refresh the surface, use a soft lint brush and brush in the direction of the knit stitches. If the overalls or hat become slightly misshapen, reshape them gently by hand without pulling the seams.

For long-term storage, wrap the elephant loosely in acid-free tissue paper. Do not compress the trunk, ears, hat, or bag. Store the separate rainbow cap and acorns beside the elephant in the same box so the full set stays together.