The towel elephant, the one that started it all. Once on Thanksgiving I posted a picture of a towel turkey on facebook. Then Lauren of Australia (who does not understand about Thanksgiving, being Australian and all) posted a picture of a towel elephant, saying it trumped my turkey. I put up a poll about that, and after it kept getting a ton of google hits from people wanting to know how to fold towel animals, I decided I needed to write a blog about it, even though I wasn’t very good at it at the time. I’ve learned a lot more now, partly from the videos we made on our last cruise, but mainly from dissecting them into steps for these blogs.
What You Need to Make a Towel Elephant
Supplies needed: One bath towel, One hand towel, eyes (which can be paper, felt, googly eyes, whatever works.)
How to Fold a Towel Elephant Body
Start with the bath towel. This one does not take the standard body so many of the other animals use.
Lay the bath towel out flat and fold a few inches over on both long sides.
Roll both ends into the middle.
Fold in half with rolls to the outside and stand up for a body with four sturdy round legs.
How to Make a Towel Elephant Head
Using the hand towel, either tuck a bit of the center of one long side under your chin, or hang it on a hook or peg on the wall if you have one available.
Roll both sides toward the middle so it ends up somewhat triangular with two rolls.
If you have a good imagination, it resembles a paper airplane at this stage.
Turn rolled towel over and fold the middle part at the wide end down to make the forehead. Then pull the ends of the rolls out to each side to shape into ears.
Curl the pointy end into a trunk. Position trunk as desired.
Shape the ears, place onto the elephant body and decorate with eyes. For a sturdier, more portable elephant head you can safety pin the rolls together on the back, or run a pipe cleaner around it under the fold.
Now you have a finished towel elephant.
Coming up next in this towel animal folding series: TOWEL TURTLE
Click this link for instructions on how to fold a variety of other towel animals.
Copyright My Cruise Stories 2012
Cute!
It’s just so cute and cheerful!
Grandma Lois, can you make one for me?
Next time I come to Australia. For now you’ll just have to ask your mom to follow the directions in the blog so she can make you one.
Aw, that elephant is just adorable. I can see the kids loving these.
Thanks. Kids aren’t the only ones that love towel animals!
omg, My sister loves elephants. I just shared this on FB, tagging her in it. She’ll probably make this for herself under the guise of making it for her kids! LOL
This is awesome!
Thanks. I’m with your sister on that, I usually have several towel animals around.
This is awesome !!!
Thanks:)
I remember while on our cruises wondering how these were made. Now the secret’s out! Thanks for sharing!
Awesome! I will have to try this.