How to Make a Towel Elephant

Making a towel elephant will add some whimsy to the room of any house guest.

Many fancy hotels, bed and breakfasts, and cruise ships will fold towels into the shapes of animals, such as a rabbit, snake or swan, and place them on your bed.

One of the most popular animals to make with folded towels is an elephant. Whether you want to make one just for fun or to impress a visiting house guest, use the following directions and you'll have a towel elephant in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Medium-sized white or gray bath towel
• White or gray hand towel

Instructions

Folding the Bath Towel into the Elephant's Body

1. Lay your bath towel out on a flat surface lengthwise. Make sure the towel is as flat as possible.

2. Fold the top and bottom ends inward exactly 6 inches. Once folded, fold the ends inward again another 6 inches.

3. Roll each of the sides inward halfway so that they meet in the middle and resemble two cylinders.

4. Fold the towel in half lengthwise. Set the towel upright so that the folded towel now resembles the four legs of the elephant. If need be, flare out the bottom of each "leg" so that the elephant will stand sturdily.

Folding the Hand Towel into the Elephant's Head

1. Lay the hand towel out on a flat surface widthwise. Make sure the towel is as flat as possible.

2. Fold the bottom two corners of the towel so that they meet in the center of the top edge. At this point, your towel should resemble an upside-down triangle.

3. Roll the two diagonal sides of the towel inward toward the center so that the two rolls meet.

4. Flip the towel over and grasp the towel firmly in the center. Pull the two loose ends at the top of the towel down on each side so that they will resemble the big ears of an elephant.

5. Place the "head," or hand towel, onto the already folded up bath towel. Properly center the "head" so that it doesn't fall off the "body," and your elephant is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• For an added touch, put a pair of sunglasses onto the "head" of the elephant or have the color of the towels you use be an unusual color for an elephant, like yellow or purple.

References

• "The Lost Art of Towel Origami"; Alison Jenkins; 2005