Free Hippo Crochet Pattern
***You can purchase an INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern in my shop! The 11 page PDF includes full instructions for the hippo, Santa hat and bow with tons of detailed pictures.
I am so excited to share this free hippo crochet pattern with you. I first made this hippo when Emerson was a baby and it was my very first time ever making something without a pattern. I finally decided to create a pattern for it and thought it would be perfect for Christmas time. Who doesn't want a hippopotamus for Christmas, right?
I've included instructions for the little Santa hat and the bow. You can also leave the hippo plain if you want one for everyday. I think they turned out so cute! Emerson loves the one with the Santa hat and couldn't wait until I was finished taking pictures of it so she could play. We named them Jingle & Joy.
Materials:
Approx. 180 yards of worsted weight yarn (I used one skein of I Love This Cotton yarn in pewter for the smaller hippo and Caron One Pound in grey for the larger hippo)
Size F or H crochet hooks
Tapestry needle
Fiber Fill to stuff Hippos
9mm or 12mm safety eyes
stitch markers
Notes:
Head and body are made in one piece.
Head/body piece and legs around worked in a continuous round. Instead of joining at the end of a round you will start the next round in the first stitch of the previous round.
Ears are worked back and fourth to create a semicircle shape.
size of the hippos depend on the size of the hook. Play around with yarn weight and hook size until you find the look you desire.
I strongly suggest using stitch markers to keep your place as it can be confusing to know which round you are on.
Pattern
Head & Body
(working in the round)
Make a magic circle
Round1: ch1, 6 sc into magic circle, then pull tight. (6)
Round 2: 2sc in each stitch around. (12)
Round 3: *2sc in first stitch(st) sc in next* repeat 5 times. (18)
Round 4: *2sc in first st, sc 2* repeat 5 times. (24)
Round 5: *2sc in first st, sc 3* repeat 5 times. (30)
Round 6: *2sc in first st, sc 4* repeat 5 times. (36)
Round 7: *2sc in first st, sc 5* repeat 5 times. (42)
Round 8-15: sc around. (42)
Round 16: *2sc in first st, sc in next st* repeat 5 times, sc in each remaining stitch around. (48)
Round 17: *2sc in first st, sc 3* repeat 5 times, sc in each remaining stitch around. (54)
Round 18: sc around. (54)
Round 19: *sc2tog, sc 3* repeat 5 times, sc in each remaining stitch.(48)
Round 20: sc around. (48)
Round 21: *sc2tog, sc 2* repeat 5 times, sc in each remaining stitch. (42)
Round 22-23: sc around. (42)
Round 24: *sc2tog, sc 5* repeat 5 times. (36)
Round 25: sc around. (36)
Attach safety eyes at the bottom of the forehead on round 15. If you look at the hippo’s head you will see where you created 6 increases in rounds 16&17. Place the eyes between the third and fourth increase. (see pictures below). Then stuff the head and continue with the pattern.
Round 26: *2sc in first stitch, sc 5* repeat 5 times. (42)
Round 27: *2sc in first stitch, sc 6* repeat 5 times. (48)
Round 28: *2sc in first stitch, sc 7* repeat 5 times. (54)
Round 29-47: sc around. (54)
Round 48: *sc2tog, sc 7* repeat 5 times. (48)
Round 49: *sc2tog, sc 6* repeat 5 times. (42)
Round 50: *sc2tog, sc 5* repeat 5 times. (36)
Stuff the hippo as much as possible and continue to add stuffing as you go.
Round 51: *sc2tog, sc 4* repeat 5 times. (30)
Round 52: *sc2tog, sc 3* repeat 5 times. (24)
Round 53: *sc2tog, sc 2* repeat 5 times. (18)
Round 54: *sc2tog, sc* repeat 5 times. (12)
Round 55: *sc2tog* repeat 5 times. (6)
Ch 8, 3hdc in second chain from hook. Slip stitch back down the chain until you reach the end. Leave a long tail for sewing. Add a bit more stuffing if needed and then sew up the hole and weave in the ends.
Legs (make 4)
Make a magic ring
Round 1: ch1, sc 6 into magic ring and then tighten. (6)
Round 2: 2sc in each stitch around. (12)
Round 3: *2sc in first stitch, sc in next* repeat 5 times. (18)
Round 4: sc around in back loop only. (18)
Round 5-7: sc around. (18)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff legs and sew to bottom of body.
For the ears you will crochet back and fourth NOT in the round.
Ears (make 2)
Round 1: ch 2, 3sc in second ch from hook, ch1 turn. (3)
Round 2: 2sc in each stitch across, ch1, turn. (6)
Round 3: *2sc in first st, sc in next* repeat 2 times. (9)
Round 4: *2sc in first st, sc 2* repeat 2 times. (12)
Round 5: *2sc in first st, sc 3* repeat 2 times. (15)
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Weave the tail through the bottom of the ear to gather a bit and then sew to the top of the head on round 18 curving the ear just a little.
Santa Hat
(Use a hook 2 sizes bigger than the one you used to make the hippo)
With red yarn make a magic ring.
Round 1: ch1, 4 sc into magic ring. (4)
Round 2: sc in each stitch around. (4)
Round 3: 2sc in each stitch around. (8)
Round 4: sc around. (8)
Round 5: *2sc in first stitch, sc in next* repeat 3 times. (12)
Round 6: sc around. (12)
Round 7: *2sc in first stitch, sc 2* repeat 3 times. (16)
Round 8: sc around. (16)
Round 9: *2sc in first stitch, sc 3* repeat 3 times. (20)
Round 10: sc around. (20)
Round 11: *2sc in first st, sc 4* repeat 3 times. (24)
Round 12: sc around. (24)
Switch to white yarn.
Round 13: *2sc in first st, sc 5* repeat 3 times. (28)
Round 14: sc around. (28)
Fasten off and leave a long tail if you want to attach the hat to the hippo’s head.
Create a small pom-pom using white yarn with a pom-pom maker or with two fingers and attach to the top of the hat.
Bow
Ch 10
Row 1: starting in the second chain from the hook sc across. Ch1, turn. (9)
Row 2: sc across (9)
Row 3: sc across (9)
Row 4: sc across (9)
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Weave in starting end. Weave long end down the side and through to the middle. Pinch center together and sew a few stitches. Wrap yarn around center and tie a knot in the back. Attach to the ear or top of head.
I hope you enjoyed making a hippopotamus for Christmas! They make perfect gifts for the little ones in your life or even for the hippo enthusiast. Emerson has claimed the dark grey one as her own, but we might put him out each year as a Christmas decoration.
I've listed the larger hippo, Joy, in my shop. You can find her here along with the inexpensive PDF pattern here.
Happy crocheting!
***You are free to sell any finished items made with this pattern. Please give credit to the designer by linking back to www.meghanmakesdo.com or @meghanmakesdo on social media. Do not use my images as your own. Do not duplicate or sell this pattern as your own. Thank you! ***
I would love to see what you create. Use #meghanmakesdo on social media so I can check it out!
