Are you looking for a fun and creative project to tackle? Introducing the cutest of all crochet creatures – baby hippos! This pattern is perfect for beginners who want to make something special, as it includes easy-to-follow instructions that’ll have your little friend made in no time.
The best part about this baby hippo crochet pattern is its versatility; you can use any type of yarn or stuffing materials to create your own unique design. Plus, they make great gifts too! If you know someone with a love of animals or crafting, why not surprise them with one of these adorable creations?
What better way to show how much you care than by making something handmade from scratch?
This pattern will provide hours of entertainment and creativity, so get out those needles and let’s get started on our very own baby hippo creation!
Pattern by: CatKnit
Materials
- Colour A (2 balls):
- Rico Ricorumi Spin Spin DK – Grey Colour B:
- Rico Ricorumi DK – Black Colour C:
- Rico Ricorumi DK – White
- Colour D:
- Rico Ricorumi DK – Rose
- Crochet Hook: 2.5mm
- Toy stuffing
You’ll be using both the start and end tail of colour A to achieve the right colour changes. Which to use for each part is specified in the pattern.
Head
Round 1: Using colour A, starting with the outer lighter shade, ch 19
Round 2: Starting in the second ch from the hook, sc 18 (18)
Round 3-19: Sc 18, ch 1 (does not count as st), turn (18)
You’ll now start working around the full square starting where your last sc ended, do NOT turn the work.
Round 20: Ch 1 (counts as st, this is the first st of the round), crochet 16 sts down the edge, ch 1 (counts as st), sc 18, ch 1 (counts as st), sc 16, ch 1 (counts as st), sc 18 (72)
Round 21: Sc in BLO
Round 22-23: Sc in each st
Round 24: [10 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (66)
Round 25-26: Sc in each st
Round 27: [9 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (60)
Round 28-29: Sc in each st
Round 30: [8 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (54)
Round 31-32: Sc in each st
Round 33: [7 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (48)
Round 34-35: Sc in each st
Round 36: [6 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (42)
Round 37: Sc in each st
Round 38: [5 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (36)
Round 39: Sc in each st
Round 40: [4 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (30)
Round 41: [3 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (24)
Round 42: [2 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (18)
Start stuffing the head firmly.
Round 43: [1 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (12)
Round 44: [Inv.dec] x6 (6)
Fasten off and top up the stuffing before sewing the last sts together.
Body
Round 1: Using colour A, starting with the inner darker shade, work 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12)
Round 3: [1 sc, 1 inc] x6 (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, 1 inc] x6 (24)
Round 5: [3 sc, 1 inc] x6 (30)
Round 6: [4 sc, 1 inc] x6 (36)
Round 7: [5 sc, 1 inc] x6 (42)
Round 8: [6 sc, 1 inc] x6 (48)
Round 9: [7 sc, 1 inc] x6 (54)
Round 10: [8 sc, 1 inc] x6 (60)
Round 11: [9 sc, 1 inc] x6 (66)
Round 12: [10 sc, 1 inc] x6 (72)
Round 13: [11 sc, 1 inc] x6 (78)
Round 14: [12 sc, 1 inc] x6 (84)
Round 15-19: Sc in each st
Round 20: [5 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6, sc in the rest of the sts (78)
Round 21: [11 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (72)
Round 22:[4 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6, sc in the rest of the sts (66)
Round 23: Sc in each st
Round 24: [9 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (60)
Round 25-26: Sc in each st
Round 27: [3 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6, sc in the rest of the sts (54)
Round 28: Sc in each st
Round 29: [7 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (48)
Round 30-32: Sc in each st
Round 33: [6 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (42)
Round 34: Sc in each st
Round 35: [5 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (36)
Round 36-37: Sc in each st
Round 38: [4 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (30)
Round 39: [3 sc, 1 inv.dec] x6 (24)
Now stuff the body firmly and with the belly part centered in the front, meaning your last st won’t be the starting point, sew (you won’t crochet this part like you did with the head) through both layers across the top of the body to close.
Legs x2
Start a new yarn ball
Round 1: using colour A, starting with the inner darker shade, work 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12)
Round 3: [1 sc, 1 inc] x6 (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, 1 inc] x6 (24)
Round 5: Sc in BLO
Round 6-7: Sc in each st
Round 8-10: Change to the inner shade of the previous yarn ball, sc in each st Fasten off leaving a tail for attaching the legs later, do NOT stuff.
Arms x2
Round 1: using colour A, starting with the starting with the inner darker shade of the new yarn ball, work 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12)
Round 3:[1 sc, 1 inc] x6 (18)
Round 4: Sc in BLO
Round 5-6: Sc in each st
Round 7-9: Change to the inner shade of the previous yarn ball, sc in each st Fasten off leaving a tail for attaching the arms later, do NOT stuff.
Ears x2
Part 1:
Round 1: using colour A, starting with the outer lighter shade, work 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: Inc in each st (12)
Round 3: [1 sc, 1 inc] x4 (18)
Sl st in the 3rd st from hook and fasten off leaving a tail for attaching later.
Part 2:
Round 1: using colour D, work 6 sc in magic ring (6) Sl st in the next st and fasten off leaving a tail for attaching later.
Place part 2 of the ear in front of part 1 and secure in place, you’ll want your sts to be below the ear so they get hidden when you attach the ear.
Nostrils x2
Round 1: using the outer lighter shade of colour A, ch 9
Round 2: starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc 8, fold and join to create a circle.
Tail
Round 1: using the inner shade of the previous yarn ball of colour A, ch 5
Round 2: starting in the second ch from the hook,
sc 4, ch 1 (does not count as st), turn
Round 3-4: Sc in each st, ch 1 (does not count as st), turn
Fasten off leaving a tail for attaching later.
With inner shade of the new yarn ball, cut a few lengths of thread and attach to the end of the tail,
to create the bushy look use a needle to separate each strand.
Eyes x2 part 1
Round 1: using colour C, work 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st (12)
Round 3: [1 sc, 1 inc] x6 (18)
Round 4: [2 sc, 1 inc] x6 (24)
Fasten off leaving a tail for attaching later.
Eyes x2 part 2
Round 1: using colour B, work 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Round 2: inc in each st (12)
Round 3: change to the inner shade of the previous yarn ball of colour A, [1 sc, 1 inc] x6 (18)
Fasten off, leaving a tail for attaching later. Using colour C, make a st across one of the sts in round 2, go over the same st 4 more times.
Assembly
- Head: Attach the flat seam of the body to row 25 of the head, secure the head with a few sts between the chin and body.
- Legs: Attach the legs across row 9-17 of the body, with 12 sts in between on row 13.
- Arms: Attach the arms across row 26-32 with 8 sts in between on row 29.
- Tail: Attach the the tail across row 12-13 in the middle of the back.
- Eyes: Attach the white part of the eyes across row 27-35 with 4 sts in between on row 30. Attach the 2nd part of the eye in the bottom inner corners of the white (you’ll want to fully overlap the corner so you don’t see any white) with the white twinkle landing at 10 and 2 o’clock angles.
- Ears: Attach the ears in row 4 with 6 sts in between
- Nostrils: Attach the nostrils to row 21, above the corners of the square part of the face.
- Mouth: Starting with the teeth, count 3 rows in from the side of the square part of the face and 6 sts down from top of the square part, using colour C make a downwards st across the next 2 sts, go over this st 4 more times. Repeat on the other side of the face. Using colour B, make a long st starting one st further out from the first tooth and ending one st further out than the second tooth.
