Find here a crochet pattern to make an adorable pocket hippo!
Looking for your next quick and adorable crochet project? This free crochet pattern is here to help you whip up a tiny hippo that’s as charming as it is versatile. Whether you’re crafting a pocket-sized companion to carry with you wherever you go or a cute keychain to add some handmade flair to your bag or keys, this little hippo is the perfect pick.
This pattern is beginner-friendly, fast to make, and requires only a small amount of yarn—ideal for using up your scraps! In no time, you’ll have a huggable (yet pocketable!) friend that’s sure to bring smiles.
Don’t forget to join my Facebook group, you can ask your questions, and share your finished projects. I will regularly ask you what pattern you would like to see next (or you can even suggest something even if I am not asking!).
I hope you will enjoy and understand the pattern. If you have any questions, please write to me, I will try my best to help you. And I would love to see your work!
Crochet Pattern Pocket Hippo
Start Here:
Please read the whole pattern properly before starting.
The pattern is written using US terms.
This pattern is made of the following parts:
- Body (legs/body/head in one piece)
- 2 ears
- 2 arms
- 1 mouth
Size:
- 2.25 inches (6 cm)
Material:
- Yarn calling for a 5.5 mm hook in grey
- Size 2.75 mm crochet hook. (a larger hook can be used, your pocket hippo will only be slightly bigger)
- 2 black safety eyes (6 mm)
- Stitch markers (if needed)
- Tapestry needle
- Black felt for the nostrils (or black yarn)
Abbreviations:
- chain (ch)
- magic ring (mr)
- single crochet (sc)
- increase (inc)
- invisible decrease (dec)
- slip stitch (sl st)
Pattern: How to crochet a pocket hippo?
The mouth – Pocket Hippo – Crochet Pattern
- The mouth is worked in continuous rounds. Use a stitch marker if needed.
With a 2.75 mm crochet and yarn in grey:
-
- Round 1: ch 7. (7)
- Round 2: starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: [1 sc in the next 5 ch, 2 sc in the next and last ch; now working on the other side of the chain: 1 sc in the next 5 ch]. (12)
- Round 3: [1 sc in all st]. (12)
- make 1 sl st in the next st.
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing. Keep it for later.
The ears (make 2) – Pocket Hippo – Crochet Pattern
- The ears are worked in continuous rounds (as a spiral). Use a stitch marker if needed.
With a 2.75 mm crochet and yarn in grey:
- Round 1: start 5 sc in a magic ring. (5)
- make 1 sl st in the next st
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing. Keep them for later.
The legs – Pocket Hippo – Crochet Pattern
- The legs are worked in continuous rounds (as a spiral). Use a stitch marker if needed.
– Leg 1:
With a 2.75 mm crochet and grey yarn.
-
- Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
- Rounds 2-3: [1 sc in all st]. (6)
Cut the yarn and fasten off. Fill the leg. Keep Leg 1 for later.
– Leg 2:
With a 2.75 mm crochet and grey yarn.
-
- Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
- Rounds 2-3: [1 sc in all st]. (6)
Fill the leg. Do not cut the yarn. In the next round, we will join both legs and keep working on the body and the head.
The body and head – Crochet Pocket Hippo.
- The body and head are worked in continuous rounds (as a spiral). Use a stitch marker if needed.
- Remember to stuff your work as you crochet.
Keep working with a 2.75 mm crochet and grey yarn.
In the next round, we will join both legs:
- Round 4: after the last round of leg 2: keep working now in Leg 1: 6 sc; now in Leg 2 again: 6 sc. (12)
- Rounds 5-9: [1 sc in all st]. (12)
- Round 10: [1 sc, 1 dec] x4. (8)
- Round 11: [8 inc]. (16)
- Rounds 12-15: [1 sc in all st]. (16)
Place the eyes between Rounds 14 and 15, spaced by 2 st. I would suggest not to attach them yet. It would be easier to sew the mouth before putting the back of the safety eyes.
Sew the mouth to the head, centered below the eyes. You can fill the mouth slightly. The bottom of the mouth should be between Rounds 10 and 11. The top of the mouth should be between Rounds 13 and 14.
Put the back of the safety eyes and keep working on the head.
- Round 16: [8 dec]. (8)
Fill and close the head with your tapestry needle.
Sew the ears to the head between Rounds 15 and 16.
Cut two circles of black felt (3 mm / 1/8”) and stick them to the mouth to make the nostrils (I used a hollow punch set to cut the circles – it works great and is the easiest tool I found to cut felt). You can also make 2 little black stitches.
The arms (make 2) – Crochet Pattern Pocket Hippo.
- The arms are worked in continuous rounds (as a spiral). Use a stitch marker if needed.
With a 2.75 mm crochet and yarn in grey:
- Round 1: start 5 sc in a magic ring. (5)
- Rounds 2-4: [1 sc in all st]. (5)
Cut the yarn (leave a long tail for sewing).
Sew the arms to the body. The top of the arms should be between rounds 8 and 9.
The tail – Crochet Pattern Pocket Hippo.
With a 2.75 mm crochet and yarn in grey:
- Row 1: ch 3. (3)
- Row 2: starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: 1 sc in the next 2 ch. (2)
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing.
Cut one strand of grey yarn (about 5.5″/14cm).
Insert the hair in the first sc of the tail: grab the yarn by the middle with your crochet hook, insert both ends into the loop, and tighten it up. Separate each strand of the yan as shown in the picture below and trim it to your desired length.
Sew the tail at the back of the body between rounds 5 and 6.
Congratulations! Your little crochet pocket hippo is done! Don’t forget to share a picture with me and tag me on social networks!
The O Family
We went to visit our favorite decorated house this week! We have been visiting this house every single year since 2017. The kids love it! Every year, more homes in this neighborhood are decorated. It’s amazing!
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