Craft Your Own Cuddly Hippo: A Free Crochet Pattern for Beginners!
Looking for a quick and easy crochet project that’s as fun to make as it is to snuggle? Meet the adorable, squishy hippo you can crochet in no time! This free pattern is perfect for beginners, with simple stitches and minimal sewing, yet it delivers an irresistibly soft and huggable finished product.
Whether you’re whipping one up for yourself, a little one in your life, or as a thoughtful handmade gift, this hippo is sure to bring smiles. Its chunky, plush design is inspired by those trendy cuddly toys we all love, but this one comes with the satisfaction of being entirely handmade.
Grab your favorite yarn, your trusty hook, and let’s create your new favorite companion!
Don’t forget to join my Facebook group HERE, 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! Don’t forget to share your finished projects using the hashtag #natalinacraft. I love seeing your beautiful work!
Hippo – Free Crochet Pattern
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:
- 1 Body
- 2 ears
- 1 mouth
Size:
- 1.5 inches (4 cm) with light worsted yarn (I used I love this cotton from Hobby Lobby)
- 2.5 inches (7 cm) with plush yarn (I used Premier Parfait chunky)
Material:
- Yarn calling for a US I-9 / 5.5 mm hook in dark grey, light grey and pink if you use worsted yarn OR Yarn calling for a US L-11 / 8 mm hook in dark grey, light grey and pink if you use plush yarn
- Size US C-2 / 2.75 mm crochet hook if you use worsted yarn (a larger hook can be used, your hippo will only be slightly bigger) OR Size US 7 / 4.5 mm crochet hook if you use plush yarn.
- 2 black safety eyes (6 mm) if you use worsted yarn OR 2 black safety eyes (9 mm) if you use plush yarn
- Stitch markers (if needed)
- Tapestry needle
- Polyfill
- White and pink felt for the teeth and the nostrils (or you can use white and pink yarn)
Abbreviations:
- chain (ch)
- magic ring (mr)
- single crochet (sc)
- increase (inc)
- invisible decrease (dec)
- slip stitch (sl st)
Pattern: How to crochet a Hippo?
Let’s start – Hippo – Free Crochet Pattern
The mouth – Hippo – Free Crochet Pattern
- The mouth is worked in rows. Use a stitch marker if needed.
With a 2.75 mm crochet and yarn in light grey OR with a 4.5 mm and yarn in light grey:
-
- Row 1: ch 5. (5)
- Row 2: starting in the 2nd ch from the hook: [1 sc in the next 3 ch, 1 sc and 1 sl st in the last ch]. (5)
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing. Keep it for later.
The ears (make 2) – Hippo – Free Crochet Pattern
- The ears are worked in continuous rounds (as a spiral). Use a stitch marker if needed.
If you work with worsted yarn:
With a 2.75 mm crochet and yarn in dark grey:
- Round 1: start 5 sc in a magic ring. (5)
- make 1 sl st in the first sc of Round 1
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing. Keep them for later.
If you work with chunky yarn:
With a 4.5 mm and yarn in dark grey:
- Round 1: ch2; make 4 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook. (4)
- make 1 sl st in the first sc of Round 1
Cut the yarn but leave a long tail for sewing. Keep them for later.
The body – Hippo – Free Crochet Pattern
- The body is worked in continuous rounds (as a spiral). Use a stitch marker if needed.
- Remember to stuff as you crochet.
With a 2.75 mm crochet and yarn in dark grey OR with a 4.5 mm and yarn in dark grey:
-
- Round 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring. (6) – NB: if you work with plush yarn: ch2; make 6 sc in the 2nd ch from the hook. (6)
- Round 2: [6 inc]. (12)
- Round 3: [1 inc in the next st, 1 sc]x6. (18)
- Rounds 4-10: [1 sc in all st]. (18)
Place the eyes between Rounds 9 and 10, spaced by 2 st.
I suggest not attaching them yet. It would be easier to sew the mouth before attaching the back of the safety eyes.
Sew the mouth to the head, centered below the eyes. The bottom of the mouth should be between Rounds 6 and 7. The top of the mouth should be between Rounds 8 and 9.
Put the back of the safety eyes and keep working on the head.
- Round 11: [1 dec, 1 sc]x6. (12)
- Round 12: [6 dec]. (6)
Cut the yarn, close the body and fasten off.
Sew the ears to the head over Round 11.
If you use worsted yarn:
Cut two circles of pink 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 pink stitches.
Cut two circles of white felt (4 mm / 5/32”) and stick them under the mouth to make the teeth. You can also make 2 little white stitches.
If you use chunky yarn:
Cut two circles of pink felt (5 mm / 3/16”) 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 pink stitches.
Cut two circles of white felt (6 mm / 7/32”) and stick them under the mouth to make the teeth. You can also make 2 little white stitches.
The belly – Hippo – Free Crochet Pattern
If you use worsted yarn:
With the pink yarn and your tapestry needle:
Between Rounds 3 and 4, cover 4 stitches in the middle of the body. Do it two more times, so you will have 3 strands of yarn covering the belly.
Between Rounds 4 and 5, cover 3 stitches in the middle of the body. Do it one more time, so you will have 2 strands of yarn covering the belly.
Cut the yarn and fasten off.
If you use chunky yarn:
With the pink yarn and your tapestry needle:
Between Rounds 3 and 4, cover 4 stitches in the middle of the body. Do it two more times, so you will have 3 strands of yarn covering the belly.
Between Rounds 4 and 5, cover 3 stitches in the middle of the body.
Cut the yarn and fasten off.
Alternatively, you can also cut and stick/sew a round piece of pink felt.
Congratulations on crafting the cutest crochet hippo!
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