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Adorable Crochet Hippo Pattern: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Create your own cuddly companion with this detailed crochet hippo pattern. This project is designed for intermediate crocheters and results in a finished toy approximately 7.5 inches (19 cm) tall. Follow the steps below to craft this cute character, complete with a stylish little dress!

Materials You Will Need

• Yarn:
  • Grey cotton-acrylic blend yarn (e.g., Yarn Art Jeans color #49) for the body.
  • Mustard yellow cotton-acrylic blend yarn (e.g., Yarn Art Jeans color #84) for the dress.
  • A small amount of black cotton yarn for eye detailing.
• Crochet Hooks:
  • 2.0 mm hook (for the body).
  • 2.5 mm hook (for the dress).
• Notions:
  • Bead eyes.
  • 2 small buttons for the dress.
  • Fiberfill stuffing.
  • Tapestry needle.
  • Scissors.

Crochet Abbreviations (US Terms)

• MR: Magic Ring
• ch: Chain
• sc: Single Crochet
• dc: Double Crochet
• inc: Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
• dec: Decrease (sc 2 stitches together)
• sl st: Slip Stitch

Step 1: The Head

The head is worked in a continuous spiral. Do not join rounds unless specified.

• Round 1: Ch 9. Starting from the 2nd chain from the hook, work 7 sc, 3 sc in the last chain. Work 6 sc along the opposite side of the chain, then 1 inc. (18 sts)
• Round 2: Inc, 6 sc, 3 inc, 6 sc, 2 inc. (24 sts)
• Round 3: Inc, 7 sc, (inc, sc)*3, 6 sc, (inc, sc)*2. (30 sts)
• Round 4: Inc, 8 sc, (inc, 2 sc)*3, 6 sc, (inc, 2 sc)*2. (36 sts)
• Round 5: Inc, 9 sc, (inc, 3 sc)*3, 6 sc, (inc, 3 sc)*2. (42 sts)
• Rounds 6-7: Sc in each stitch around. (42 sts)
• Round 8: (5 sc, dec)*6. (36 sts)
• Round 9: (4 sc, dec)*6. (30 sts)
• Round 10: Sc in each stitch around. (30 sts)
• Round 11: 12 inc, 18 sc. (42 sts)
• Round 12: Sc in each stitch around. (42 sts)
• Round 13: (6 sc, inc)*6. (48 sts)
• Rounds 14-20: Sc in each stitch around. (48 sts)
• Round 21: (6 sc, dec)*6. (42 sts)
• Round 22: (5 sc, dec)*6. (36 sts)
• Round 23: (4 sc, dec)*6. (30 sts)
• Round 24: (3 sc, dec)*6. (24 sts)
• Round 25: (2 sc, dec)*6. (18 sts)

Note: Stuff the head firmly with fiberfill now.

• Round 26: (sc, dec)*6. (12 sts)
• Round 27: 6 dec. (6 sts)

Cut the yarn, weave the tail through the remaining stitches to close the hole, and secure it inside the head.

Step 2: The Ears (Make 2)

• Round 1: 6 sc in MR.
• Round 2: 6 inc. (12 sts)
• Round 3: Sc in each stitch around. (12 sts)

Fold the ear in half and work 2 sc through both layers to close the bottom. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Step 3: Shaping the Face

1. Eye Indentations: Use a tapestry needle and grey yarn to create indentations between rounds 10 and 11. Leave 8 stitches between the eyes. Pull the yarn from the neck area to the eye point and tie a secure knot to pull the face inward.
2. Eyes: Sew the bead eyes into the indentations.
3. Nostrils: Embroider the nostrils using grey yarn between rounds 4 and 5.
4. Ear Placement: Sew the ears onto round 20 of the head, leaving 12 stitches between them.

Step 4: The Arms (Make 2)

• Round 1: 5 sc in MR.
• Round 2: 5 inc. (10 sts)
• Rounds 3-19: Sc in each stitch around. (10 sts)

Stuff the arms lightly up to round 8 or 9. Fold the arm in half and sc 5 through both layers to close. Fasten off.

Step 5: Legs and Body

Legs: Work the first leg first.

• Round 1: 6 sc in MR.
• Round 2: 6 inc. (12 sts)
• Round 3: (3 sc, inc)*3. (15 sts)
• Rounds 4-11: Sc in each stitch around. (15 sts)

Stuff the leg. Do not cut the yarn. Ch 6, then join to the second leg using a slip stitch. Work back through the second leg (Rounds 1-11) to create the same leg structure.

Body:

• Round 12: 15 sc around first leg, 6 sc across the chain, 15 sc around second leg, 6 sc across the other side of the chain. (42 sts)
• Round 13: (inc, 6 sc)*6. (48 sts)
• Rounds 14-25: Sc in each stitch around. (48 sts)
• Round 26: (6 sc, dec)*6. (42 sts)
• Rounds 27-29: Sc in each stitch around. (42 sts)
• Round 30: (5 sc, dec)*6. (36 sts)
• Rounds 31-33: Sc in each stitch around. (36 sts)
• Round 34: (4 sc, dec)*6. (30 sts)
• Rounds 35-36: Sc in each stitch around. (30 sts)

Stuff the body firmly.

Joining the Arms:

• Round 37: 5 sc, 5 sc worked together with the left arm, 10 sc, 5 sc worked together with the right arm, 5 sc. (30 sts)
• Round 38: (3 sc, dec)*6. (24 sts)
• Round 39: Sc in each stitch around. (24 sts)

Stuff the top of the body. Fasten off, leaving a long tail to sew the head to the body.

Step 6: The Dress

Use a 2.5 mm hook and mustard yarn. This piece is worked in rows.

• Foundation: Ch 28, then ch 5 more for the loop (Total 33 ch). Start in the 6th chain from the hook.
• Row 1: 6 sc, 2 inc, 12 sc, 2 inc, 6 sc. (32 sts)
• Row 2: Ch 1, turn. 6 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, 12 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, 6 sc. (36 sts)
• Row 3: Ch 1, turn. 6 sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, 12 sc, inc, 4 sc, inc, 6 sc. (40 sts)
• Row 4: Ch 1, turn. 7 sc, ch 6 (skip 6 sts), 14 sc, ch 6 (skip 6 sts), 7 sc. (40 sts)
• Rows 5-10: Ch 1, turn. 40 sc. (6 rows)
• Row 11: Ch 5 for the loop, then starting from the 6th chain, work 40 sc.
• Row 12: Ch 2, work 40 inc using double crochet (dc) across. (80 sts). Join with a sl st to the first dc.
• Rows 13-14: Ch 2, work 80 dc around, join with sl st. (2 rows)

Fasten off and sew the two buttons to the front of the dress to close it.

Final Assembly

Sew the finished head to the body using the tail left from the body. Slip the dress onto your hippo and button it up. Your cute crochet hippo is now complete!

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