Pattern Description:
Make your adorable small hippo with this beginner-friendly, free crochet pattern! This tiny hippo is quick to whip up in just an hour or two, featuring a chubby nose, stumpy legs, and a cute tail.
It’s small enough to sit in the palm of your hand and uses only single crochet stitches, though attaching small parts may require some patience.
Skill Level:
Beginner
Materials Needed:
- Yarn: DROPS Cotton Light (DK weight cotton/polyester blend) – approx. 15g or 32m (115 yd)
- Hook: 2.50 – 3.00 mm (US C-2 to D-3)
- Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill or similar
- Eyes: 6 mm (1/4”) safety eyes or buttons/beads/felt
- Notions:
- Pink embroidery floss (for nostrils)
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Stitch marker or scrap yarn
- Finished Size: Approx. 6.5 cm (2½”) tall and 10 cm (4”) long when using DK weight yarn and a 2.50 mm hook.
Abbreviations (US Terms):
- mr – Magic ring
- sc – Single crochet
- sl st – Slip stitch
- ch – Chain
- inc – Increase (2 sc in one stitch)
- dec – Invisible decrease (sc two stitches together)
- (sc 4, inc) x n – Repeat the sequence in parentheses n times
- (36) – Number of stitches in round after completion
Pattern Notes:
- Work in a continuous spiral unless otherwise stated.
- Use a stitch marker to track the beginning of each round.
- All stitches are worked through both loops unless indicated.
Stitching Instructions for Making the Small Hippo Pattern:
HEAD
- Round 1: mr, 6 sc (6)
- Round 2: inc in each st (12)
- Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- Round 4: (inc, sc 2) x 6 (24)
- Rounds 5-8: sc in each st (24)
- Round 9: (sc 2, dec) x 5, sc 4 (19)
- Round 10: sc around (19)
- Round 11: sc 3, dec, sc 8, dec, sc 4 (17)
- Round 12: sc 5, dec, sc 2, dec, sc 6 (15)
- Rounds 13–14: sc around (15)
- Insert Eyes: Between rounds 12 and 13, across 5 stitches (4 holes apart).
- Round 15: (sc, dec) x 5 (10)
- Round 16: dec x 5 (5)
- Stuff Head Firmly: Begin after Round 9 and continue until end.
- Finish: Cut yarn, leave a long tail. Use needle to close the remaining hole.
- Nostrils: Embroider over Round 5 using pink floss.
EARS (Make 2)
- Round 1: mr, 5 sc (5)
- Round 2: sc around (5)
- Round 3: sc 1, dec, leave remaining sts unworked. (Only 2 worked.)
- Finishing: Sl st in next st. Cut yarn, leave tail for sewing. Flatten ear.
- Attach: Sew to head between Rounds 15 and 16. Do not stuff.
BODY
- Round 1: mr, 6 sc (6)
- Round 2: inc in each st (12)
- Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- Round 4: (sc 3, inc) x 4, sc 2 (22)
- Rounds 5–12: sc around (22)
- Round 13: (sc 3, dec) x 4, sc 2 (18)
- Start Stuffing Round 14: (sc, dec) x 6 (12)
- Round 15: dec x 6 (6)
- Finish: Stuff firmly. Cut yarn, leave tail, and close the hole.
- Attach: Sew head to body securely using small whip stitches.
LEGS (Make 4)
- Round 1: mr, 6 sc (6)
- Round 2: (sc, inc) x 3 (9)
- Rounds 3-4: sc around (9)
- Finish: Sl st in next st, cut yarn, leave a tail. Stuff firmly.
- Attach: Sew legs evenly to bottom of body using a whip stitch.
TAIL
- Start with a slip knot, leaving a 10 cm (4”) tail.
- Ch 5, cut yarn leaving another 10 cm (4”) tail, fasten off.
- Cut another 20 cm (8”) strand, pull it through last ch.
- Tie all strands in a firm overhand knot. Trim to desired length.
- Attach tail above Round 3 on back of body.
Assembly
Once all parts are crocheted:
- Attach ears, legs, and tail.
- Stitch head to body.
- Embroider details like nostrils.
Your miniature hippo is now ready to cuddle, display, or gift.
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