Cute Crochet Hippo: FREE DIY Amigurumi Pattern

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Free Crochet Hippo Pattern

Looking for the perfect crochet hippo pattern? I’ve got you covered! I am so excited to share this completely free crochet hippo pattern with you!

This free crochet amigurumi pattern makes the most adorable little guy. I had such a fun time designing this pattern, and I am very excited to share it with you, in the hopes you will enjoy it too!

Not only is this crochet hippo so much fun to make, but this cute crochet stuffed animal makes a great gift for all of the little people in your life. 

cute crochet hippo pattern

There are a few different finished size options for this adorable crochet hippo pattern, depending on which type of yarn, and crochet hook size you choose to use.

Below we will walk through the different factors that determine what size the hippo will turn out, as well as my personal favorite yarn to use when making this cute hippo! 

Crocheted Hippo Amigurumi Pattern

I am going to share with you detailed instructions that will walk you through the step-by-step instructions to make this an easy project.

Unlike other patterns, these instructions walk you through working in rounds, rather than continuous rounds. I wrote the instructions this way, because I have found them to be much easier to follow, and hope this will be the case for you as well! 

However, I would like to point out, that if you prefer to work in continuous rounds, you absolutely can. To do this, you will simply skip the part in the pattern where it says to join the round with a slip stitch, then just keep working the stitches.

Let’s jump right into the different materials you will need in order to make this cute crochet hippo pattern. We will also explore together the types of yarn that tend to work best, as well as crochet hook size recommendations.

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    Hippos in Different Sizes

    When determining the finished hippo size, there are a few different factors that will play into this. Although we are all following the same instructions, with the same number of stitches, yours may turn out larger or smaller than mine because of the type of yarn you use, the crochet hook size, and your natural stitching sizes.

    Let’s first look at how the type of yarn impacts the finished size of your hippo. 

    Pattern Notes

    The Yarn You Use

    There are many different types of yarn to choose from when making a crochet project. Some types of yarn are thin, like baby yarn, while others are thicker.

    There are also different weights of yarn, such as worsted weight yarn and medium weight yarn. The skein of yarn will have a label on it, stating what category that specific type falls under. 

    You can choose to use any type of yarn and have it turn out looking cute, but my personal preference is to go to the baby yarn section at Hobby Lobby and use the velvet yarn. Now, keep in mind you can choose any type of yarn or color for this little hippo. 

    If you want it to look more like a real hippo, then maybe a pale blue or gray color would be the best, or you can choose among all of the bright colors, or even use pink yarn to make a little lady pink amigurumi hippo. Just remember the thickness of the yarn will play a large part into the finished size of your hippo. 

    Crochet Hook Size

    The next important factor that will make your hippo turn out different sizes is the crochet hook size you select. You will want to select a hook that is appropriate for both the type of yarn you are using, as well as one that is appropriate for your stitches. 

    The yarn will typically have an mm crochet hook size recommendation right on the label. You can use this as a guide, but you may want to slightly adjust the size depending on how tight or lose you usually make your stitches. 

    Below are the materials I recommend using but feel free to change them up depending on your personal preferences. 

    child holding crochet hippo

    Materials Needed: 

    ·      2 skeins of gray velvet baby yarn

    ·      Size 7 or 4.50 mm hook

    ·      Stitch marker (optional)

    ·      Tapestry needle or Yarn needle for sewing

    ·      Scissors 

    ·      2 safety eyes

    ·      Colored floss for sewing face details

    Finished Hippo Size: approximately 11 inches tall

    Skill Level: Intermediate

    Abbreviations: 

    mr – magic ring (magic circle)

    sc – single crochet

    dc – double crochet 

    sl st – slip stitch

    dec (inv dec) – invisible decrease (Watch the YouTube Video to see how!)

    inc (sc inc) – single crochet increase (Watch the YouTube Video to see how)

    BLO – back loops only

    gray crochet hippo in my hand

    Cute Amigurumi Hippo: Free Pattern

    Huge Nose and Head

    Round 1: ch 7, in 2nd ch from the hook, make 2 sc st, sc in next 4 sts, 3 sc in last st, turn. Make sc in the next 5 sts, then join with a sl st to the first st. (14 sts)

    Round 2: ch 1, inc in the first 2 sts. Sc in the next 4 sts, inc in the next 3 sts, sc in next 4 sts, inc in the last st. Join with sl st. (20 sts)

    Round 3: ch 1, inc in the first st, sc, inc, sc in the next 5 sts. Inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, in the next 5 sts, inc, join with sl st. (26 sts)

    Round 4: ch 1, inc, 2 sc, inc, sc in the next 6 sts, inc, 2 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, sc in next 6 sts, inc, 2 sc, join with sl st. (32 sts)

    Round 5: ch 1, inc, 3 sc, inc, sc in the next 7 sts, inc, 3 sc, inc, 3 sc, inc, sc in the next 7 sts, inc, 3 sc, join with sl st. (38 sts)

    Round 6 – 7: ch 1, sc in each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first st. (38 sts)

    Round 8: ch 1, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc in the next 5 sts, inc in next 4 sts, sc in the next 5 sts, dec, sc, dec, sc in the next 12 sts. Join with sl st. (37 sts)

    Round 9: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (37 sts)

    Round 10: ch 1, sc, dec, sc in the next 3 sts, inc, (sc, inc) 7 times more [8 inc sts total]. Sc in the next 3 spaces, dec, sc in the next 13 sts, join with sl st. (45 sts)

    Round 11: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (45 sts)

    Round 12: ch 1, sc, inc x 2, sc in the next 27 sts, inc x 2, sc in the next 13 sts. Join with sl st. (49 sts)

    Round 13 – 18: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (49 sts)

    Round 19: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 4 sts), repeat around. Join with sl st. (41 sts)

    Round 20: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (41 sts)

    Round 21: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 3 sts), repeat around. Join with sl st. (33 sts)

    Round 22: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 2 sts), repeat around. Join with sl st. (25 sts)

    *At this point, you will want to insert safety eyes if desired and stuff the head. 

    Round 23: ch 1, (dec, sc), repeat around. Join with sl st. (17 sts)

    Round 24: ch 1, (dec), repeat around. Join with sl st. (9 sts)

    Finish off by cutting the yarn, threading a needle, and weaving it through each of the remaining stitches. Then pull tight, and weave in the ends of the yarn. 

    Crocheted hippopotamus

    Cute Ears (make 2)

    Round 1: ch 2, in 2nd ch from the hook, make 6 sc, join with sl st to form a circle. (6st)

    Round 2: Ch 1, (inc) in each st around, join with sl st. (12st)

    Round 3: Ch 1, (inc, 2 sc) repeat around. Join with sl st. (16st)

    Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16st)

    Round 5: Ch 1, (dec, sc) repeat around. Join with sl st. 

    Finish off and leave a long tail for sewing the ears to the head. 

    First Leg 

    Round 1: ch 2, 8 sc in the 1st ch space. Join with sl st to form a circle. (8st)

    Round 2: ch 1, (inc) x8, around. Join with sl st. (16st)

    Round 3: ch 1, in BLO sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16st)

    Round 4: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16st)

    Round 5: ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc in the remaining 4 spaces. Join with sl st. 

    Round 6: ch 1, sc in next 5 sp, dec, sc in remaining 6 sts. Join with sl st. 

    Round 7: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (12st)

    Round 8: ch 1, (inc, sc) around. Join with sl st. (18st)

    Round 9 – 10: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (18st)

    Finish off the first leg. 

    crochet hippo turned to the side

    Second Leg

    Round 1: ch 2, 8 sc in the 1st ch space. Join with sl st for form a circle. (8st)

    Round 2: ch 1, (inc) x8, around. Join with sl st. (16st)

    Round 3: ch 1, in BLO sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16st)

    Round 4: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16st)

    Round 5: ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc in the remaining 4 spaces. Join with sl st. 

    Round 6: ch 1, sc in next 5 sp, dec, sc in remaining 6 sts. Join with sl st. 

    Round 7: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (12st)

    Round 8: ch 1, (inc, sc) around. Join with sl st. (18st)

    Round 9 – 10: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (18st)

    Do not finish off.

    Body 

    Round 11: with the second leg, ch 1, 16 sc, ch 4, sc in each stitch around the first leg, 4 sc in the next ch 4 space, sc 2 more times to finish going around the second leg. Join with sl st. 

    This is the base of the body. From here, you will work in rounds working up from the legs into the body. 

    Round 12 – 14: ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st. (44st)

    Belly

    Please note: at this point, we are going to start giving the hippo a belly, if you want the hippo to not have a large belly, you can work a single crochet in each st, from rounds 14 through rounds 22 when we begin to decrease to form its neck. 

    crochet hippo happy face

    Round 15: ch 1, sc in next 3 st, dec x 3, sc in next 18 st, dec x 3, sc in next 11 st. Join with sl st. 

    Round 16: ch 1, sc in next 9 st, dec x 2, inc in next 6 sts, dec x 2, sc in next 10 st, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, join with sl st. 

    Round 17: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (43st)

    Round 18: ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, dec x2, sc in next 6 sts, inc x5, sc in next 6, dec x2, sc in next 8 sts, dec x2, sc in next 2 sts. join with sl st. 

    Round 19 – 21: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. 

    Round 22: ch 1, sc in next 14 st, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc in next 17 sts. Join with sl st. 

    Round 23: ch 1, 5 sc, dec around to the last 10 spaces, 10 sc. Join with sl st. 

    Round 24 – 28: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. 

    Round 29: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 5) around. Join with sl st.

    Round 30: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 4) around. Join with sl st.

    Round 31: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 3) around. Join with sl st.

    Round 32: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st.

    Round 33: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 2) around. Join with sl st.

    Finish off. Leave a long tail for sewing. 

    Arms (make 2)

    Round 1: ch 2, 6 sc in the 1st ch sp. Join with sl st to form a circle. (6st)

    Round 2: ch 1, inc in each st around. Join with sl st. (12st)

    Round 3 – 13: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (12st) [make 10 rounds]

    *fill arms with stuffing

    Round 14: ch 1, (dec, sc) around. Join with sl st. (8st)

    Round 15 – 16: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. 

    Finish off, and leave a long tail for sewing. 

    backside of crochet hippo

    Tail (optional)

    Row 1: chain 10, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from the hook. Sl st in each of the remaining ch, until you get to the last. Finish off and leave a long tail for sewing the tail to the butt of the hippo.

    Free Crochet Hippo Pattern – Assembly

    Now that the body parts have been created, it’s time to sew them all together into your finished hippo. I like to start with the head.

    To do this, pinch each ear, and then sew it in place on the hippo’s head. Make sure to place them where you prefer, before sewing them securely.

    Next, I would recommend sewing the arms onto the top of your crochet hippo’s body. After the arms are sewn securely in place, weave in the ends of the yarn.

    Finally, sew the hippo’s head onto its body. You may want to sew around the base of its head and neck a few times to make sure it is held securely. After you are done sewing the head and body together, tie a knot, and weave in the ends of the yarn to finish.

    Finishing Touches

    I believe that it’s the small details that go a long way toward making this hippo pattern into an adorable little guy, so feel free to add as many finishing touches as you want to make this stuffy super cute! One of my favorite things to do is to use colored floss to stitch on a face and eyelashes. 

    Crocheted hippopotamus

    Free Download: Hippo Crochet Pattern

    This easy crochet pattern is also available to you as a free download, if you would like to enjoy the pattern without the ads. Please note that this free download is for your personal use only, and not for commercial distribution. 

    To receive your free crochet hippo pattern, simply enter your email address in the box below, then click the button. Check your email inbox to receive your free download. This file is sent to you in a PDF format for your personal use.

    Get the Printable PDF Pattern!

    Adorable Stuffed Crochet Hippo

    This adorable hippo crochet pattern is so much fun to make, and you get to enjoy or gift the sweet hippo after it is finished. This is one of my favorite projects to make, as it makes such a sweet little guy. 

    I hope that you will enjoy making this free pattern, and hopefully, you will get to bless someone special in your life with a new little best friend! Thank you so much for taking the time to check out my pattern. I hope you enjoy it! 

    More Free Amigurumi Patterns for you to Enjoy!

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    Crochet Hippo Pattern

    Materials

    • 2 skeins of gray velvet baby yarn
    • Size 7 or 4.50 mm hook
    • Stitch marker optional
    • Tapestry needle or Yarn needle for sewing
    • Scissors
    • 2 safety eyes
    • Colored floss for sewing face details

    Instructions

    Huge Nose and Head

    • Round 1: ch 7, in 2nd ch from the hook, make 2 sc st, sc in next 4 sts, 3 sc in last st, turn. Make sc in the next 5 sts, then join with a sl st to the first st. (14 sts)
    • Round 2: ch 1, inc in the first 2 sts. Sc in the next 4 sts, inc in the next 3 sts, sc in next 4 sts, inc in the last st. Join with sl st. (20 sts)
    • Round 3: ch 1, inc in the first st, sc, inc, sc in the next 5 sts. Inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, sc, in the next 5 sts, inc, join with sl st. (26 sts)
    • Round 4: ch 1, inc, 2 sc, inc, sc in the next 6 sts, inc, 2 sc, inc, 2 sc, inc, sc in next 6 sts, inc, 2 sc, join with sl st. (32 sts)
    • Round 5: ch 1, inc, 3 sc, inc, sc in the next 7 sts, inc, 3 sc, inc, 3 sc, inc, sc in the next 7 sts, inc, 3 sc, join with sl st. (38 sts)
    • Round 6 – 7: ch 1, sc in each stitch around. Join with a sl st to the first st. (38 sts)
    • Round 8: ch 1, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc in the next 5 sts, inc in next 4 sts, sc in the next 5 sts, dec, sc, dec, sc in the next 12 sts. Join with sl st. (37 sts)
    • Round 9: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (37 sts)
    • Round 10: ch 1, sc, dec, sc in the next 3 sts, inc, (sc, inc) 7 times more [8 inc sts total]. Sc in the next 3 spaces, dec, sc in the next 13 sts, join with sl st. (45 sts)
    • Round 11: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (45 sts)
    • Round 12: ch 1, sc, inc x 2, sc in the next 27 sts, inc x 2, sc in the next 13 sts. Join with sl st. (49 sts)
    • Round 13 – 18: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (49 sts)
    • Round 19: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 4 sts), repeat around. Join with sl st. (41 sts)
    • Round 20: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (41 sts)
    • Round 21: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 3 sts), repeat around. Join with sl st. (33 sts)
    • Round 22: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 2 sts), repeat around. Join with sl st. (25 sts)
    • *At this point, you will want to insert safety eyes if desired and stuff the head.
    • Round 23: ch 1, (dec, sc), repeat around. Join with sl st. (17 sts)
    • Round 24: ch 1, (dec), repeat around. Join with sl st. (9 sts)
    • Finish off by cutting the yarn, threading a needle, and weaving it through each of the remaining stitches. Then pull tight, and weave in the ends of the yarn.

    Cute Ears (make 2)

    • Round 1: ch 2, in 2nd ch from the hook, make 6 sc, join with sl st to form a circle. (6st)
    • Round 2: Ch 1, (inc) in each st around, join with sl st. (12st)
    • Round 3: Ch 1, (inc, 2 sc) repeat around. Join with sl st. (16st)
    • Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16st)
    • Round 5: Ch 1, (dec, sc) repeat around. Join with sl st.
    • Finish off and leave a long tail for sewing the ears to the head.

    First Leg

    • Round 1: ch 2, 8 sc in the 1st ch space. Join with sl st to form a circle. (8st)
    • Round 2: ch 1, (inc) x8, around. Join with sl st. (16st)
    • Round 3: ch 1, in BLO sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16st)
    • Round 4: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16st)
    • Round 5: ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc in the remaining 4 spaces. Join with sl st.
    • Round 6: ch 1, sc in next 5 sp, dec, sc in remaining 6 sts. Join with sl st.
    • Round 7: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (12st)
    • Round 8: ch 1, (inc, sc) around. Join with sl st. (18st)
    • Round 9 – 10: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (18st)
    • Finish off the first leg.

    Second Leg

    • Round 1: ch 2, 8 sc in the 1st ch space. Join with sl st for form a circle. (8st)
    • Round 2: ch 1, (inc) x8, around. Join with sl st. (16st)
    • Round 3: ch 1, in BLO sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16st)
    • Round 4: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (16st)
    • Round 5: ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc in the remaining 4 spaces. Join with sl st.
    • Round 6: ch 1, sc in next 5 sp, dec, sc in remaining 6 sts. Join with sl st.
    • Round 7: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (12st)
    • Round 8: ch 1, (inc, sc) around. Join with sl st. (18st)
    • Round 9 – 10: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (18st)
    • Do not finish off.

    Body

    • Round 11: with the second leg, ch 1, 16 sc, ch 4, sc in each stitch around the first leg, 4 sc in the next ch 4 space, sc 2 more times to finish going around the second leg. Join with sl st.
    • This is the base of the body. From here, you will work in rounds working up from the legs into the body.
    • Round 12 – 14: ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st. (44st)

    Belly

    • Please note: at this point, we are going to start giving the hippo a belly, if you want the hippo to not have a large belly, you can work a single crochet in each st, from rounds 14 through rounds 22 when we begin to decrease to form its neck.
    • Round 15: ch 1, sc in next 3 st, dec x 3, sc in next 18 st, dec x 3, sc in next 11 st. Join with sl st.
    • Round 16: ch 1, sc in next 9 st, dec x 2, inc in next 6 sts, dec x 2, sc in next 10 st, inc, sc, inc, sc, inc, join with sl st.
    • Round 17: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (43st)
    • Round 18: ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, dec x2, sc in next 6 sts, inc x5, sc in next 6, dec x2, sc in next 8 sts, dec x2, sc in next 2 sts. join with sl st.
    • Round 19 – 21: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st.
    • Round 22: ch 1, sc in next 14 st, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc, dec, sc in next 17 sts. Join with sl st.
    • Round 23: ch 1, 5 sc, dec around to the last 10 spaces, 10 sc. Join with sl st.
    • Round 24 – 28: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st.
    • Round 29: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 5) around. Join with sl st.
    • Round 30: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 4) around. Join with sl st.
    • Round 31: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 3) around. Join with sl st.
    • Round 32: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st.
    • Round 33: ch 1, (dec, sc in next 2) around. Join with sl st.
    • Finish off. Leave a long tail for sewing.

    Arms (make 2)

    • Round 1: ch 2, 6 sc in the 1st ch sp. Join with sl st to form a circle. (6st)
    • Round 2: ch 1, inc in each st around. Join with sl st. (12st)
    • Round 3 – 13: Ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st. (12st) [make 10 rounds]
    • *fill arms with stuffing
    • Round 14: ch 1, (dec, sc) around. Join with sl st. (8st)
    • Round 15 – 16: ch 1, sc in each st around. Join with sl st.
    • Finish off, and leave a long tail for sewing.

    Tail (optional)

    • Row 1: chain 10, sl st in the 3rd ch from the hook, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from the hook. Sl st in each of the remaining ch, until you get to the last. Finish off and leave a long tail for sewing the tail to the butt of the hippo.

    Free Crochet Hippo Pattern – Assembly

    • Now that the body parts have been created, it’s time to sew them all together into your finished hippo. I like to start with the head.
    • To do this, pinch each ear, and then sew it in place on the hippo’s head. Make sure to place them where you prefer, before sewing them securely.
    • Next, I would recommend sewing the arms onto the top of your crochet hippo’s body. After the arms are sewn securely in place, weave in the ends of the yarn.
    • Finally, sew the hippo’s head onto its body. You may want to sew around the base of its head and neck a few times to make sure it is held securely. After you are done sewing the head and body together, tie a knot, and weave in the ends of the yarn to finish.

    Finishing Touches

    • I believe that it’s the small details that go a long way toward making this hippo pattern into an adorable little guy, so feel free to add as many finishing touches as you want to make this stuffy super cute! One of my favorite things to do is to use colored floss to stitch on a face and eyelashes.

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    cute crochet hippo pattern amigurumi toy
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    About the author

    My name is Faith, and I am so glad you are here! I love all things crafts, and have created this site as a way to share my passion with YOU!

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    2 thoughts on “Cute Crochet Hippo: FREE DIY Amigurumi Pattern”

    1. Do you have a stitch count at the end of each round? I’ve taken the hippo head apart twice now, but I keep having issues somewhere in rounds 8-10.

    2. Hi Nicole,
      I have updated the pattern for the hippo head to include a stitch count in each round. Please let me know if you need further assistance or clarification! Thank you so much for your interest in my hippo pattern!

    Comments are closed.