Meet the Hippo, your new favorite nautical companion! This adorable crochet hippo pattern brings a splash of seaside charm to your amigurumi collection, complete with a classic striped sailor shirt and a matching sailor hat. Whether you are looking for the perfect handmade gift for a baby shower, a nautical-themed nursery decoration, or simply a fun new project, this chunky little sailor is sure to steal your heart. This pattern is designed for advanced beginners and works up quickly with your favorite cotton or plush yarn.
SUPPLIES YOU NEED
cotton yarn (Schachenmayr Catania 125m/ 50g) in the following colors: lavender, white, red and blue, a bit of black for embroidery, crochet hook 2,5 mm or the size required by your yarn, polyester fiberfill stuffing, chopstick or something similar to help with stuffing small parts, stitch marker, scissors, yarn needle, safety eyes or two little black beads 6-8 mm.
Feel free to experiment with different yarns. Using different materials and hook size to what is recommended may alter the final appearance of your amigurumi.
SKILL LEVEL
I would classify this free crochet pattern as advanced beginner. It is necessary to have some experience with amigurumi before creating this project.
FINISHED SIZE
The ready amigurumi is approx. 21 cm, from bottom to top, can be made bigger or smaller depending on the yarn and hook you use.
SKILLS YOU NEED
chain, single crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, slip stitch, increase, decrease, front post double crochet
ABBREVIATIONS
Ch =chain
St = stitch
Sc = single crochet
Sl st = slip stitch
dec = decrease stitch (two single crochets together)
inc = increase stitch (two single crochets in the one stitch)
Dc = double crochet
Hdc = half double crochet
Tc = treble crochet
Rnd = Round
* = repeat the instructions for the times indicated
(...) = at the end of every round total amount of stitches is indicated
TIPS
- Do not join rounds, work in a continuous spiral
- Place a stitch marker or a piece of yarn at the beginning stitch of the round and move it up at the start of each additional round
- This pattern doesn´t include any specific stitch tutorials
- All stitches are worked into both loops, unless stated otherwise in the pattern
- The number of stitches for completion is noted in parentheses at the end of each round
- When filling with polyester stuffing, pull apart each large chunk into many smaller chunks. This ensures an even distribution of firmness within the amigurumi
- Amigurumi can be made in any desired colors
- The pattern is written in English using US crochet terminology
- Work the pattern in the order as shown below, because it is joined together as it is made.
INSTRUCTIONS
The amigurumi consists of several parts which you crochet separately and then sew them together.
ARM (2x)
Work with lavender colored yarn.
Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring.
Round 2: increase 6 times (12 stitches)
Round 3: *increase, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches* (15 stitches)
Round 4 (working into the back loop): single crochet in each of next 15 stitches
Rounds 5-6: single crochet in each of next 15 stitches
Round 7: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches* (12 stitches)
Round 8: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Round 9: *increase, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches* (15 stitches)
Rounds 10-14: single crochet in each of next 15 stitches
Stuff the hand slightly.
Round 15: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches* (12 stitches)
Round 16: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Fasten off. Work the second arm the same way.
LEG (2x)
Work with lavender colored yarn.
Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring.
Round 2: increase 6 times (12 stitches)
Round 3: *increase, single crochet in the next stitch* (18 stitches)
Round 4 (working into the back loop): single crochet in each of next 18 stitches
Rounds 5-6: single crochet in each of next 18 stitches
Round 7: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches* (15 stitches)
Round 8: single crochet in each of next 15 stitches
Round 9: *increase, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches* (18 stitches)
Rounds 10-15: single crochet in each of next 18 stitches
Stuff the leg slightly.
Round 16: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches* (15 stitches)
Round 17: single crochet in each of next 15 stitches
Round 18: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches* (12 stitches)
Round 19: single crochet in each of next 12 stitches
Fasten off. Work the second leg the same way.
BODY
Work with lavender colored yarn.
Round 1: 6 single crochets into a Magic Ring
Round 2: increase 6 times (12 stitches)
Round 3: *single crochet in next stitch, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (18 stitches)
Round 4: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (24 stitches)
Round 5: *single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (30 stitches)
Round 6: *single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (36 stitches)
Round 7: *single crochet in each of next 5 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (42 stitches)
Round 8: *single crochet in each of next 6 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (48 stitches)
Round 9: single crochet in each of next 48 stitches
In the next round attach legs (ensure that the legs are located in the middle and make several shift stitches if needed):
Round 10: single crochet in each of next 9 stitches, 6 single crochets both through arm and body, single crochet in each of next 18 stitches, 6 single crochets both through arm and body, single crochet in each of next 9 stitches
Stuff the body firmly.
Rounds 11-15: single crochet in each of next 48 stitches
Round 16: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 6 stitches* (42 stitches)
Rounds 17-19: single crochet in each of next 42 stitches
Round 20: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 5 stitches* (36 stitches)
Round 21: single crochet in each of next 36 stitches
Round 22: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches* (30 stitches)
Round 23: single crochet in each of next 30 stitches
Round 24: decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches (24 stitches)
In the next round attach arms (ensure that the hands are located in the middle and make several shift stitches if needed):
Round 25: single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, 6 single crochets both through arm and body, single crochet in each of next 6 stitches, 6 single crochets both through arm and body, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches
Stuff the body firmly.
Round 26: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 2 stitches* (18 stitches)
Round 27: *decrease, single crochet in the next stitch* (12 stitches)
Round 28: *decrease*, repeat from* to* 6 times
Fasten off, hide yarn ends.
HEAD
Work with lavender colored yarn.
Round 1: 6 single crochets into a Magic Ring
Round 2: increase 6 times (12 stitches)
Round 3: *single crochet in next stitch, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (18 stitches)
Round 4: *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (24 stitches)
Round 5: *single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (30 stitches)
Round 6: *single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (36 stitches)
Round 7: *single crochet in each of next 5 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (42 stitches)
Round 8: *single crochet in each of next 6 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 6 times (48 stitches)
Rounds 9-15: single crochet in each of next 48 stitches
Round 16: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 6 stitches* (42 stitches)
Round 17: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 5 stitches* (36 stitches)
Round 18: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches* (30 stitches)
Round 19: decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches (24 stitches)
Round 20: single crochet in each of next 24 stitches
Round 21: *hdc in the next stitch, 2 hdc in the next stitch*, repeat from* to* 6 times, *single crochet in each of next 2 stitches, increase*, repeat from* to* 4 times (34 stitches)
Round 22: *hdc in each of next 2 stitches, 2 hdc in the next stitch*, repeat from* to* 6 times, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches, increase, single crochet in each of next 8 stitches, increase, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches (42 stitches)
Rounds 23-25: single crochet in each of next 42 stitches
Round 26: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 5 stitches* (36 stitches)
Round 27-28: single crochet in each of next 36 stitches
Round 29: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 4 stitches* (30 stitches)
Round 30: decrease, single crochet in each of next 3 stitches (24 stitches)
Stuff the head firmly.
Round 31: *decrease, single crochet in each of next 2 stitches* (18 stitches)
Round 32: *decrease, single crochet in the next stitch* (12 stitches)
Round 33: *decrease*, repeat from* to* 6 times
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.
EAR (2x)
Work with lavender colored yarn.
Round 1: 6 single crochets into Magic Ring.
Round 2: single crochet in each of next 3 stitches, increase 3 times.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Work the second ear the same way.
NOSTRIL (2x)
Work with lavender colored yarn.
Chain 6 stitches, single crochet in each of next 6 stitches.
Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Work the second nostril the same way.
ASSEMBLY
Since all the elements of your amigurumi are crocheted, it´s time to sew them together. Use a blunt sewing needle.
Nostrils and ears are attached to the head now. Position them on the head and using the yarn left sew them to the head of your hippo. Be sure to step back and take a look to make sure they are even. Hide all yarn ends.
Mark where you want the eyes to be placed with pins and with the distance of 4-6 stitches sew them to the head of the goat. Embroider eyebrows with brown yarn.
Thread a needle with firm thread matching the color of the head, tie it into a knot at the bottom of the head and pull it out of the outer corner of the eye. Insert the needle in the inner corner of the eye and draw it out under the head (the initial point). Skip one stitch and repeat the same with the other eye. Tighten yarn and sculp the muzzle. Make the same with nostrils. Fasten off.
Embroider eyebrows with black yarn. Fasten off, hide all yarn ends.
Attach the head to the body.
Seamless way of changing color when working in the round
Pick up the new color at the end of the round: inset your hook into the stitch, yarn over the new color and pull through the stitch and the loop on your hook to complete the stitch.
SHIRT
The shirt is worked in a single piece from the top-down. The work begins at bodice and continues down to legs.
Work with blue and white colored yarn. Chain 28 stitches.
Row 1: hdc in the 3rd stitch from the hook and each of next 25 stitches, chain 2 stitches, turn the work.
Change the color of yarn to white
Row 2: *hdc in the next stitch, 2 hdc in the next stitch*, repeat from* to* till the end of row, chain 2 stitches, turn the work (38 stitches)
Change the color of yarn to blue
Row 3: hdc in each of next 7 stitches (front), cast on 8 stitches, then skip next 4 stitches (armhole), hdc in each of next 15 stitches (back), cast on 8 stitches, then skip next 4 stitches (armhole), hdc in each of next 8 stitches (front), chain 2 stitches, turn the work.
Change the color of yarn to white
Row 4: hdc in each of next stitches till the end of the row, chain 2 stitches, turn the work.
Change the color of yarn to blue
Row 5: hdc in each of next stitches till the end of the row, chain 2 stitches, turn the work.
Change the color of yarn to white
Row 6: hdc in each of next stitches till the end of the row, chain 2 stitches, turn the work.
Change the color of yarn to blue
Rows 7-8: hdc in each of next stitches till the end of the row, chain 2 stitches, turn the work.
Work one round in sc´s all around the shirt. Fasten off, hide all yarn ends.
ARM
Work with blue and white colored yarn.
Rows 1-4: hdc in each of next 16 stitches till the end of the row, chain 2 stitches, turn the work.
Fasten off, hide all yarn ends.
SCARF
Work with red colored yarn. Chain 61 stitches.
Slip stitch into the 2nd stitch from the hook, single crochet in the next stitch, double crochet in the next stitch, treble crochet in each of next 2 stitches, double crochet in the next stitch, hdc in the next stitch, slip stitch in each of next 46 stitches, hdc in the next stitch, double crochet in the next stitch, treble crochet in each of next 2 stitches, double crochet in the next stitch, single crochet in the next stitch, slip stitch in the last stitch.
Fasten off, hide all yarn ends.
HAT
Work with blue and white colored yarn.
Round 1: chain 4 stitches, join with slip st into ring. Chain 3 stitches, 11 double crochets into ring, slip stitch to the top of chain 3 (12 stitches)
Round 2: chain 3 stitches, double crochet in the same stitch as chain, 2 double crochets in each of next 11 stitches, slip stitch to the top of chain 3 (24 stitches)
Round 3: chain 3 stitches, dc in the same stitch as chain, double crochet in next stitch, *2 double crochets in next stitch, double crochet in next stitch*, repeat from*to* 11 times, slip stitch to the top of chain 3 (36 stitches)
Change the color of yarn to blue
Row 4: single crochet in each of next stitches till the end of the row, chain 1 stitch, turn the work.
Change the color of yarn to blue
Row 5: single crochet in each of next 36 stitches
Fasten off, hide all yarn ends.
Make a pom pom using red colored yarn and attach it to the hat. Your Hippo is ready!
I hope you enjoyed crocheting the princess and frog prince and found the pattern helpful. I would love to see your finished amigurumi, so share a picture here or on Instagram by tagging me @tansuluucrafthaus.
If you would like to share this pattern, please link to this page. Also, please credit me when using this pattern by tagging me @tansuluucrafthaus on Instagram. Feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely day!
