Crochet an Amish Puzzle Ball – a Hippo to Take Apart (EN & DE)

IMPORTANT: You are buying a PDF pattern, NOT the finished item.

Amish puzzle ball „hippo“ — a ball made of three rings to take apart and put back together. PDF pattern, instant download, in English and in German.

An Amish puzzle ball is a ball made of three rings — you can take it apart and put it back together, and that is exactly what makes it a toy. This one is a hippo: four legs come out of one of the rings, the top ring carries the head with ears and nostrils, and the little tail sits opposite. Worked in grey and dark grey, no extra hardware, no glue. How the rings are made and how they slot into each other at the end is explained round by round and row by row.

PDF pattern, instant download
in English and in German
every round numbered, with the stitch count at the end of each round
with photos
download as often as you like

Photo note: The crocheted item is real and made by me. On some photos the background was AI-generated or digitally edited.

If you run into any trouble or something is unclear, please send me a message first — I am happy to help quickly. After that I would be delighted about a good review.

You are welcome to sell the finished crocheted items as long as you credit me as the designer (Masche für Masche). The pattern itself is for private use only and may not be shared, swapped, sold or translated.

Chains, single crochet, slip stitches, half double crochet, double crochet, magic circle, increases and decreases.
Parts are worked partly in rounds and partly in rows (turning with a chain); they are then sewn and crocheted together.
Every round is numbered and the stitch count is given at the end of each round.
Level: intermediate

Finished size: approx. 20 cm / 8 inches long
Gauge: 26 stitches x 24 rows = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4 inches

• approx. 100 g cotton yarn in grey (I used Schachenmayr Catania, 50 g = 125 m / 137 yds)
• left-overs in dark grey
• a pair of safety eyes, approx. 7.5 mm / 0.3 inches, black
• stuffing
• crochet hook to match your yarn, darning needle, scissors