Get ready to spread some holiday cheer with this adorable crochet Christmas Hippo! Dressed in its festive Santa hat and a cozy red scarf, this amigurumi hippo makes a perfect gift for loved ones or a charming addition to your own festive decor. Follow this free pattern to create your own lovable, chunky companion!
Craft Your Own Festive Hippo Friend
There’s nothing quite like the joy of creating handmade gifts and decorations. This Christmas Hippo pattern is designed to bring a smile to anyone’s face, whether it’s adorning your mantelpiece or becoming a cherished toy. Dive into this delightful project and infuse your holiday season with handmade warmth and whimsy.
Crochet Pattern: Jolly Hippo Holiday: Free Amigurumi Christmas Hippo Pattern with Santa Hat!
Materials
- Worsted weight yarn in Grey (main color)
- Worsted weight yarn in Red (hat, scarf)
- Worsted weight yarn in White (hat trim, pompom)
- 3.5mm (E/4) crochet hook
- 9mm or 10mm safety eyes
- Black embroidery floss
- Fiberfill for stuffing
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
- Scissors
Abbreviations
- MR: Magic Ring
- ch: chain
- sc: single crochet
- inc: increase (2 sc in one st)
- dec: decrease (sc 2 together)
- sl st: slip stitch
- FO: Fasten off
- BLO: Back Loop Only
- st(s): stitch(es)
- Rnd: Round
- Row: Row
Instructions
Notes: Work in continuous rounds unless otherwise specified. Use a stitch marker to keep track of the first stitch of each round.
Body and Head (Grey Yarn)
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Rnd 2: 6 inc (12)
- Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
- Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
- Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
- Rnd 7-12: sc in each st around (36) (6 rounds)
- Rnd 13: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
- Rnd 14: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24) Start stuffing the body firmly, continue as you go.
- Rnd 15: sc in each st around (24)
- Rnd 16: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
- Rnd 17: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
- Rnd 18: sc in each st around (12) (Neck area)
- Rnd 19: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- Rnd 20: (2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)
- Rnd 21: (3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)
- Rnd 22: (4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)
- Rnd 23-27: sc in each st around (36) (5 rounds for head)
- Rnd 28: (4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)
- Insert safety eyes between Rnd 24 and 25, approximately 6-7 stitches apart.
- Rnd 29: (3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)
- Rnd 30: (2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)
- Rnd 31: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
- Rnd 32: 6 dec (6)
- FO, weave the tail through the remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close. Finish stuffing.
Snout (Grey Yarn)
- Ch 5
- Rnd 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, 2 sc, 3 sc in last ch. Working down the other side of the chain: 3 sc, inc (10)
- Rnd 2: inc, 2 sc, 3 inc, 2 sc, 2 inc (16)
- Rnd 3-4: sc in each st around (16) (2 rounds)
- Sl st to next st. FO, leave a long tail for sewing. Lightly stuff before attaching.
Ears (Make 2, Grey Yarn)
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Rnd 2: (1 sc, inc) x 3 (9)
- Rnd 3: sc in each st around (9)
- Sl st to next st. FO, leave a long tail for sewing. Flatten the ear before sewing.
Arms (Make 2, Grey Yarn)
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Rnd 2: (1 sc, inc) x 3 (9)
- Rnd 3-7: sc in each st around (9) (5 rounds)
- Lightly stuff. Flatten the opening and sc across to close (4 sc). FO, leave a long tail for sewing.
Legs (Make 2, Grey Yarn)
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR (6)
- Rnd 2: 6 inc (12)
- Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)
- Rnd 4-6: sc in each st around (18) (3 rounds)
- Rnd 7: (1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)
- Rnd 8-10: sc in each st around (12) (3 rounds)
- Stuff firmly. FO, leave a long tail for sewing.
Santa Hat (Red and White Yarn)
- Hat (Red Yarn)
- Rnd 1: 4 sc in MR (4)
- Rnd 2: sc in each st around (4)
- Rnd 3: (1 sc, inc) x 2 (6)
- Rnd 4: sc in each st around (6)
- Rnd 5: (2 sc, inc) x 2 (8)
- Rnd 6: sc in each st around (8)
- Rnd 7: (3 sc, inc) x 2 (10)
- Rnd 8: sc in each st around (10)
- Rnd 9: (4 sc, inc) x 2 (12)
- Rnd 10: sc in each st around (12)
- Rnd 11: (3 sc, inc) x 3 (15)
- Rnd 12: sc in each st around (15)
- Rnd 13: (4 sc, inc) x 3 (18)
- Rnd 14: sc in each st around (18)
- Rnd 15: (5 sc, inc) x 3 (21)
- Rnd 16: sc in each st around (21)
- Rnd 17: (6 sc, inc) x 3 (24)
- Rnd 18: sc in each st around (24)
- Rnd 19: (7 sc, inc) x 3 (27)
- Rnd 20: sc in each st around (27)
- Rnd 21: (8 sc, inc) x 3 (30)
- Rnd 22: sc in each st around (30)
- Change to White Yarn.
- Rnd 23: In BLO, sc in each st around (30)
- Rnd 24: sc in each st around (30)
- Sl st to next st. FO, weave in ends.
- Pompom (White Yarn)
- Create a small pompom and attach it to the tip of the hat. Alternatively, for a crochet pompom: 6 sc in MR, sl st to first sc. FO, leaving a tail to sew to hat tip.
Scarf (Red Yarn)
- Ch 4
- Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 2 ch. Ch 1, turn. (3)
- Row 2-30 (or until desired length): sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (3)
- FO, weave in ends.
Assembly
- Sew the snout onto the center front of the head, just below the safety eyes.
- Sew the ears to the top of the head, slightly behind and above the eyes.
- Attach the arms to the sides of the body, just below the neck.
- Sew the legs to the bottom of the body, ensuring the hippo sits evenly.
- Using black embroidery floss, embroider small lines for the nostrils on the snout. Add small ‘V’ shapes over the safety eyes for eyelids and thin lines above for eyebrows. A small stitch for a mouth can be added below the snout.
- Place the Santa hat on the hippo’s head and stitch it in place if desired.
- Tie the red scarf around the hippo’s neck.