Crochet Hippo Hat Pattern

June 23, 2014

This happy little hippopotamus hat is great for anyone, any age! I used purple and pink for my daughters hat but you could easily use gray or blue or any other color for that matter.

Materials:
– Worsted weight yarn. I used Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Dusty Purple and Pink and a little bit of White.
– Size H Crochet Hook
– Tapestry needle
– 2 small black buttons (about a 1/2 inch)
– 2 purple buttons (optional) about 3/4 inch.

Abbreviations:
Magic Ring Tutorial
SC = Single Crochet
SC Decrease = Single Crochet Decrease
DC = Double Crochet
TC = Triple Crochet

Size: 0-3 Months
Magic ring, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)
Round 5-10: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)

do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: 3-6 Months
Magic ring, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2

Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)

Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Round 6-11: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: 6-9 Months
Magic ring, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2

Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)

Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)

Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 2 (52 DC)
Round 7-12: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (52 DC)

do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: 9-12 Months (Should fit up to about 16 months)
Magic ring, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2

Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)

Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 2 (52 DC)

Round 7: 2 DC in first, DC in next 12, join, chain 2 (56 DC)
Round 8-13: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (56 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: Toddler/Preschooler
Magic ring, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)

Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 2 (52 DC)

Round 7: 2 DC in first, DC in next 12, join, chain 2 (56 DC)
Round 8: 2 DC in first, DC in next 13, join, chain 2 (60 DC)
Round 9-14: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (60 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: Child
Magic ring, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)

Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 2 (52 DC)
Round 7: 2 DC in first, DC in next 12, join, chain 2 (56 DC)
Round 8: 2 DC in first, DC in next 13, join, chain 2 (60 DC)
Round 9: 2 DC in first, DC in next 14, join, chain 2 (64 DC)
Round 10-15: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (64 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

Size: Teen/Adult
Magic ring, 11 DC in magic ring, join to first DC, chain 2
Round 2: 2 DC in each around, join, chain 2 (22 DC)
Round 3: 2 DC in first, DC in next, repeat around, join, chain 2 (33 DC)
Round 4: 2 DC in first, DC in next 2, repeat around, join, chain 2 (44 DC)

Round 5: 2 DC in first, DC in next 10, repeat around, join, chain 2 (48 DC)
Round 6: 2 DC in first, DC in next 11, join, chain 2 (52 DC)
Round 7: 2 DC in first, DC in next 12, join, chain 2 (56 DC)
Round 8: 2 DC in first, DC in next 13, join, chain 2 (60 DC)
Round 9: 2 DC in first, DC in next 14, join, chain 2 (64 DC)
Round 10: 2 DC in first, DC in next 15, join, chain 2 (68 DC)
Round 11-16: DC in each around, join, chain 2 (68 DC)
do not fasten off, begin on earflap as written below

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Earflaps for 0-3 months – Preschooler
Earflap 1:
Chain 1, SC in next 10, chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC decrease, SC in next 6, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 3: SC across (8 SC)
Row 4: SC decrease, SC in next 4, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 5: SC across ( 6 SC)
Row 6: SC decrease, SC in next 2, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 7: SC across (4 SC)
Row 8: Make 2 SC decreases, chain 1, turn
Row 9: SC decrease, fasten off, weave in ends

Earflap 2: See my PUPPY HAT PATTERN if you need help on where to place the second earflap.
Chain 1, SC in next 10, chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC decrease, SC in next 6, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 3: SC across (8 SC)
Row 4: SC decrease, SC in next 4, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 5: SC across ( 6 SC)
Row 6: SC decrease, SC in next 2, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 7: SC across (4 SC)
Row 8: Make 2 SC decreases, chain 1, turn
Row 9: SC decrease, fasten off, weave in ends

With accent color (I used pink), attach yarn and SC around the entire bottom edge of the hat (including earflaps). Fasten off and weave in ends. Cut 6 long strands of the same color yarn and 3 strands of the main hat color, pull yarn halfway through last loop of the earflaps (you now have 18 strands). Knot, braid, and knot again at the end of your braid. Trim ends of braided tails so yarn is even. Do this for both earflaps.

Earflaps for Child – Adult
Earflap 1:
Chain 1, SC in next 12, chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC decrease, SC in next 8, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 3: SC across (10 SC)
Row 4: SC decrease, SC in next 6, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 5: SC across ( 8 SC)
Row 6: SC decrease, SC in next 4, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 7: SC across ( 6 SC)
Row 8: SC decrease, SC in next 2, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 9: SC across (4 SC)
Row 10: Make 2 SC decreases, chain 1, turn
Row 11: SC decrease, fasten off, weave in ends

Earflap 2:
See my PUPPY HAT PATTERN if you need help on where to place the second earflap.
Chain 1, SC in next 12, chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC decrease, SC in next 8, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 3: SC across (10 SC)
Row 4: SC decrease, SC in next 6, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 5: SC across ( 8 SC)
Row 6: SC decrease, SC in next 4, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 7: SC across ( 6 SC)
Row 8: SC decrease, SC in next 2, SC decrease, chain 1, turn
Row 9: SC across (4 SC)
Row 10: Make 2 SC decreases, chain 1, turn
Row 11: SC decrease, fasten off, weave in ends

With accent color (I used pink), attach yarn and SC around the entire bottom edge of the hat (including earflaps). Fasten off and weave in ends. Cut 6 long strands of the same color yarn and 3 strands of the main hat color, pull yarn halfway through last loop of the earflaps (you now have 18 strands). Knot, braid, and knot again at the end of your braid. Trim ends of braided tails so yarn is even. Do this for both earflaps.

Note: To make face embellishments bigger, use a larger hook and use a G hook for slightly smaller parts. I used an H hook for the 9-12 month size hat.

Hippo Ears (Make 2):
Chain 6, TC in 3rd chain from hook, DC in next two, SC in last, chain 1, turn
Row 2: SC around ear making 2 SC in each stitch along the top of ear.

Leave long tail to sew onto hat.

Stitch on ears where the hat creases when laid flat. I put mine between the 3rd and 4th row from the top.

Hippo Eyes (Make 2):

Magic Ring, chain 2 and make 3 DC + 2 SC + 3 DC + 2 SC all in ring. Pull tight and join to first DC.

Leave long tail to sew onto hat.

Stitch on the two black buttons before sewing eyes onto hat.

Hippo Snout:

Chain 12, DC in 3rd chain from hook and the rest of the way down chain. Make a total of 3 DC in last stitch. Now working on other side of chain, DC in each stitch and make 3 DC in last stitch. Join to first DC, chain 2.
Round 2: (2 DC in first stitch, DC in next stitch)-do that 4 times, 2 DC in next 3 stitches, (2 DC in first stitch, DC in next stitch)- do that 4 times, 2 DC in last 4 stitches. Join to first DC. (38 DC)

Round 3: Chain 3, DC in last chain, skip one stitch and join to next (this creates the nostril), slip stitch in next 8, chain 3, DC in last chain, skip one stitch and join with slip stitch.

Fasten off leaving long tail to sew onto hat.

Optional: Sew buttons for nostril holes onto nostril area. I used purple buttons but you could use black or anything other color. Or you can leave them off completely.

Hippo Teeth (make 2):

Magic Ring, chain 3, make 2 DC in ring, chain 3 again and slip stitch to magic ring loop. Pull tight but don’t join.

Sew teeth onto bottom of hat so they hang over the last row.

Sew snout on top of teeth. It helps to make sure the bottom of the snout matches up with the bottom edge of the hat.

Looking forward to seeing all of your Hippo Hats! This would make a great baby gift paired with a Sandra Boynton book.

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