This cute crochet hippo square is #7 in the Wildlife Animal Square Blanket crochet a long. This July square is the next square in a year-long crochet blanket granny square series by Nana’s Crafty Home!

This free crochet hippo pattern is part of the Wildlife Animal Blanket CAL and if you would like all the details on this year-long event you can find it on the blog.

This adorable crochet hippo square has been taken to the next level in texture by stuffing the muzzle. Stuffing provided a 3-dimensional effect perfect for a baby blanket or pillow!

Crochet Hippo Square Pattern Details

These “circle in a square” squares begin as a double crochet circle and then the circle is squared off for easy joining.  The main portion of the circle in a square uses all beginner-friendly crochet stitches – single, half double, double crochet stitch and treble stitches.

The main square for my Hippo is worked in just two colors – gray for the hippo’s face and then squared off with the green. 

Once the square is complete you will crochet ears, eyes, teeth, nostrils and muzzle or snout to sew to the top of the square.

The hippo square is just the second square in the series to add a bit of stuffing for depth. The Giraffe Square was the first with the addition of stuffed horns. I love how stuffing makes the square pop out at you! I really felt that I needed the hippo’s snout or muzzle to extend out to give it even more character. However, this feature is completely optional and you could certainly skip it. Add as much (or as little) stuffing as you desire. 

Instead of using plastic safety eyes for my hippo square crochet pattern, I am using my double crochet cartoon Crochet Eyes. These are the same crochet eyes I have used for my previous blankets and I just love how much personality they add! I have a complete photo and video tutorial for the crochet eyes to help you make them as well.

My free crochet hippo pattern and the entire Wildlife Animal Blanket use Red Heart Super Saver* which is a medium worsted weight acrylic yarn.  Very economical and with plentiful color options! You can certainly substitute your favorite worsted weight yarn – Hobby Lobby’s I Love This Yarn!, Red Heart With Love, Paintbox Simply Aran, Vanna’s Choice, Big Twist Value, Caron Simply Soft, Caron One Pound and so many more!  Raid your yarn stash – even mix and match. This is a fantastic stash busting project!

*This post contains affiliate links.  You can click on any yarn or material highlighted to purchase.  I will receive a small commission if you purchase but it won’t cost you any extra!  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Be sure to come back for the Monkey Square in August!

You can purchase the ad-free PDF of the Hippo Square for a small fee. You can purchase the individual pattern, or if you love PDFs, you might want to check out my Lifetime Membership. It’s an awesome deal! Never pay for one of my PDFs again!!

Purchase the ad-free pdf of my Hippo Crochet Square for a small fee.  Thank you so much for supporting my work!

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You may also like the following free crochet patterns by Nana’s Crafty Home:

• 1. Lion Square free crochet pattern
• 2. Tiger Square free crochet pattern
• 3. Koala Square free crochet pattern

Hippo Crochet Square Free Written Pattern

Pattern written in US crochet terminology

Supplies:

Red Heart Super Saver Weight 4 / Medium (100% acrylic)

•     Light Gray 2.7 oz / 145 yds (Gray) 
•     Frosty Green 1.5 oz / 80 yds (Green)
•     Black 0.2 oz / 11 yds (Black)
•     Turqua 0.01 oz / 1 yard (Blue)
•     White 0.1 oz / 6 yards (White)

Size I (5.5 mm) crochet hook
Small amount of polyfil to stuff muzzle
Scissors
Stitch marker (optional)
Tapestry needle

Approximate finished size:  14” square

Gauge: First 4 rounds = 4” / 4 dc sts = 1”

Abbreviations:

• MC = magic circle
• ch(s) = chain(s)
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• tr = treble
• sp = space
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• sk = skip
• sl st = slip stitch
• WS = wrong side
• RS = right side

Pattern Notes:

• Ch 3 at beginning of each round counts as first dc stitch.
• Ears, eyes, muzzle, nostrils and teeth are worked separately and then sewn to front of panel.

Recommended Tutorial:

Crochet Eyes in 3 Sizes Tutorial

Pattern Instructions

With gray, make MC.

Round 1: Ch 3, 11 dc in MC, join with sl st in top of ch-3 and tighten ring. (12)

Round 2: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 2 dc in each st around, sl st in top of ch-3. (24)

Round 3: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st in top of ch-3. (36)

Round 4: Ch 3, 2 dc in next st, *1 dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st,* repeat from * to * to last st, 1 dc in last st, sl st in top of ch-3. (48)

Round 5: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 3 sts, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st in top of ch-3. (60)

Round 6: Ch 3, 1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st, *1 dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st,* repeat from * to * to last 2 sts, 1 dc in last 2 sts, sl st in top of ch-3.  (72)

Round 7: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 5 sts, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 5 sts,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st in top of ch-3. (84)

Round 8: Ch 3, 1 dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, *1 dc in next 6 sts, 2 dc in next st,* repeat from * to * to last 3 sts, 1 dc in last 3 sts, sl st in top of ch-3.  (96)

Round 9: Ch 3, 1 dc in same st, 1 dc in next 7 sts, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 7 sts,* repeat from * to * to end,  sl st in top of first st. (108)

Fasten off gray.

Round 10: Join green in first st, ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts, dc in next 4 sts, tr in next 4 sts, *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in next st, tr in next 4 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, dc in next 4 sts, tr in next 4 sts,* repeat from * to * two times; (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in next st, tr in next 4 sts, dc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, sl st in first st. (120 + 4 ch-2 corner sp)

Round 11: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts, dc in next 6 sts, tr in next 4 sts, *(2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in ch-2 sp, tr in next 4 sts, dc in next 6 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, dc in next 6 sts, tr in next 4 sts,* repeat from * to * two times; (2 tr, ch 2, 2 tr) in ch-2 sp, tr in next 4 sts, dc in next 6 sts, hdc in next 4 sts, sl st in first st. (136 + 4 ch-2 corner sp)

Round 12 – 13: Ch 3 (counts as first st), *dc in each st to next ch-2 sp, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp,* repeat from * to * to end, sl st top of ch-3.  (152 round 12, 168 round 13)

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Ears (make 2)

With gray, ch 7.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook, hdc in next 2 chs, dc in next 2 chs, 6 dc in last ch, rotate work to begin working in unused loops of foundation ch; dc in next 2 loops, hdc in next 2 loops, sc in last loop. (16)

Leaving a long tail for sewing, fasten off and weave in remaining end. 

Eyes (make 2)

With black, make MC.

Round 1: (RS) Ch 3, 10 dc in MC, join with sl st in top of ch-3, tighten ring. (11)

Fasten off black, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Row 2: Join blue in first st of round 1, sl st in next 5 sts.

Fasten off blue.

Row 3: Join white in first st of round 1 (behind slip stitches of row 2), sl st in next 5 sts.

Fasten off white, leaving a long tail for embroidery of eye.

With long tail of white, embroider center of eye.

Weave in remaining ends not left for sewing.

Muzzle

With gray, ch 10.

Round 1: 2 dc in fourth ch from hook (skipped chs count as first st), dc in next 5 chs, 6 dc in last ch, rotate work to begin working in unused loop of foundation ch; 1 dc in next 5 loops, 3 dc in last loop, sl st in top of skipped chs. (22)

Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts, 2 dc in next 3 sts, dc in next 8 sts, 2 dc in last st, sl st top of ch-3. (28)

Round 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in next 2 sts, dc in next 9 sts, 2 dc in next 5 sts, dc in next 9 sts, 2 dc in next 2 sts, sl st top of ch-3. (38)

Round 4: Ch 3, dc in same st, (1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) twice, dc in next 11 sts, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st) 4 times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 9 sts, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next st) twice, sl st top of ch-3. (48)

Round 5: Ch 3, dc in same st, (1 dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st) twice, dc in next 13 sts, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 sts) 4 times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 9 sts, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 sts) twice, sl st top of ch-3. (58)

Round 6: Ch 3, dc in same st, (1 dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st) twice, dc in next 4 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next st, sl st in next st (mark this st with stitch marker), sc in next st, hdc in next st, dc in next 4 sts, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts) 4 times, 2 dc in next st, dc in next 11 sts, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts) twice, sl st top of ch-3. (68)

Leaving a long tail for sewing, fasten off.

Nostrils (make 2)

With black, make a MC, ch 1, 6 sc sts in MC, sl st to first st. (6)

Fasten off.

Teeth (make 2)

With white, ch 4.

Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch to end. Turn. (3)

Row 2 – 7: Ch 1, sc in each st. Turn.

Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Fold foundation chain from row 1 and end of row 7 together, with long tail sew edges together.

Assembly 

Note:  Sew following pieces to RS of square.

With long tails, nostrils to muzzle. Note: Stitch marker on muzzle is the bottom of the muzzle and will be sewn towards the bottom of the face.

With long tails, sew ears to top corners of face.

With long tails, sew teeth to bottom of muzzle along edge with stitch marker.

With long tails, sew muzzle to face making sure that marked stitch is at the bottom of the face. Note: Slightly stuff prior to sewing to help keep shape, then stuff completely just before sewing is complete.

With long tails, sew eyes to face.

Weave in remaining ends.

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