How to Crochet HIPPO Plushie (Tutorial for Beginners)

Learn how to crochet a cute and plush hippo plushie named Cy for your little one with a step-by-step tutorial from Rosalie_Toys. This amigurumi can be crocheted in 3 different sizes from baby to mother hippo without losing the plushness achieved using chenille yarn. Thanks to this yarn, crocheting these hippo amigurumi is a work of an hour.

You will need zero sewing due to the no-sew approach. You will love its cute glittery eyes and softness. Find the complete guide at the end of this post!

@Rosalie_Toys

Skills Used: Skills covered include magic ring, single crochet, increasing and decreasing stitches, bobble stitch for nostrils, puff stitch for legs, and invisible decreases for closing the body.

The tutorial also focuses on no-sew techniques, allowing the ears, legs, and tail to be attached seamlessly as the hippo is crocheted. Additionally, facial embroidery techniques help add expressive details.

Guide Span: 57 Minutes

Personalization Tips: Colors you can try for this hippo plushie include gray, pastel purple, and pink. The realistic eyes can also replace normal ones if you don’t have them.

Crochet HIPPO Plushie Tutorial

This step-by-step tutorial provides a detailed guide to crocheting a no-sew amigurumi hippo, making it both a fun and practical project. The tutorial thoroughly explains how to shape the head and body as one piece, create nostrils using bubble stitches, seamlessly attach ears and legs, and add finishing details like a tail and facial embroidery. Here is a quick overview of this guide:

Starting the Head & Body: The hippo begins with a magic ring and eight single crochets, gradually increasing in rounds to shape the head and nostrils.
Adding Facial Features: Bubble stitches are used to create raised nostrils, and safety eyes are placed between rounds 7 and 8.
Shaping the Body: The head transitions into the body without cutting the yarn. The body is built using single crochets, increases, and decreases to achieve a round, plump form.
Crocheting the Ears & Legs: The ears are made using chains and single crochets, attached seamlessly into the body. The legs are created with puff stitches for a structured, rounded shape.
Attaching the Tail & Final Details: A small curled tail is formed using chains and slip stitches, followed by stuffing and closing the body with invisible decreases.
Finishing Touches: Additional details, like embroidered eyelashes and white highlights under the eyes, are added for a cute and expressive look.

Stitch Guides

Following are the stitches used for crocheting these hippo plushies with quick guides for crocheting each:

SC (Single Crochet): Insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through both loops.
INC (Increase): Make 2 stitches in the same stitch.
DEC (Decrease): Insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through, insert into next stitch, yarn over, pull through, yarn over and pull through all loops.
BLO (Back Loop Only): Insert hook into the back loop of the stitch only.
SL ST (Slip Stitch): Insert hook, yarn over, pull through stitch and loop on hook.
CH (Chain): Yarn over, pull through loop on hook.
HDC (Half Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through all loops on hook.
DC (Double Crochet): Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through, yarn over, pull through two loops twice.
PS (Puff Stitch): Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through (repeat desired number of times), yarn over, pull through all loops.
BS (Bubble Stitch): Yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull through (repeat desired number of times), yarn over, pull through all loops except one, yarn over, pull through remaining loops on hook.