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Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern

Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern
4.8★ Rating
5-7 Hours Time Needed
3.9K Made This
✂️

Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

⏱️

Weekend Treat

Takes 5-7 hours, making it an enjoyable project to finish over a couple of days.

🧸

Cute Companion

An adorable friend to cherish, handcrafted with love to bring comfort and joy for years to come.

About This Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern

This pattern creates a small, striped hippo amigurumi complete with ears, nostrils, hooves and a tiny hat. The instructions include detailed round-by-round guidance, color changes and finishing tips to help you shape each part precisely. You will learn to work in continuous rounds, use BLO/FLO for texture, and assemble all pieces for a polished finished toy.

Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

Designed using US crochet terminology, the hippo measures about 14.5 cm tall when made with the recommended yarn and hook. Clear photos and placement notes help you position eyes, nostrils and ears accurately.

Why You'll Love This Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it combines simple amigurumi techniques with charming details that bring the hippo to life. I enjoy the gentle shaping of the head and snout — it gives so much personality with only basic stitches. The striped body and tiny hat are opportunities for creativity and color play, which I find really satisfying. Sewing the pieces together and seeing the character emerge is one of my favorite parts of making toys.

Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern step 1 - construction progress Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern step 2 - assembly progress Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern step 3 - details and accessories Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love how easy it is to customize this hippo by changing the stripe colors; try pastels for a nursery-friendly version or bright colors for a playful look.

To make a larger hippo, I switch to a bulkier yarn and larger hook — the shaping stays the same but the finished toy becomes much cuddlier.

I often add embroidered cheeks or a small felt accessory like a bow or scarf to personalize each hippo I make.

If you want a tiny keychain version, I use thinner yarn and a smaller hook to scale the pattern down, then attach a keyring through the hat or top of the head.

For a polar or fantasy theme, I change the body color and embroider patterns on the side; mixing textures like cotton body and acrylic hat gives a lovely contrast.

I sometimes experiment with safety eye sizes to vary the expression — larger eyes make a cuter, more youthful face, while smaller eyes read as more subtle.

If you want the limbs posable, I add craft wire inside the arms and legs before stuffing, which lets me pose the hippo on a shelf.

Try sewing on tiny crocheted props like a little ball or book to create a mini scene and make the hippo part of a toy set.

I also recommend trying surface embroidery for eyebrows and mouth shapes to refine facial expressions and add personality.

Finally, play with the hat shape — a taller top or a wider brim can change the character of the hippo in delightful ways.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping the placement note for safety eyes can make them sit too high or low; follow the instruction to place the safety eyes between rounds 15-16 with 9 stitches between them so the face reads correctly. ✗ Not stuffing gradually leads to lumps or misshapen parts; stuff the head and body gradually as you work, adding small amounts to keep a smooth shape and support the decreases. ✗ Forgetting to work in continuous rounds can create visible seams and miscounts; keep working in spiral unless the pattern specifically instructs otherwise to maintain consistent stitch orientation. ✗ Changing tension between pieces creates uneven sizing and fit issues; use the same hook and maintain a steady, moderately tight tension for all parts so they assemble neatly and proportionally. ✗ Cutting yarn tails too short removes the ability to adjust features later; leave long tails when finishing parts so you can use them for sewing or adjusting eye placement and shaping.

Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern

Make a charming little hippo named Bepo with this detailed crochet pattern. You will create a soft, striped body, cute ears, tiny nostrils and a jaunty little hat using step-by-step rounds. Perfect for gifting or keeping as a cozy handmade companion, this pattern walks you through shaping, color changes and assembly so you can finish a delightful toy.

Intermediate 5-7 Hours

Materials Needed for Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Katia Panama 100% cotton yarn, 50g / 180 m (used for grey, light blue, blue and cream colors)
  • 02
    Grey yarn - main color (quantity as needed, approx 100g)
  • 03
    Cream yarn - accent for inner ears, hooves, and stripes (approx 25-50g)
  • 04
    Light blue yarn - stripe color (approx 10-20g)
  • 05
    Blue yarn - hat and stripes (small amount, approx 10-20g)

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size 2.0 mm (approx) - pattern indicates 2 mm crochet hook
  • 02
    Polyester fiberfill for stuffing
  • 03
    Black embroidery thread for eyebrows and details
  • 04
    6 mm safety eyes (2 pieces)
  • 05
    Tapestry needle for sewing parts and weaving ends
  • 06
    Stitch marker to mark beginning of rounds
  • 07
    Scissors

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— NOSTRILS (make 2) :

Rnd 1 :

start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Rnd 2 :

sc in all 6 st (6)

Info :

Finish with a slip st in the next st and fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing.

— HEAD :

Rnd 1 :

make a chain of 12

Rnd 2 :

start crocheting in the second loop from the hook . 10 sc, 3 sc in the last loop of the chain. Turn your work round so that you can now crochet on the other side of the chain, 9 sc and increase in the last chain (24)

Rnd 3 :

inc, 9 sc, (inc) x 3, 9 sc, (inc) x 2 (30)

Rnd 4 :

(1 sc, inc) x 2, 9 sc, (1 sc, inc) x 3, 10 sc, inc (36)

Rnd 5 :

(2 sc, inc) x 2, 9 sc, (2 sc, inc) x 3, 11 sc, inc (42)

Rnd 6 :

(3 sc, inc) x 2, 9 sc, (3 sc, inc) x 3, 12 sc, inc (48)

Rnd 7 :

(4 sc, inc) x 2, 9 sc, (4 sc, inc) x 3, 13 sc, inc (54)

Rnd 8-14 :

sc in all 54 st (54)

Rnd 15 :

(7 sc, dec) x 6 (48)

Rnd 16 :

(3 sc, inc) x 6, 24 sc (54)

Rnd 17 :

(4 sc, inc) x 6, 24 sc (60)

Rnd 18-24 :

sc in all 60 st (60)

Rnd 25 :

(8 sc, dec) x 6 (54)

Rnd 26 :

sc in all 54 st (54)

Infos :

Place the safety eyes between rounds 15-16 with 9 stitches between them. Start stuffing the head and continue stuffing as you work.

Rnd 27 :

(7 sc, dec) x 6 (48)

Rnd 28 :

sc in all 48 st (48)

Rnd 29 :

(6 sc, dec) x 6 (42)

Rnd 30 :

(5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)

Rnd 31 :

(4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)

Rnd 32 :

(3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)

Rnd 33 :

(2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)

Rnd 34 :

(1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)

Rnd 35 :

6 dec (6)

Info :

Fasten off. With your yarn needle, weave the yarn tail through the front loop of each remaining stitch and pull tight to close. Don’t cut the yarn, leave a long tail, we will use it later.

Infos :

* Sew the eyebrows with black embroidery thread 3 rounds above each eye. * Sew the nostrils between rounds 6-8 with 12 stitches between them.

Info :

* To make the eyes slightly closer take the leftover yarn tail of the head and insert the needle near the eye. Go back and forth between the two eyes several times and pull lightly.

— EARS (make 2) :

Inner ear, make 2 :

(in cream yarn) Rnd 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Rnd 2 :

inc in all 6 st (12)

Rnd 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Rnd 4 :

(2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)

Info :

Make a slip stitch in the next stitch, fasten off and weave in the yarn end.

Outer ear, make 2 :

(in grey yarn) Rnd 1: start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Rnd 2 :

inc in all 6 st (12)

Rnd 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Rnd 4 :

(2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)

Info :

After completing the first grey outer ear, do not fasten off, instead, place the wrong side of the grey outer ear to the wrong side of the cream inner ear (so they are back to back and the 'right' sides are facing outwards) and complete Rnd 5: sc in all 24 st through both parts (24).

Info :

Make a slip stitch in the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Fold the ear slightly and sew a few stitches of the ear together.

— BODY :

Rnd 1 :

start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Rnd 2 :

inc in all 6 st (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 :

(5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)

Rnd 8 :

(6 sc, inc) x 6 (48)

Rnd 9 :

(7 sc, inc) x 6 (54)

Rnd 10-13 :

sc in all 54 st (54)

Info :

With cream yarn

Rnd 14 :

sc in all 54 st (54)

Rnd 15 :

BLO sc in all 54 st (54)

Rnd 16 :

(7 sc, dec) x 6 (48)

Rnd 17 :

sc in all 48 st (48)

Info :

With blue yarn

Rnd 18 :

sc in all 48 st (48)

Rnd 19 :

(6 sc, dec) x 6 (42)

Info :

With cream yarn

Rnd 20-22 :

sc in all 42 st (42)

Rnd 23 :

(5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)

Info :

With blue yarn

Rnd 24-25 :

sc in all 36 st (36)

Info :

With cream yarn

Rnd 26 :

sc in all 36 st (36)

Rnd 27 :

(4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)

Rnd 28-29 :

sc in all 30 st (30)

Info :

With blue yarn

Rnd 30 :

sc in all 30 st (30)

Rnd 31 :

(3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)

Info :

With cream yarn

Rnd 32-35 :

sc in all 24 st (24)

Info :

Make a slip stitch in the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff it.

Info :

Turn the body upside down and reattach cream yarn to round 15 where you completed stitches in the BLO. Insert your hook into the FLO of the first and last stitch of round 15 and chain 1. Continue to sc around and finish with a slip stitch in the first stitch where you started. Fasten off and weave in the yarn end.

— ARMS (make 2) :

Rnd 1 :

start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Rnd 2 :

inc in all 6 st (12)

Rnd 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Rnd 4 :

(2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)

Rnd 5 :

BLO sc in all 24 st (24)

Rnd 6 :

(6 sc, dec) x 3 (21)

Rnd 7-8 :

sc in all 21 st (21)

Rnd 9 :

(5 sc, dec) x 3 (18)

Rnd 10 :

sc in all 18 st (18)

Info :

with cream yarn

Rnd 11 :

sc in all 18 st (18)

Rnd 12 :

BLO sc in all 18 st (18)

Rnd 13-14 :

sc in all 18 st (18)

Info :

with blue yarn

Rnd 15 :

sc in all 18 st (18)

Rnd 16 :

(4 sc, dec) x 3 (15)

Info :

with cream yarn

Rnd 17-20 :

sc in all 15 st (15)

Info :

with blue yarn

Rnd 21 :

sc in all 15 st (15)

Rnd 22 :

(3 sc, dec) x 3 (12)

Info :

with cream yarn

Rnd 23-26 :

sc in all 12 st (12)

Info :

with blue yarn

Rnd 27 :

sc in all 12 st (12)

Rnd 28 :

(2 sc, dec) x 3 (9)

Info :

with cream yarn

Rnd 29 :

sc in all 9 st (9)

Info :

Stuff it.

Rnd 30 :

Flatten the top of the arm and sc through both layers to close. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Info :

Turn the arm upside down and reattach cream yarn to round 12 where you completed the stitches in Back Loops Only (BLO). Insert your hook into the Front Loops of the first and last stitch of round 12 and chain 1. Continue to sc around and finish with a slip stitch in the first stitch where you started. Fasten off and weave in the yarn end.

Info :

With cream yarn sew 4 hooves on each arm with 2 stitches between them.

— LEGS (make 2) :

Rnd 1 :

start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Rnd 2 :

inc in all 6 st (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 :

BLO sc in all 36 st (36)

Rnd 8-9 :

sc in all 36 st (36)

Rnd 10 :

(4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)

Rnd 11-13 :

sc in all 30 st (30)

Rnd 14 :

(3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)

Rnd 15-18 :

sc in all 24 st (24)

Rnd 19 :

(2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)

Rnd 20-23 :

sc in all 18 st (18)

Rnd 24 :

(1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)

Rnd 25-26 :

sc in all 12 st (12)

Info :

Stuff it, leaving the last cm (0.3 inches) unstuffed.

Rnd 27 :

Flatten the top of the leg and sc through both layers to close.

Info :

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. With cream yarn sew 4 hooves on each leg with 3 stitches between them.

— TAIL :

Rnd 1 :

start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Rnd 2-5 :

sc in all 6 st (6)

Info :

Make a slip stitch in the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Don’t stuff it.

— HAT :

Rnd 1 :

start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Rnd 2 :

inc in all 6 st (12)

Rnd 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Rnd 4-8 :

sc in all 18 st (18)

Rnd 9 :

working in Front Loops Only (FLO) inc in all 18 st (36)

Rnd 10 :

sc in all 36 st (36)

Info :

Make a slip stitch in the next stitch and fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

— ASSEMBLY :

Info :

Now we will join all parts together to finish the little hippo.

Info :

Sew the ears to the head between rounds 28-29 with 14 stitches between them.

Info :

Sew the body centered under the head on round 8 from the last round.

Info :

Sew the arms to both sides of the body 1 row below the head.

Info :

Sew the legs to the body on round 3 as shown in the photos.

Info :

Sew the tail to the body on round 4.

Info :

Finally, stuff the hat and sew it to the head.

Assembly Instructions

  • Sew the ears to the head between rounds 28-29 with 14 stitches between them, matching left and right for symmetry.
  • Sew the body centered under the head on round 8 from the last round so the neck sits evenly and the hippo balances.
  • Attach the arms to both sides of the body one row below the head and secure with tight stitches for a neat finish.
  • Sew the legs to the body on round 3, spacing them evenly as shown in the photos so the hippo can sit upright.
  • Sew the tail to the body on round 4 and attach the hat to the top of the head after stuffing it firmly.

Important Notes

  • 💡Work in continuous rounds (spiral) unless instructed otherwise to avoid visible seams and maintain consistent shaping.
  • 💡Use stitch markers to keep track of your rounds, especially when working increases and decreases to maintain correct stitch counts.
  • 💡Stuff parts gradually and evenly; overstuffing can distort shaping while understuffing can make seams hard to close.

You did it — your little hippo is complete and ready to cuddle! This sweet amigurumi makes a thoughtful handmade gift or a charming shelf companion. Enjoy dressing her up with tiny accessories or making a whole herd of friends. 🧶🧵

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The hippo will be about 14.5 cm (5.7 inches) tall when using the recommended Katia Panama 100% cotton and a 2 mm hook.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, but changing yarn weight will change the final size significantly; use an appropriate hook for your yarn and expect to adjust stuffing and placement of features.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate and assumes familiarity with single crochet, increases, decreases, working in BLO/FLO and sewing amigurumi pieces together.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete this project in 5-7 hours, depending on experience and how much time you spend on finishing and assembly.