My daughter saw a crocheted hippo hat on Etsy and asked me to make her a knit one. I looked at the photo and decided to plunge ahead. I had a basic idea of what was needed – knit an earflap beanie and add the hippo details of mouth, teeth, ears, eyes and the flower on top. I took notes as I knit and re-checked everything multiple times to make sure I was writing down everything correctly. I think the finished hat is wonderful and my daughter sure is happy.
Knit Hippo Hat
Materials
1 skein each of Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice yarn in Purple, White, Dusty Rose and Mustard.
Compatible yarns: KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Worsted, KnitPicks Swish Worsted
Size 8 knitting needles, 16-inch circular and double pointed.
Size J crochet hook
Stitch markers
Large-eye darning needle
2 1/2-inch black buttons
1 3/8-inch black button
black sewing thread and sewing needle
Instructions
(This hat is adult size medium. The hat is worked in multiples of 8 stitches. To make the hat larger or smaller, add or decrease stitches in multiples of 8.)
With circular needle, cast on 80 stitches. Join work, being careful not to twist it, and knit stockinette stitch (knit every round) until work measures 5 inches from the start.
Begin decrease for crown: Knit 11, place marker. Repeat to end of round.
Row 1: K9, K2tog (knit 2 together). Repeat to end of round.
Row 2: Knit.
– Repeat these two rounds 6 times (changing to double pointed needles when necessary); 24 stitches.
– Then decrease every round until 8 stitches remain.
– K2tog around; 4 stitches remain.
– Tie off remaining stitches.
Mouth
Using pink yarn and double pointed needle, pick up and knit 24 stitches from row 10 on front of hat.
Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for five rows.
Change to purple yarn.
Row 1: (right side) slip 1, SSK, knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.
Row 2: slip 1, knit to end of row.
Row 3: slip 1, knit to end of row.
Repeat these three rows twice; 20 stitches.
Then repeat rows 1 and 2 twice; 16 stitches.
Bind off.
Using purple yarn and crochet hook, single crochet around sides and top edge of mouth.
Ear Flaps
Starting 5 stitches on either side of mouth, pick up and knit (on cast on edge) 16 stitches. K stockinette stitch for 4 rows.
Start decrease:
Row 1: (right side) slip 1, SSK, knit to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.
Row 2: slip 1, knit to end of row.
Repeat these 2 rows until 5 stitches remain.
Slip one, SSSK (slip 3 and knit together), K1, turn.
K3tog, tie off, leaving 18-inch tail of yarn.
Nostrils
Using pink yarn and J crochet hook, SC 6 stitches around upper right corner of mouth. Fasten off and use yarn ends to secure corners of nose to hat body.
Eyes
Using white yarn and crochet hook, CH3. SC6 in second chain from hook, CH1. SC2 stitches in each SC of round one; 12 stitches. Fasten off, leaving long yarn tail. Repeat for second eye. Use yarn tail and large-eyed needle to sew eyes in middle of hat front, just above mouth.
Teeth
Using white yarn and crochet hook, SC in stitch at lower edge of hat just below outer edge of mouth, work 2 HDC in next stitch, 1 SC in next stitch. Fasten off. Repeat on other side for second tooth.
Ears
Fold hat in half with the front facing you. Find the top fold of the hat – this is where you will be sewing the ears.
Using purple yarn and crochet hook, starting 1 inch to the side of the top crown of the hat, with the back of the hat facing you, SC 4 along the top fold of the hat, working from the top towards the bottom. CH1 and turn.
SC and 1 HDC in first stitch, 2DC in each of next 2 stitches, HDC and 1SC in last stitch. Tie off.
Ties
Cut 2 pieces, 36 inches long each, of purple, pink and white yarn. Thread each piece through bottom of earflap, threading halfway through to make several pieces of yarm 18 inches long. Separate the yarn into three equal bunches and braid it. Tie into a knot at the end, leaving 3-inch tassels. Trim ends of tassels so they are even in length.
Flower
Use yellow yarn and crochet hook:
Round 1: CH 2, 5 SC in 2nd chain from hook. Join with slip stitch to first SC.
Round 2: [(CH 2, 3DC, CH2, sl st) in the same SC, sl st to the next sc], 5 times, making 5 petals. Cut off, leaving 10-inch tail.
Use yarn tail to secure flower to top of hat, in front of and below right ear.
Buttons
Use needle and thread to sew button to center of flower, and sew buttons to center of eyes.
Finishing
Weave in all yard ends.
