Free Crochet Pattern: Nora The Hippo

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Nora the Hippo is designed as a cuddly toy that is perfect for hugs, security and cosiness. Nora does not have wadding/filling in her body, which makes her super soft and comfortable to sleep next to. She is made from the loveliest cotton yarn from Shamrock Yarns, which also means that she can easily handle a trip in the washing machine.

Measurements

The hippo measures 22cm in length and 14cm in width.

Tools

Materials

Abbreviations

Chain stitch (ch)

Double crochet (dc)

Half treble (htr)

Treble (tr)

Magic ring (mr)

Increase (inc) – Two dc in the same stitch

Half treble increase (htr-inc)

Invisible decrease (invdec)

() x - When something is in parentheses followed by an x, it means that the parenthesis must be repeated the number of times specified after the x.

Invisible decrease:

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Insert the crochet hook under the front loop in the two stitches which should be made into one stitch (photo 1&2)

Yarn over hook, and pull the yarn trough the two stitches on the hook (photo 3)

Yarn over hook, and draw through both stitches on the hook (photo 4)

Instructions

The Head

After step 4, you work in rounds. You DO NOT make slip stitches, but you crochet in spiral. Using blue yarn:

1. Make 7 ch (tight).

2. In the 2nd stitch from the hook, you make an inc, 1 dc in the next 4 stitches. In the last stitch, you make 5 dc in the same stitch.

Now, turn the work, so you continue crocheting on the opposite side of the chain stitches.

3. 1 dc in the next 4 stitches.

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3 dc in the last stitch (same stitch as the first inc) – The last stitch may be slightly hidden. It is marked with the needle in the photo. (18)

The first 3 steps make up the first round.

We continue working in rounds.

4. Inc in the first stitch, 1 dc in the next 6 stitches, (inc)x3. 1 dc in the next 6 stitches, inc in the last 2 stitches (24)

5. Inc in the first stitch, 1 dc in the next 8 stitches, (Inc, 1 dc) x 2, inc, 1 dc in the next 8 stitches, (inc, 1 dc) x2. (30)

6. Inc in the first stitch, 1 dc in the next 8 stitches, (inc, 2 dc) x 2, inc, 1 dc in the next 8 stitches, (inc, 2 dc) x 2 (36)

After step 6:

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7. Inc in the first stitch, 1 dc in the next 9 stitches, (inc, 3 dc) x 2, inc, 1 dc in the next 9 stitches, (inc, 3 dc) x 2 (42)

8. Inc in the first stitch, 1 dc in the next 10 stitches, (inc, 4 dc) x 2, inc, 1 dc in the next 10 stitches (inc, 4 dc) x 2 (48)

9. Inc in the first stitch, 1 dc in the next 11 stitches, (inc, 5 dc) x 2, inc, 1 dc in the next 11 stitches (inc, 5 dc) x 2 (54)

10. Dc around (54)

11. Dc around (54)

12. Dc around (54)

13. Invdec, 1 dc in the next 13 stitches, (invdec, 4 dc) x 3, invdec, 1 dc in the next 8 dc, (invdec, 4 dc) x 2 (47)

14. Start with an invdec. Dc around (46)

15. 1 dc in the first 3 stitches, (inc, 1 dc) x 4, 1 dc in the next 10 stitches, (invdec, 2 dc) x 4, 1 dc in the next 9 stitches (46)

After step 15:

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16. 1 dc in the first 3 stitches, (inc, 2 dc) x 4, 1 dc in the next 10 stitches, (invdec, 2 dc) x 3, 1 dc in the next 9 dc (47)

17. Dc around (47)

18. Dc around (47)

After step 18:

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19. (Invdec, 7 dc) x 5, invdec (41)

20. (Invdec, 6 dc) x 5, 1 dc (36)

21. (Invdec, 4 dc) x 6 (30)

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Now, you add on the eyes. I count 11 rows up from the chain stitches and leave 10 stitches between the eyes (see photo). Add filling as well.

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22. (Invdec, 3 dc) x 6 (24)

23. (Invdec, 2 dc) x 6 (18)

Add more wadding/filling for the head to become firmer.

24. (Invdec, 1 dc) x 6 (12)

25. Invdec x 6 (6)

Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail so you can weave in the little hole that is left. If necessary, press the filling in place for the head to get a nice shape.

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The body

The body is made with half treble stitches as this creates a softer appearance.

1. 8 htr in a magic ring (8)

2. Inc in each stitch (16)

3. (1 htr, inc) x 8 (24)

4. (2 htr, inc) x 8 (32)

5. Htr around (32)

6. (3 htr, inc) x 8 (40)

7. Htr around (40)

8. (4 htr, inc) x 8 (48)

9. Htr around (48)

10. 1 htr in the first 8 stitches, 8 chain stitches, skip 8 stitches, 1 htr in the next 16 stitches, 8 chain stitches, skip 8 stitches, 1 htr in the next 8 stitches (48)

These are the holes that the arms will be attached to.

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11. 1 htr in the first 7 stitches, inc in the stitch before the chain. 1 htr in each chain stitch, inc in the first stitch after the chain. 1 htr in the next 13 stitches, inc, 1 htr in each stitch in the chain, inc, 1 htr in the next 6 stitches (50)

12. Htr around (50)

13. Htr around (50)

14. Htr around (50)

15. Htr around (50)

16. Htr around (50)

17. Htr around (50)

18. Htr around (50)

19. Htr around (50)

20. Htr around (50)

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Don’t break the yarn!

Now we divide the body into 2 parts (24 stitches in each). I do this by pressing the work flat so that the holes for the arms are placed exactly on top of each other, then I fold the work in the middle and add a stitch marker from one side and through (these two stitches do not count - hence the 24 stitches and not 25 ). See photo guide.

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Leg 1

I start by making 6 htr until I reach the stitch marker. From here, you do rounds for the leg.

1. Htr over to the opposite side, continue around (24)

2. (4 htr, dec) x 4 (20)

3. Htr around (20)

4. (3 htr, dec) x 4 (16)

5. Htr around (16)

6. (2 htr, dec) x 4 (12)

7. (1 htr, dec) x 4 (8)

8. (Dec) x 4 (4) Cut yarn

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Leg 2

Make a loop on the crochet hook and attach with a slip stitch to the left of the stitch marker – it’s important to crochet in the same directions as before.

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1. Htr around (24)

2. (4 htr, dec) x 4 (20)

3. Htr around (20)

4. (3 htr, dec) x 4 (16)

5. Htr around (16)

6. (2 htr, dec) x 4 (12)

7. (1 htr, dec) x 4 (8)

8. (Dec) x 4 (4)

Cut the yarn

Arms (make 2)

Change to the off-white colour. The arms are now made in rounds - without slip stitches.

1. 6 dc in a magic ring (6)

2. Inc in each stitch (12)

3. (1 dc, inc) x 6 (18)

4. Dc around (18)

5. Dc around (18)

Change to the blue colour. I cut the off-white coloured yarn and tie a double knot with the blue yarn to make sure it doesn’t loosen.

6. (1, invdec) x 6 (12)

Stuff the ball generously.

7. Invdec in each stitch (6)

NOTE. Now crochet with htr! From here, each increase is a half treble increase.

8. Inc in each stitch (12)

9. Htr around (12)

10. (1 htr, inc) x 6 (18)

11.-18. Htr around. 8 rounds in total. (18)

Cut the yarn and leave a tail for sewing. Repeat.

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Feet (make 2)

Start with the off-white colour. Make 4 chain stitches.

1. From the 2nd stitch from the hook, you make an inc, 1 dc, inc in the last stitch of the chain, turn the work – you continue working on the opposite side of the chain. Make an inc in the same stitch as the last inc. 1 dc, inc. (10)

2. Inc, 1 dc in the next 3 stitches, inc, 1 dc, inc, 1 dc in the next 3 stitches, inc, 1 dc (14)

3. Inc, 1 dc in the next 3 stitches, inc, 1 dc in the next 2 stitches, inc, 1 dc in the next 3 stitches, inc, 1 dc the next 2 stitches (18)

4. Inc, 1 dc in the next 4 stitches, inc, 1 dc in the next 3 stitches, inc, 1 dc in the next 4 stitches, inc (22)

6. Dc around. (22)

7. Colour change, dc around in blue (22)

8. Start with an invdec, dc around, finish with invdec (20)

9. (2 dc, invdec) x 5 (14)

10. (1 dc, invdec) x 5 (9)

Add filling to the ball.

11. (Invdec) x 5 (4)

Cut the yarn and leave a long tail for sewing. Repeat.

The Ears (make 2)

Use blue yarn. Work in rounds.

1. 6 dc in a magic ring (6)

2. Inc in each stitch (12)

3. (1 dc, inc) x 6 (18)

4. Dc around (18)

5. Dc around (18)

Cut the yarn and leave a long tail. Sew the sides of the circle together in the front loop and tighten. This creates a fold in the ear. Sew the fold as well.

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Collar

Use off-white colour.

Crochet in rows back and forth. After each row you turn with one 1 ch.

The size of the collar can be adjusted according to preference. If you want a smaller collar, just cast on fewer chain stitches.

1. I start with casting on 25 ch.

2. I crochet in half trebles and rib. This is done this by crocheting in the back loop. In the 2nd stitch from the hook, you make htr in the back loop all throughout the row. (24) 

3.-33. Htr in the back loop in 34 rows in total. (24) 

Cut the yarn and leave a long tail for sewing.

Fold the collar on the long side and sew up and down all the way. Tighten the yarn so that the collar starts to create an arch. While tightening the yarn, you sew back the same way so that the tension doesn’t loosen. Finally, the ends are sewn together so that the collar forms an O. Do NOT cut the yarn just yet.

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Now all the different parts are finished, and we are ready to assemble:

Assembly

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Ears: I count 3 rows from the eyes and back and place them behind the eyes. See photo.

Collar: Place the head so that the stitching of the head is in the collar hole. Sew the collar securely attached on the head using the white yarn.

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Arms: Fold the body on the opposite side to what it has been so far, so you can work around in the armhole. I insert the darning needle through both loop-sides when sewing.

The head with the collar for the body: I sew around round 2 on the body and up around the stitches on the head. Make sure that you don’t accidentally turn the head in the wrong direction to the body when sewing it on.

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Feet: The white of the feet should face upwards and from here you sew around the last round of the leg with the long tail that you left for sewing.

Nora is now ready for some cuddles!

Share your version of Nora by tagging @agnetheflora @ritodk or using the hashtag #Norathehippo – I would love to see your result

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Designed by: agnetheflora (Agnethe Florentsen)

Version: v4.c310.s4.l5