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Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern

Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern
4.4★ Rating
12-15 Hours Time Needed
1.7K Made This
✂️

Intermediate Level

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

⏱️

Multi-Day Project

A rewarding 12+ hour journey—perfect for dedicated crafters who love detailed work.

🧸

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 Bepo, a little hippo amigurumi with striped body details and a tiny hat. It uses simple amigurumi techniques worked in continuous rounds and includes clear stitch counts for each round. You'll finish with embroidered eyebrows, sewn nostrils and securely attached limbs for a polished toy.

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

Designed for intermediate crocheters, the pattern uses cotton yarn for a neat finish and good stitch definition. Complete assembly instructions and positioning notes are included for accurate placement of eyes, ears and limbs.

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

I absolutely love this pattern because it brings a gentle, characterful hippo to life with small, satisfying details like the striped body and tiny hat. I enjoy the balance of shaping and simple repeats which keeps the process engaging without being overwhelming. The pattern lets me experiment with color placement and tiny facial expressions through embroidery. Sewing the parts together and seeing the character take shape is one of my favorite moments when making amigurumi.

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 experimenting with color when I make Bepo — try swapping the stripes for warmer autumn shades to give the hippo a seasonal twist.

I often change yarn weight and hook size to make different sizes; use bulky yarn and a larger hook for a cuddly, oversized hippo or fine yarn and smaller hook for tiny keychain pals.

I like to replace safety eyes with embroidered eyes for baby-safe toys and softer expression — it also makes the hippo machine-washable.

I occasionally add tiny crocheted accessories like a scarf or bow tie to personalize each hippo and make gift sets with outfits.

For a different personality, adjust eyebrow placement or stitch short straight lines for different expressions — small changes here change the whole face.

I sometimes add a little wire into the arms for very gentle posability, but only if the toy is for display and not for small children.

Switch the hat color or create multiple hat styles (beanie, beret) to build a collection of characters from the same base pattern.

I recommend trying embroidery for tiny freckles or spots on the cheeks to create more character without heavy sewing.

If you prefer a softer finish, work with a softer cotton blend or acrylic and slightly larger hook to make the stitches looser and the hippo cuddlier.

I also enjoy making matching sibling sets by changing just the stripe placement and hat color — it makes a lovely coordinated gift set.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping stitch counts on shaping rounds can make the head or body asymmetric; count your stitches at the end of each round and correct any missed increases or decreases immediately. ✗ Not placing safety eyes at the recommended rounds will change facial proportions; place the eyes between rounds 15-16 with 9 stitches between them to match the pattern photos. ✗ Overstuffing the head or limbs can distort the shaping and make sewing difficult; stuff gradually, shaping as you go and stop before seams are joined to allow final shaping. ✗ Failing to join ear layers correctly will create reversed 'right' sides; when assembling the inner and outer ear place wrong sides together and complete the joining round before finishing. ✗ Neglecting to work in the specified loop (BLO or FLO) when instructed will change texture and fit; pay close attention to the rounds that specify BLO or FLO and switch yarn color or reattach as directed.

Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern

Make a sweet, handmade hippo named Bepo with this friendly intermediate amigurumi pattern. You will create a cuddly cotton toy with striped body details, embroidered features, and a tiny hat. The pattern includes full step-by-step rounds for head, body, limbs, ears, tail and assembly so you can follow along easily. Perfect for gifting or keeping as a charming decorative companion.

Intermediate 12-15 Hours

Materials Needed for Bepo the little hippo Amigurumi Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Katia Panama 100% cotton yarn, 50g / 180 m per skein (colors used: grey, light blue, blue and cream)
  • 02
    Grey yarn - main body and details, multiple small skeins (approx. 50g suggested)
  • 03
    Cream yarn - stripes, inner ears and hooves accents, small amount (approx. 25-50g)
  • 04
    Light blue yarn - stripes detail, small amount (approx. 10-25g)
  • 05
    Blue yarn - hat and some stripes, small amount (approx. 10-25g)

— Tools Required

  • 01
    2 mm crochet hook
  • 02
    Polyester fiberfill (stuffing)
  • 03
    Black embroidery thread
  • 04
    6 mm safety eyes (2 pieces)
  • 05
    Tapestry needle
  • 06
    Stitch marker

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Nostrils :

Round 1 :

start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Round 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 :

Round 1 :

make a chain of 12

Round 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)

Round 3 :

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

Round 4 :

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

Round 5 :

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

Round 6 :

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

Round 7 :

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

Round 8-14 :

sc in all 54 st (54)

Round 15 :

(7 sc, dec) x 6 (48)

Round 16 :

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

Round 17 :

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

Round 18-24 :

sc in all 60 st (60)

Round 25 :

(8 sc, dec) x 6 (54)

Round 26 :

sc in all 54 st (54)

Infos :

* Place the safety eyes between rounds 15-16 with 9 stitches between them. (photo 1). * Start stuffing the head and continue stuffing as you work.

Round 27 :

(7 sc, dec) x 6 (48)

Round 28 :

sc in all 48 st (48)

Round 29 :

(6 sc, dec) x 6 (42)

Round 30 :

(5 sc, dec) x 6 (36)

Round 31 :

(4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)

Round 32 :

(3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)

Round 33 :

(2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)

Round 34 :

(1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)

Round 35 :

6 dec (6)

Info :

Fasten off.

Info :

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.

Info :

* Sew the eyebrows with black embroidery thread 3 rounds above each eye. (photo 2).

Info :

* Sew the nostrils between rounds 6-8 with 12 stitches between them (photo 2).

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 (photo 3, 4 and 5).

— Ears :

Inner ear, make 2 :

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

Round 2 :

inc in all 6 st (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Round 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)

Round 2 :

inc in all 6 st (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Round 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) (Photo 6)

Info :

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

Info :

Fold the ear slightly and sew a few stitches of the ear together (photo 7).

— Body :

Round 1 :

(with grey yarn) start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Round 2 :

inc in all 6 st (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Round 4 :

(2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)

Round 5 :

(3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)

Round 6 :

(4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)

Round 7 :

(5 sc, inc) x 6 (42)

Round 8 :

(6 sc, inc) x 6 (48)

Round 9 :

(7 sc, inc) x 6 (54)

Round 10-13 :

sc in all 54 st (54)

Info :

With cream yarn Rnd 14: sc in all 54 st (54)

Round 15 :

BLO sc in all 54 st (54)

Round 16 :

(7 sc, dec) x 6 (48)

Round 17 :

sc in all 48 st (48)

Info :

With blue yarn Rnd 18: sc in all 48 st (48)

Round 19 :

(6 sc, dec) x 6 (42)

Info :

With cream yarn Rnd 20-22: sc in all 42 st (42)

Round 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)

Round 27 :

(4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)

Round 28-29 :

sc in all 30 st (30)

Info :

With blue yarn Rnd 30: sc in all 30 st (30)

Round 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 :

Round 1 :

(with grey yarn) start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Round 2 :

inc in all 6 st (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Round 4 :

(2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)

Round 5 :

BLO sc in all 24 st (24)

Round 6 :

(6 sc, dec) x 3 (21)

Round 7-8 :

sc in all 21 st (21)

Round 9 :

(5 sc, dec) x 3 (18)

Round 10 :

sc in all 18 st (18)

Info :

with cream yarn Rnd 11: sc in all 18 st (18)

Round 12 :

BLO sc in all 18 st (18)

Round 13-14 :

sc in all 18 st (18)

Info :

with blue yarn Rnd 15: sc in all 18 st (18)

Round 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)

Round 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)

Round 28 :

(2 sc, dec) x 3 (9)

Round 29 :

sc in all 9 st (9)

Info :

Stuff it.

Round 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 :

Round 1 :

(with grey yarn) start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Round 2 :

inc in all 6 st (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Round 4 :

(2 sc, inc) x 6 (24)

Round 5 :

(3 sc, inc) x 6 (30)

Round 6 :

(4 sc, inc) x 6 (36)

Round 7 :

BLO sc in all 36 st (36)

Round 8-9 :

sc in all 36 st (36)

Round 10 :

(4 sc, dec) x 6 (30)

Round 11-13 :

sc in all 30 st (30)

Round 14 :

(3 sc, dec) x 6 (24)

Round 15-18 :

sc in all 24 st (24)

Round 19 :

(2 sc, dec) x 6 (18)

Round 20-23 :

sc in all 18 st (18)

Round 24 :

(1 sc, dec) x 6 (12)

Round 25-26 :

sc in all 12 st (12)

Info :

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

Round 27 :

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

Info :

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Info :

With cream yarn sew 4 hooves on each leg with 3 stitches between them.

— Tail :

Round 1 :

(with grey yarn) start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Round 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 :

Round 1 :

(with blue yarn) start 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Round 2 :

inc in all 6 st (12)

Round 3 :

(1 sc, inc) x 6 (18)

Round 4-8 :

sc in all 18 st (18)

Round 9 :

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

Round 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 to ensure symmetry and correct placement.
  • Sew the body centered under the head on round 8 from the last round, aligning the stripes so the seam is neat and centered.
  • Position and sew the arms to both sides of the body one row below the head, angling them slightly forward for a natural sitting pose.
  • Attach the legs to the body on round 3 as shown in the photos, spacing them evenly so the hippo sits stably.
  • Sew the tail to the body on round 4, using the long tail left from the tail piece and secure with several stitches.
  • Stuff the hat lightly and sew it to the top of the head using the long tail left for attaching, centering it between the ears.

Important Notes

  • 💡This pattern is written using US crochet terminology.
  • 💡If you use the yarn and hook indicated, the hippo will be about 14.5 cm (5.7 inches) tall sitting; adjust hook size for different yarn weights.
  • 💡Work in continuous rounds (spiral) unless instructed otherwise in the pattern.
  • 💡Place safety eyes between rounds 15-16 with 9 stitches between them for correct facial proportions.

This little hippo pattern is perfect for handmade gifts and keepsakes — a sweet, striped friend you can make with cotton yarn. 🧶 The detailed instructions and clear stitch counts help you shape every part precisely, from the tiny nostrils to the little hat. 🎁 Make one in soft pastels or bold colors and enjoy a charming finished toy to display or gift.

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The finished amigurumi will be approximately 14.5 cm (5.7 inches) tall when using the recommended yarn and 2 mm hook.

Can I use different yarn weights for this pattern?

Yes, you can use different yarn weights, but this will affect the final size. Use an appropriate hook for your chosen yarn and adjust stuffing for shape.

Do I need prior crochet experience for this pattern?

This pattern is rated intermediate; basic knowledge of single crochet, increases, decreases, working in BLO/FLO and sewing pieces together is recommended.

Where should I place the safety eyes for the correct look?

Place the safety eyes between rounds 15-16 with 9 stitches between them as shown in the photos to achieve the correct facial proportions.

How long does this project typically take to complete?

Most crocheters complete this project in 12-15 hours total, depending on experience and finishing preferences.