Crochet hippo hat pattern
Looking for a fun animal hat to crochet? This crochet hippo hat pattern is a beginner-friendly project that makes an adorable hippo beanie for babies, kids, and adults.
The hat is worked top down in the round using worsted weight yarn and an I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook, so it’s easy to follow and great for confident beginners. After the hat is finished, you’ll add the hippo face pieces to bring it to life.
Quick answer
This crochet hippo hat pattern is worked top down in the round using worsted weight yarn and an I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook. It includes four sizes (baby, toddler, child, and adult) and finishes with sewn-on hippo details like the snout, nostrils, eyes, ears, and a stitched smile.
If you’re looking for more cozy designs, you can also explore my full collection of crochet hat patterns for babies, kids, and adults.
Why you’ll love this pattern
- Beginner — Uses basic stitches and easy repeats
- Fast and satisfying — The hat is mostly simple rounds
- Four sizes — Baby through adult so you can make matching sets
- Clear finishing steps — The face pieces are simple and forgiving
- Great “animal hat” payoff — The details are what make it look like a hippo (and they’re fun to add)
Who this pattern is best for
This crochet hippo hat pattern is a great fit if you want:
- A cute crochet animal hat for babies, kids, or adults
- A confident beginner project that still feels special
- A handmade gift, photo prop, or dress-up hat
- A simple hat pattern that turns into something adorable with just a few add-ons
How this crochet hat is made
Here’s the simple build order so you always know what comes next:
- Crochet the beanie first — Top down in the round with double crochet stitches
- Make the face pieces — Snout, nostrils, eyes, and ears
- Sew on the pieces — Place the snout first, then build around it
- Add the smile — Use a yarn needle and black yarn to stitch it on
- Weave in ends — Clean finish, ready to gift or wear
Why this matters:
If you attach small parts before the hat is done, it’s easy to place them too high or too low. Finishing the hat first makes the detail placement much easier.
Crochet hippo hat pattern details
Here’s everything you need to know before you start—skill level, materials, sizing, and gauge—so your hippo beanie fits well and the face details land in the right spot.
Skill level
Beginner — This crochet hippo hat pattern uses basic stitches worked in simple repeats in the round.
Materials needed
- Crochet hook size I-9 (5.5 mm) — for the hat
- Crochet hook size H-8 (5 mm) — for the snout, nostrils, eyes, and ears
- Worsted weight yarn (#4) — in black, white, purple, and pink
- Yarn needle — for weaving in ends neatly
- Scissors — to cut your yarn
- Stitch markers (optional) — helpful for keeping track of rounds and stitch counts
Finished size
This hippo hat pattern includes four sizes.
- Baby — 14–15 inches (36–38 cm) head circumference, 6 inches tall (15 cm)
- Toddler — 18–19 inches (46–48 cm) head circumference, 7 inches (18 cm) tall
- Child — 19–20 inches (48–51 cm) head circumference, 7.75 inches (20 cm) tall
- Adult — 20–23 inches (51–58 cm) head circumference, 8 inches tall (20 cm)
How to adjust the fit of this crochet hat
Need a better fit? Start by choosing the size based on head circumference, then make small tweaks if needed. Add or remove rounds in the hat body to change the height, and change hook size to make the hat slightly looser or snugger—this keeps the hat comfy and helps the face pieces sit in the right spot.
For more sizing help, visit my crochet hat sizing guide.
Gauge
15 stitches and 9 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
- If your swatch has too many stitches, try a larger hook.
- If your swatch has too few stitches, try a smaller hook.
Crochet abbreviations
- dc = double crochet stitches
- hdc = half double crochet stitches
- hdc2tog = half double crochet decrease
- sc = single crochet stitches
- ch/chs = chain/chains
- st/sts = stitch/stitches
- sl st = slip stitch
Pattern notes
- Use an I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook for the hat
- Use an H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook for the snout, nostrils, eyes, and ears
- Rounds 1–5 of the hat are the same for all sizes
- The pattern is worked in the round from the top of the hat down
- Repeat the instructions between the asterisks (*) for the rest of the round
- Unless otherwise stated, the face pieces are the same for all sizes
- The pattern is written in US crochet terms
Printable PDF pattern
If you prefer an easy, print-friendly version of this crochet hippo hat pattern, a printable PDF is available in my Etsy shop. The PDF includes the full pattern instructions in a clean, ad-free format, making it perfect for printing or saving on your device.
Quick links
Rounds 1–5
Baby size
Toddler size
Child size
Adult size
Hippo snout
Hippo nostrils
Hippo eyes
Hippo ears
Adding the smile
Finishing
FAQs
Crochet hippo hat pattern instructions
Rounds 1–5 are the same for all sizes.
Rounds 1–5
Round 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 11 dc, join with sl st to the top of the first dc (11 stitches)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in each st, join (22 stitches)
Round 3: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next st*, join (33 stitches)
Round 4: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 2 sts*, join (44 stitches)
Round 5: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 10 sts*, join (48 stitches)
Baby size
Rounds 6–14: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (48 stitches)
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Toddler size
Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 11 sts*, join (52 stitches)
Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 12 sts*, join (56 stitches)
Rounds 8–17: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (56 stitches)
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Child size
Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 11 sts*, join (52 stitches)
Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 12 sts*, join (56 stitches)
Round 8: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 13 sts*, join (60 stitches)
Rounds 9–18: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (60 stitches)
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Adult size
Round 6: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 11 sts*, join (52 stitches)
Round 7: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 12 sts*, join (56 stitches)
Round 8: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 13 sts*, join (60 stitches)
Round 9: Ch 2, *2 dc, dc in next 14 sts*, join (64 stitches)
Rounds 10–19: Ch 2, dc in each st, join (64 stitches)
Fasten off and weave in your ends.
Hippo snout
Use pink yarn.
Round 1: Ch 8, hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in next 4 chs. Work 4 hdc in last ch. Turn your work and crochet into the underside of the starting chain: hdc in next 5 chs, join (14 stitches)
Round 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first 2 sts, hdc 3, 2 hdc in next 4 sts, hdc 3, 2 hdc in last 2 sts, join (22 stitches)
Round 3: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first 3 sts, hdc 5, 2 hdc in next 6 sts, hdc 5, 2 hdc in last 3 sts, join (34 stitches)
Stop here for the baby size.
Round 4: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first 4 sts, hdc 9, 2 hdc in next 8 sts, hdc 9, 2 hdc in last 4 sts, join (50 stitches)
Sew the snout to the hat.
Hippo nostrils
Make 2 using purple yarn.
Round 1: Magic ring, ch 2, 9 dc, join with sl st to the top of the first dc (9 stitches)
Sew the nostrils to the snout.
Hippo eyes
Make 2 using black yarn.
Round 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 9 hdc, join with sl st to the top of the first hdc (9 stitches)
Use scrap pieces of white yarn to add the eye sparkle. Sew the eyes to the hat.
Hippo ears
Make 2 using purple yarn.
Row 1: Ch 5, hdc in 3rd ch from the hook and in each rem ch, turn (3 stitches)
Row 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc, hdc in 1 st, 2 hdc, turn (5 stitches)
Row 3: Ch 2, 2 hdc, hdc in 3 sts, 2 hdc, turn (7 stitches)
Row 4: Ch 2, 2 hdc, hdc in 5 sts, 2 hdc, turn (9 stitches)
Rows 5 and 6: Ch 2, hdc in each st, turn (9 stitches)
Row 7: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in 5 sts, hdc2tog, turn (7 stitches)
Row 8: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in 3 sts, hdc2tog, turn (5 stitches)
Row 9: Ch 2, hdc2tog, hdc in 1 st, hdc2tog, turn (3 stitches)
Row 10: Ch 2, hdc3tog, turn (1 stitch)
Single crochet around the entire shape and fasten off. Sew the ears to the hat.
Adding the smile
Use black yarn and a yarn needle to stitch a smile to the snout.
Finishing
Weave in all of your ends.
Frequently asked questions
What skill level is this crochet hippo hat pattern?
Beginner — The hat uses simple repeats in the round with basic stitches. The face pieces are small and beginner-friendly too.
What yarn and hooks do I need?
Use worsted weight yarn (#4). Use an I-9 (5.5 mm) hook for the hat and an H-8 (5 mm) hook for the snout, nostrils, eyes, and ears.
Do the face pieces change by size?
Most pieces are the same for all sizes, unless the pattern says otherwise. The snout has a stopping point for the baby size.
Where should I place the snout and eyes?
Start by sewing the snout on first, centered on the front of the hat. Then place the eyes above the snout and the nostrils on the snout. Pin pieces in place (or use stitch markers) before sewing if you want to double-check placement.
Why does my hat feel too tight or too loose?
It usually comes down to gauge and hook size. If your stitches are tighter than the pattern gauge, the hat will shrink. If your stitches are looser, it will grow. A small hook change is often the easiest fix.
Can I make this hat without the hippo face?
Yes. If you skip the face pieces, you’ll have a simple top-down beanie in the size you choose.
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Let’s connect!
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📌 Don’t forget to pin this pattern for later!
Happy crocheting! 🧶
— Melissa