H is for Hippopotamus

H is for Hippopotamus Knitted Soft Toy

What is Being Made

H is for Hippopotamus is a charming knitted soft toy designed by YarnMiracle. This playful plush features a whimsical hippopotamus character with distinctive proportions, humorously described as having "a big bottomus." When completed to gauge specifications, the finished hippo measures approximately 14 inches from head to toe, making it an appropriately sized stuffed animal for children or as a decorative handmade gift. The toy is constructed as a three-dimensional figure that is stuffed for a soft, cuddly finished product.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental shaping and construction techniques essential to toy making. The pattern utilizes increases to build dimension and create the hippo's characteristic rounded body shape. Two primary increase methods are featured: M1R (make one right) and M1L (make one left), which involve lifting strands between stitches and knitting through them to add new stitches without creating visible holes. The pattern also incorporates decreases for shaping, including the PSSO (pass slipped stitch over) decrease method and K3TOG (knit three together) for more dramatic shaping where needed. These techniques allow the knitter to sculpt the toy's form as it is worked. The project is worked in the round using double-pointed needles, a common method for creating seamless, three-dimensional knitted objects.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch structure throughout this toy is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric surface ideal for stuffed toys. Stockinette is worked by alternating knit rows and purl rows when working flat, or by knitting every round when working in the round. The pattern's gauge is specified at 5 stitches and 6 rows per inch in stockinette stitch. Additional stitch techniques include slip stitches (S1, slipped knitwise) used for various shaping purposes, and the aforementioned increases and decreases that form the structural elements of the toy. The pattern notes that gauge flexibility is built in—as long as the fabric is not too loose, slight variations in gauge will not significantly impact the finished toy's appearance or functionality.

Materials and Tools

The project requires 220 yards of bulky weight yarn. The example shown was crafted using Morehouse Farms Bulky yarn in the Dusty Rose colorway, though any bulky weight yarn of similar fiber content and yardage will work. Construction requires one set of four US Size 5 double-pointed needles, which are appropriately sized for working bulky yarn in the round. Additional materials include 2 removable stitch markers (or small safety pins as a substitute) to track pattern repeats and important stitch positions, a yarn needle for weaving in ends and assembling the toy, lengths of scrap yarn for creating embroidered facial features, and stuffing material to fill the completed toy and give it its soft, three-dimensional form. The removable markers are particularly useful in toy patterns where you may need to pick up stitches or reference specific rows during construction.