Knit a happy little hippo hat for your baby with this cute knitting pattern!
The last time we were at my parents’ house, O discovered the game Hungry Hungry Hippos in their basement and made everyone play it with him about 9,000 times in a row. I totally remember loving that game as a kid but what I did not remember is how LOUD it is! Oh my gosh, it’s deafening! I think I’m getting more sensitive to loud noises as I get older (get off my lawn, you rascals! ) but man, this game is just sooo noisy! And with a 6 year old and 1 year old the last thing I really need in my life is more noise. So (in addition to the major choking hazard marbles) this is one board game we will not be having in our house any time soon. We will however, have an adorable baby hippo hat. Because that’s nice and quiet!
Looking for the pattern? Here’s how it works: This pattern is available for FREE in one size right here on my site (keep scrolling down). Or for just a few dollars, you can choose to purchase an upgraded PDF pattern that is nicely formatted and easy to print. Besides being easy to print, the PDF pattern also contains MORE SIZES with instructions for additional sizing including 0-3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 2T+! Thank you for supporting Little Red Window!
Happy Hippo Hat Knitting Pattern
(12 mo. size, see PDF for other sizes)
Gauge: 20 st. = 4 inches
Worsted weight yarn in silver gray and dark gray
US 7 16″ circular knitting needles
(If you need help, my favorite knitting reference book for everyone from beginners to advanced knitters is THIS ONE!)
Happy Hippo Hat Knitting Pattern Instructions
Using long-tail cast on, cast on 72 stitches onto your circular needles with the light gray yarn color. Join to knit in the round and k1, p1 in a rib stitch for 5 rounds.
Knit all rows until the hat is about 5 inches long.
Decrease (divide the stitches between 3 double pointed needles and knit with the 4th):
Round 1: (k6, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 2: Knit all stitches
Round 3: (k5, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 4: Knit all stitches
Round 5: (k4, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 6: Knit all stitches to the end of the round.
Round 7: (k3, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Round 8: Knit all stitches to the end of the round
Round 9: (k2, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 10: Knit all stitches
Round 11: (k1, k2tog) repeat to the end of the round
Rounds 12: Knit all stitches
Round 13: k2tog repeat to the end of the round
Cut yarn, pull through loops and close. Weave in ends.
Nose:
Using double pointed needles as straight needes, cast on 12 stitches with the light gray yarn, leave a long tail to stitch the nose to the hat.
Row 1: Kfb, k10, kfb
Row 2: Pfb, p12, pfb
Row 3: Kfb, k14, kfb
Row 4: Purl all
Row 5: Kfb, k16, kfb
Rows 6 – 12: purl even rows, knit odd rows
Row 13: ssk, k16, k2tog
Row 14: purl all
Row 15: ssk, k14, k2tog
Row 16: p2tog, p12, p2tog
Row 17: ssk, k10, k2tog
Bind off, cut yarn and pull through loop, weave in that end.
Nostrils (make 2):
Using double pointed needles as straight needes, cast on 2 stitches with the dark gray yarn, leave a long tail to stitch the nostrils to the nose.
Row 1: kfb, kfb
Rows 2 – 4: purl even rows, knit odd rows
Row 5: k2tog, ssk
Bind off by slipping second stitch over first and off the needle, cut yarn and pull through remaining loop. Weave in that end.
Outer ears (make 2):
Using double pointed needles as straight needes, cast on 10 stitches with the light gray yarn, leave a long tail to stitch the ears to the hat.
Rows 1-6: knit odd rows, purl even rows.
Row 7: k2tog, k6, ssk
Row 8: purl
Row 9: k2tog, k2tog, ssk, ssk and bind off as you go. Cut yarn, pull through loop and weave in that end.
Inner ears (make 2):
Using double pointed needles as straight needes, cast on 8 stitches with the dark gray yarn, leave a long tail to stitch the inner ear to the outer ear.
Rows 1-4: knit odd, purl even
Row 5: k2tog, k4, ssk
Row 6: purl
Row 7: k2tog, k2tog, ssk and bind off as you go. Cut yarn, pull through loop and weave in that end.
To assemble the hat:
First, using the long cast on tails, stitch the nostrils to the nose.Using its long cast on tail, stitch the assembled nose to the hat. Then, thread some dark gray yarn on your yarn needle and make two short stitches for the eyes. Weave in ends.
To assemble ears, lay one light gray outer ear wrong (purl) side up and put one dark gray inner ear wrong (purl) side down on top. Use the long cast on tail from the dark gray inner ear to stitch the two pieces together. Make sure your stitches only catch the purl loops on the light gray outer ear and don’t show through to the other side. Now thread the long cast on tail from the light gray outer ear on your yarn needle and use it to take one stitch through the bottom corners of the ear to pinch them together into a hippo shape.
Then use that same cast on tail to stitch each ear securely to the hat. And that’s it, your hippo hat is finished! Now feed your little hippo some lunch! (because she’s hungry…get it?!)
The PDF printable also contains instructions for sizes 0-3, 12 months and 2T+!
If you liked this, you may also like some of my other posts…
- Purl Ridge Stitch Knitting Pattern: Easy How To for Beginners - February 2, 2023
- Valentine Gnome Hat Knitting Pattern - January 31, 2023
- Free Printable Unicorn Pencil Valentines - January 26, 2023
L says
Hi! Your hats are just so so so cute! I am about to use your design to make a hat for my nephew. He will be 9mo for christmas. I converted the st into in into cm, and I am surprised how smaller the free pattern would be (72/20x4x2,54= 36,5cm) compared to what I see elsewhere for a 9mo hat (47-48cm)… Do you have any thoughts on that?
Thanks a lot!!
Cassie May says
they’re very stretchy! Hundreds of people have knit the base hat and no one has ever complained about the sizing! 🙂
L says
OMG I am so glad I asked! That explains why my hats always end up too big. I never took into account how stretchy they are!
Thank you so much!
Cassie May says
oh good! I’m so glad you asked too!