Sock Hippo Pattern

Gauge: 6sts x 9rows = 1 inch

Materials: 36 yards of Yarn 1 (Y1) Undyed DK weight

yarn, 80 yards of Yarn 2 (Y2) Self Striping DK weight yarn,
1 set Size #2 DP needles, 1 12-inch Size #2 Addi Turbo
Needle, 2 skein black DMC floss or 4-6 yards of black sport
weight yarn or string, Polyester Fiber-fill,
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Stitch Instructions
k:knit CO: Cast On
ybwd: Move working yarn to back yfwd: Bring working yarn in front
p:purl BO: Bind off
DPN(s): Double pointed needle(s) unwkd: unworked
rem: remain(s), remaining sl: slip st purl-wise from left needle to right needle.
st(s): stitch(es)
Turkish Cast on: Tie a slip-knot in the yarn, hold DPN horizontally with the circular needle below it. Place the slip-knot onto both
needles & tighten with working yarn hanging down. Wrap yarn counterclockwise towards the right until you have half the number
of wraps as CO sts (pattern says “CO 32”, you should have 16 wraps). Bring yfwd between the two needles. Slide circular needle
towards the right, positioning the nylon cable in the bottom half of loops with the tips dangling. Insert a third needle purl-wise into
the first loop & purl a stitch & slide it off the left needle as you would do with regular sts. Repeat this step for the appropriate
number of loops on the left needle. You now have the proper number of stitches. Half on 1 needle and half on the other.
p enc (purl encroachment): sl 1, pick up 1 st below next st, p2tog
k enc (knit encroachment): sl 1, pick up 1 st below next st, k2tog.
Consolidate: Divide stitches evenly onto two needles. While holding them horizontal & parallel to each other, insert a third
needle knit-wise into the first stitch on your front needle then insert the needle knit-wise into the first stitch on the back needle.
k2tog.
m1(a): make a backward loop and place it on the right hand needle with the working yarn pointing away from you (You may
substitute your favorite increase stitch if you prefer)
k2tog tbl: insert right needle into two stitches purl-wise through the back loop of each stitch, knit them together. (You may
substitute k2tog if you prefer, I use this method simply for ease.)
I-Cord: Cast on 4 sts using DPNs. Knit, do not turn, slide the sts back to the beginning of the needle and k the row again.
Continue in this manner until you have a short length of knitting, pull down on the cord and the gap at the back will close.
Continue until the cord is the length you desire.

Mybootee Hippo Pattern © 2010 Mybootee Boutique Rev. 3/23/2011 Page 1

 You'll begin this critter by making the legs and putting them aside for later. Then you will begin the head and work
from the top down attaching the legs at intervals. Once the body is complete you will make a tail, the ears, and the
horns and attach them. The final step will be to embroider on his facial features and you are free to embellish him
as you wish. Enjoy.
Legs (make 4): Begin hooves with Y1, CO 24 sts. Join ends and work in the round from the top down.
Round 1: knit all 24 sts
Round 2: (k8, m1,) 3 times. (27 sts)
Round 3: knit all 24 sts
Round 4: (k9, m1,) 3 times, (30 sts)
Round 5: knit all 30 sts
Round 6: purl all 30 sts
Round 7: knit all 30 sts
Round 8: (k1, k2tog) 10 times (20 sts),
Round 9: (k1, k2tog, k1) 5 times, (15 sts)
Round 10: k1, (k2tog) 7 times, (8 sts) cut yarn leaving approximately 6 inches and using a tapestry needle thread it
through the remaining 8 stitches, pull tight and tie off.
With Y2 and pick up 24 stitches along the cast on edge of the hoof so you can work towards the top of each leg.
Round 1: knit all 24 sts
Round 2: (k6, k2tog,) 3 times (21 sts)
Round 3: knit all 21 sts
Round 4: (k5, k2tog,) 3 times (18 sts)
Rounds 5-8: knit all 18 sts. Stuff with fiber-fill & Consolidate (see stitch instructions) sts. (9 sts). Cut yarn leaving
approximately 6 inches of length & 9 live sts.
Transfer all legs to a spare needle, scrap of yarn (double thickness), or a stitch saver tool as they are completed
with the purl side of the final row facing you. This will be helpful when you attach them to the body.

Head: With Y2 & the Turkish Cast On method (see st instructions), CO 32 sts. *Don’t forget to purl a row. The slip
knot does not count as one of your stitches. Work short rows on 2 DPNs with only 16 sts.
Row 1: sl1, k until 1 st rem unwkd
Row 2: sl1, p until 1 st rem unwkd
Row 3: sl1, k until 2 sts rem unwkd
Row 4: sl1, p until 2 sts rem unwkd
Row 5: sl1, k until 3 sts rem unwkd
Row 6: sl1, p until 3 sts rem unwkd
Row 7: sl1, k until 4 sts rem unwkd
Row 8: sl1, p until 4 sts rem, p enc, (3 sts rem unwkd)
Row 9: sl1, k until 4 sts rem, k enc, (3 sts rem unwkd)
Row 10: sl1, p until 3 sts rem, p enc, (2 sts rem unwkd)
Row 11: sl1, k until 3 sts rem, k enc, (2 sts rem unwkd)
Row 12: sl1, k until 2 sts rem, p enc, (1 sts rem unwkd)
Row 13: sl1, k until 2 sts rem, k enc, (1 sts rem unwkd)
Row 14: sl1, purl across, Do not p enc because you are at the end of the row.

Mybootee Hippo Pattern © 2010 Mybootee Boutique Rev. 3/23/2011 Page 2

 Row 15: sl1, knit across. Do not k enc because you are at the end of the row. Do not turn because you are at the
end of the short rows. Remove the slip knot. Knit the 16 sts from the circular needle.
Rounds 1-4: knit all 32 sts
Round 5: knit 16 sts, switch to your circular needle to knit the rem16 sts.
Snout: Switch to Y1 & work short rows on 2 DPNs with only 16 sts. Ignore the sts on the circular needle for now.
Row 1: (k1, m1) x 7, k2, (m1, k1) x 7 (30 sts),
Row 2: sl1, p until 1 st rem unwkd, turn,
Row 3: sl1, k until 1 st rem unwkd, turn,
Row 4: sl1, p until 2 sts rem unwkd, turn,
Row 5: sl1, k until 2 sts rem unwkd, turn,
Row 6: sl1, p until 3 sts rem unwkd, turn,
Row 7: sl1, k until 3 sts rem unwkd, turn,
Row 8: sl1, p until 4 sts rem unwkd, turn,
Row 9: sl1, k until 4 sts rem unwkd, turn,
Row 10: sl1, p until 5 sts rem unwkd, turn,
Row 11: sl1, k until 5 sts rem unwkd, turn,
Row 12: sl1, p until 6 sts rem unwkd, turn,
Row 13: sl1, k until 6 sts rem unwkd, turn,
Row 14: sl1, p until 7 sts rem, k enc, turn, (6 sts rem unwkd)
Row 15: sl1, k until 7 sts rem, k enc, turn (6 sts rem unwkd)
Row 16: sl1, p until 6 sts rem, p enc, turn (5 sts rem unwkd)
Row 17: sl1, k until 6 sts rem, k enc, turn (5 sts rem unwkd)
Row 18: sl1, p until 5 sts rem, p enc, turn (4 sts rem unwkd)
Row 19: sl1, k until 5 sts rem, k enc, turn, (4 sts rem unwkd)
Row 20: sl1, p until 4 sts rem, p enc, turn, (3 sts rem unwkd)
Row 21: sl1, k until 4 sts rem, k enc, turn, (3 sts rem unwkd)
Row 22: sl1, p until 3 sts rem, p enc, turn, (2 sts rem unwkd)
Row 23: sl1, k until 3 sts rem, k enc, turn, (2 sts rem unwkd)
Row 24: sl1, p until 2 sts rem, p enc, turn, (1 sts rem unwkd)
Row 25: sl1, k until 2 sts rem, k enc, turn, (1 sts rem unwkd)
Row 26: sl1, p until 1 st rem, p enc (lifted st comes from below the first st on circular needle), turn,
Row 27: sl1, k until 1 st rem, k enc (lifted st comes from below the first st on circular needle), Do not turn, because
you are at the end of the short rows.
Round 6: Switch to Y2 & resume working in the round by knitting the next 16 stitches. You should now be at the
beginning of each round once again.

Head cont…:
Round 7: (k2tog) x 7, k2, (k2tog) x 7 (you should have 32 sts total)
Rounds 8 & 10: knit all 32 sts,
Round 11: (k1, k2tog tbl, k1) 4 times, k16, (28 sts)
Round 12: (k1, k2tog tbl) twice, (k2tog tbl, k1) twice, k16, (24 sts). You will now be working rounds of the neck and
body.

Rounds 11-12: knit all 24 sts,

Stuff the head & neck with fiber-fill. Tamper filling until it reaches your desired firmness. Don’t stuff too full and don’t
stuff up to the needles or you will end up with fibers in your knitting which are difficult to remove.

Mybootee Hippo Pattern © 2010 Mybootee Boutique Rev. 3/23/2011 Page 3

 Body: Knit 16 more stitches. You should now be at the midway point of the back where you will begin each round
from now on.
Round 1: (k4, m1, k4) 3 times (27)
Round 2: knit Round 3: k5, Inc 1, k9, Inc 1, k8, Inc 1, k5 (30 sts)
Round 4: k6. You are now going to consolidate the next 9 stitches with the stitches on one leg so they can be
worked together.

While holding the body section as if you were going to continue knitting. Pick up the needle containing the legs so
that you can see the purl side of the final row. Hold the body needle and the leg needle parallel so that the body is
farthest away from you and the leg is in the front. Consolidate (see instruction) the next 9 stitches of the body with
the 9 stitches of the leg. Now attach a second leg in the same manner as the first, k6 to finish off the round

Round 5, knit all 30 sts,

Round 6: k5, m1, knit to last 5, m1, k5 (32 sts)
Round 7: knit all 32 sts,
Round 8: k5, m1, k10, m1, k2, m1, k10, m1, k5 (36 sts)
Round 9: knit all 36 sts
Round 10: k6, m1, k to last 6, m1, k6 (38 sts)
Round 11: knit all 38 sts,
Round 12: k6, m1, k12, m1, k2, m1, k12, m1, k6 (42 sts)
Round 13: knit all 42 sts,
Round 14: (k7, m1) twice, k5, m1, k4, m1, k5, (m1, k7) twice (48 sts)
Round 15: knit all 48 sts,
Round 16: (k8, m1, k6, m1, k4, m1, k6, (m1, k8) twice (54 sts)
Round 17: knit all 54 sts,
Round 18: (k9, m1) twice, k6, m1, k6, m1, k6,(m1, k9) twice (60 sts). Here’s a good place to switch to your circular
needle.

Rounds 19-26: knit all 60 sts,

Round 27: (k2, k2tog,) twice, k4, k2tog, k32, k2tog, k4, (k2tog, k2,) twice,(54 sts)
Round 28: knit all 54 sts,
Round 29: k3, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k3 (48 sts)
Round 30: k13. Now you’ll consolidate (see instructions) one leg only. k4, attach the rem leg same way, k13,
Round 31: (k3, k2tog, k3) 6 times. (42 sts)
Round 32: k2, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k2 (36 sts)
Round 33: (k2, k2tog, k2) 6 times, (30 sts), stuff the upper portion of the body until firm.
Round 34: k1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k1 (24 sts)
Round 35: (k1, k2tog, k1) 6 times, (18 stitches)
Round 36: (k1, k2tog,) 6 times (12 sts) cut yarn leaving a 8 inch tail, and using a tapestry needle thread it through
the all stitches. Stuff more fiber-fill into the body until you are satisfied with the firmness, pull tight and tie off. You’ll
need to be creative with this step since it’s closed and you can’t work from the inside.

Ears (make 2):

Row 1: Using Y2 CO 18 stitches, turn,
Row 2: sl1, p2tog 8 times, p1, turn,
Row 3: sl1, k2tog 4 times, k1, do not turn, cut yarn leaving a 12 inch tail, and using a tapestry needle thread it
through the 6 remaining stitches pull tight. Fold the ear in half vertically and stitch the bottom edge together.
Secure each ear to the top of the head along the line where you began to work the encroachment stitch earlier.

Mybootee Hippo Pattern © 2010 Mybootee Boutique Rev. 3/23/2011 Page 4

 Hippo Finishing: Embroider on the facial features and voila! You now have your very first Sock Hippo. You are
free to embellish him any way you wish.

Mybootee Hippo Pattern © 2010 Mybootee Boutique Rev. 3/23/2011 Page 5