Hippo Booties
I used a medium yarn (Simply Soft) to make the booties.
G hook for newborn
H for 0-3 months and larger
I tend to crochet tightly, so you may want to adjust hook size to fit your personal style.
Materials needed
Less than 50 yards of body color
Less than 25 yards of sole color
3 yards or less for embroider of mouth
small bits of felt for teeth.
buttons for eyes
sewing needle, sewing thread for attaching eyes
yarn needle for embroidering mouth and weaving in ends
Abbreviations
ss - slip stitch
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
hdc - half double crochet
sc2tog - single crochet 2 together
hdc2tog - half double crochet 2 together
3-6 month size is in parenthesis and bold print. You can also increase to 3-6 month size by using an I hook but I found that made the bootie too wide.
In Sole color
Ch 10 (12)
Round 1
Sc in 2nd ch from hook
sc in next 7 (9) ch
5 sc in last chain (toe)
Working in free loops on back side of chain sc next 7 (9)
2 sc in last ch (heel)
join with ss to 1st sc
Round 2
Ch2 (counts as first hdc), hdc same stitch
hdc in each of next 7 (9) sc
2 hdc in each of next 5 sc
hdc in each of next 7 (9) sc
2 hdc in each of last 2 sc.
join with ss to top of first ch 2
Round 3
Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), hdc in same stitch
hdc in each of next 12 (14) stitches
2 hdc in each of next 3 stitches
hdc in each of next 12 (14) stitches
2 hdc each of last 2 stitches
Switch to body color
Round 4
ch 1, sc same stitch and in next 13 (15) stitches
2 sc next stitch
sc next 2 stitches
2 sc next stitch
sc around
join with ss to first sc
Round 5
ch 1, sc same stitch
sc next 9 (11) stitches
hdc next 15 stitches
sc around rest
Round 6
ch 2, counts as first hdc here and throughout
hdc 9 (11)
hdc2tog 8 times
hdc around
Round 7
ch 1, sc same stitch and in the next 9 (11) stitches
sc2tog 4 times
sc around
Round 8
ss first 9 (11)
sc next stitch
hdc next 2 stitches
sc next stitch
ss around.
Fasten off.
Ears and top of head (same for all sizes)
Row 1
Fold bootie in half and count 4 stitches back from toe. Join yarn in 4th stitch.
ch 1, sc same stitch
sc next 7 stiches
Row 2
Ch 2, (4 hdc, ch2, ss) first stitch [first ear made]
sc next 6 stitches
(ss, ch2, 3 hdc, ch2, ss) last stitch [second ear made]
Row 3
ch 1, skipping stitch with ear sc next 2 stitches (this will pull the ear gathering it a bit at the base)
hdc next 2 stitches
sc next 2 stitches
ch 1, skipping stitch with ear, ss to other side. You will have to attach to the top of the previous row. If you just ss in las stitch the second ear won’t be gathered.
fasten off.
Weaving in the ends BEFORE embroidering mouth or attaching eyes is a good idea. I’ve found that when I don’t do this as I go along, there is a sewn together mess inside the toe.
Embroider mouth along the line between sole and body. Curve ends up on face for a smile.
Cut two very small rectangles for the teeth and sew them on just under the smile.
Attach eyes up high, between the ears, sewing securely. I like to add a bit of fray check to the threads on back where I have attached the eyes to make sure they stay secure.
although I didn’t include them in the directions because I have not tested them, I’m confident you can increase the size to 6-9 months by increasing length 2 more stitches. Same width will probably still work.
This pattern is (c) 2012 by Stacey Lynn. All rights reserved. Please do not redistribute in any form, written or electronic. Any items made from this pattern are yours to keep, give or sell. After all, you did the work.
