Funmigurumi Happy Hippo Teether and Baby Rattle

This is a Funny toy for baby to enjoy. The Ball Handle is not hard, and baby can use it as a teether. It is totally washable, so you can keep it clean. The Hippo’s Head bobs in a funny way when shaken to make it rattle. It will bring out giggles and pudgy little hands will reach out for it. The bright colors will grab baby’s attention immediately. But it will be the joy that it produces that will reward your efforts!

Size- From Ear to First Ball of Ball Handle: 10" L x 4 1/2" W.

Materials-
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Cherry Red (scraps)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Bright Yellow (scraps)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Spring Green (scraps)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Pumpkin (scraps)
Red Heart worsted weight yarn Black (scraps)
Crochet hook sizes H and F
Scissors
Blunt needle to weave in tails
Cat ball (with bell inside)
Fiberfill
1 piece of White plastic canvas 2” L x 2 ½” W

Note- The Head of this Hippo bobs as it rattles, it is not stiff.

Ball Handle-
Ball #1-
With Cherry Red and F hook, ch 2.
Rnd 1- Work 6 sc in second ch from hook, sl st to join rnd. (6 sc)
Rnd 2- 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc)
Rnd 3- 1 sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (18 sc)
Rnd 4- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (24 sc)
Rnd 5- 1 sc in each sc around. (24 sc)
Rnd 6- 1 sc in each of first 4 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, rep around. (20 sc)
Rnd 7- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, *1 sc in each of next 4 sc,
Sc2tog over next 2 sc, rep from * to end of rnd. (17 sc)
Rnd 8- 1 sc in each of first 4 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, 1 sc in each sc till end of rnd. (15 sc) Fasten off Cherry Red, weave in tail inside of ball. Stuff with Fiberfill.
Ball #2-
Rnd 9- Join Bright Yellow. Work 1 sc in each sc around. (15 sc)
Rnd 10- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, [1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc,] rep twice and then work 1 sc in each sc to end of rnd. (18 sc)
Rnd 11- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (24 sc)
Rnd 12- 1 sc in each sc around. (24 sc)
Rnd 13- 1 sc in each of first 4 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, rep 4 times. (20 sc)
Rnd 14- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, *1 sc in each of next 4 sc,
Sc2tog over next 2 sc, rep from * twice, 1 sc in each sc to end of rnd. (17 sc)
Rnd 15- 1 sc in each of first 4 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, 1 sc in each sc till end of rnd. (15 sc) Fasten off Cherry Red, weave in tail inside of ball. Stuff with Fiberfill.
Ball #3-
Rnd 16- Join Spring Green. 1 sc in each sc around. (15 sc)
Rnd 17- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, [1 sc in each of next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc,] rep twice and then work 1 sc in each sc to end of rnd. (18 sc)
Rnd 18- 1 sc in each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, rep around. (24 sc)
Rnd 19- 1 sc in each sc around. (24 sc)
Rnd 20- 1 sc in each of first 4 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, rep around. (20 sc)
Rnd 21- 1 sc in each of first 4 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, 1 sc in each of next 4 sc, sc2tog over next 2 sc, 1 sc in each sc till end of rnd. (15 sc) Fasten off Spring Green, weave in tail inside of ball. Stuff with Fiberfill.
Base (Insert. This portion will not be seen, only its base, it will be buried into the head of our Funmigurumi Hippo to that it will not wobble.)
Rnd 22- Join Pumpkin. Make 1 sc in each sc around. (15 sc)
Rnd 23- 1 sc in each sc around. (15 sc)
Rnd 24- (Working on back loops for this rnd only) make 1 sc in each sc around. (15 sc)
Rnds 25 to 26- 1 sc in each sc around. (15 sc) Tuff firmly with Fiberfill. Fasten off, weave in tail. (You will be sewing a portion of the head to the loops you left free on row 24 of handle.)

Head (Front)-
With Pumpkin and H hook, ch 18.
Row 1- 1 sc in third ch from hook an in each ch across. (17 sc) Ch 1, turn.
Row 2- 1 sc in each sc across. (17 sc) Ch 1, turn.
Rows 3 to 15- 1 sc in each sc across. (17 sc) Ch 1, turn.
Row 16- 1 sc in each sc across. (17 sc) Fasten off, Pumpkin, weave in tail.
Head (Back)-
With Pumpkin and H hook, ch 18.
Row 1- 1 sc in third ch from hook an in each ch across. (17 sc) Ch 1, turn.
Row 2- 1 sc in each sc across. (17 sc) Ch 1, turn.
Rows 3 to 15- 1 sc in each sc across. (17 sc) Ch 1, turn.
Row 16- 1 sc in each sc across. (17 sc) Fasten off, Pumpkin, leaving long tail to sew with.

Thread a blunt needle and sew together both sides of head, leaving bottom open. Fasten off, secure in inside of head.

Muzzle-
With Bright Yellow and H hook, ch 11.
Rnd 1- 1 sc in third ch from hook and in each ch across. Working in foundation loops, make 2 sc in first loop, 1 sc in each loop till last loop, 2 sc in last loop. Sl st to join rnd. (21 sc)
Rnd 2- 1 sc in eac sc around. (21 sc)
Rnds 3 to 7- 1 sc in each sc around. (21 sc) Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.

Stuff Muzzle with Fiberfill, center in Head and pin down, using leftover yarn, sew all around. Fasten off and secure inside of head.

Nostrils-
Thread blunt needle with Cherry Red yarn. With your thumb, press down the side of the Muzzle where the first Nostril goes (see photo), make 3 straight stitches there, pulling down to make a dimple. Fasten off and secure in head. Repeat on opposite side.

Mouth-
With the same Cherry Red, that you used to make the Nostrils, embroider Mouth with straight stitches as you see in photos. Fasten off and secure inside head.

Eyes (Make 2)-
With Black and F hook, ch 2.
Rnd 1- Work 6 sc in second chain from hook, sl st to join rnd. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.
Pin Eyes on top of Muzzle as seen in photo. Using leftover tails, sew in place. Fasten off, secure inside Head.
Ears-
Ear #1 (Make 2 pieces)-
With Bright Yellow and F hook, ch 2.
Rnd 1- Make 6 sc in second ch from hook, sl st to join rnd. (6 sc
Rnd 2- 2 sc in each sc around. Sl st to join rnd. (12 sc) Fasten off Bright Yellow and weave in tail into back of disk formed.

Set aside for now.

Ear #2 (Make 2 pieces)-
With Spring Green, ch 2.
Rnd 1- Work 6 sc in second ch from hook. Sl st to join rnd. (6 sc)
Rnd 2- 2 sc in each sc around. (12 sc
Fasten off Spring Green, weave tail at back of disk formed.
Putting Ears Together and Attaching-
Rnd 1- Hold the two disks of first ear together and with Pumpkin and F hook, and working through both thickenesses, pull up loop, insert hook into both thicknesses in next sc and pull up another loop, complete sc as usual. Repeat until you reach the bottom of the ear. Fasten off, leaving long tail to sew with.

Insert open portion of Ear into corner of head and threading blunt needle with leftover tail, sew in place. Repeat for other ear. Fasten off, secure inside head.

Putting Rattle Together-
1- Turn the piece of Plastic Canvas into a roll. With Blunt needle and yarn (or the needle that is appropriate for the size of the holes in your Plastic Canvas), sew end to the rest of the roll so that it will not come apart. Fasten off.
2- Insert Plastic Canvas tube into top of Ball Handle, surround a little bit with Fiberfill.
3- Thread the needle that you were using for your plastic canvas with a little bit of yarn and make stitches all around to join the tube to the top of your ball handle so that the tube won’t come out of the handle. Don’t worry if it is a bit messy, all this will go inside the Head. Fasten off and secure.
4- Stuff Head.
5- Insert cat ball.
6- Push the Ball Handle into Head, towards the BACK, leaving room for the cat ball in FRONT.
7- Thread blunt needle with tail left in Head and sew opening closed. Now when you reach the portion where the Ball Handle is, use the loops we left on the second row of our Pumpkin section and stitch a little further down also for a little bit more firmness. Repeat at the Back. Fasten off, weave in tail.

Done!

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Everlasting Happiness