Henrietta the Hippopotamus in Deramores Studio DK Acrylic - Downloadable PDF

Henrietta the Hippopotamus – Beginner Knitting Pattern by Amanda Berry

Henrietta the Hippopotamus is a charming knitted toy pattern designed by Amanda Berry and published by Deramores. Available as a downloadable PDF, this pattern invites knitters of all levels — particularly those just starting out — to create an adorable stuffed hippopotamus standing approximately 23cm / 9 inches tall. Amanda Berry is well known for her lovable knitted toy designs, each brought to life with a little stuffing and plenty of character.

Please note: The finished toy is not suitable for children under 3 years of age due to small parts.

What You Will Make

This pattern produces a single, fully three-dimensional stuffed hippopotamus soft toy named Henrietta. Once knitted and assembled, she stands at a finished size of 23cm / 9 inches tall, making her a wonderfully huggable companion or a decorative piece for the home. The design is rated as beginner level, making it an ideal project for newer knitters who are comfortable with basic knit stitches and simple shaping techniques.

Yarn and Materials

• Yarn A: Deramores Studio DK in Mist — 1 x 100g ball
• Yarn B: Deramores Studio DK in Rose — 1 x 100g ball
• Needles: A pair of 3.5mm (UK 10–9 / US 4) knitting needles
• Extras: Toy filling (stuffing), white felt fabric, 2 x 6mm / ¼in black buttons, sewing needle and thread, yarn needle for sewing up and finishing, scissors

The Deramores Studio DK Acrylic yarn is used throughout this pattern, offering a soft yet durable finish that is well suited to toy making. The two colourways — Mist and Rose — combine to give Henrietta her distinctive hippopotamus colouring, with the cooler grey-blue tones of Mist forming the main body and the warmer Rose used as a contrast.

Tension and Needle Guidance

The recommended tension for this pattern is 22 stitches and 32 rows to 10cm / 4 inches over stocking stitch using 3.5mm needles. It is worth noting that the needle size specified is intentionally smaller than that recommended on the ball band. This is a deliberate choice to produce a firmer, tighter fabric that holds its shape well during stuffing and prevents the toy filling from poking through the knitted fabric — a common and important consideration in toy knitting.

Techniques and Stitches Used

This pattern is worked flat on a standard pair of knitting needles and uses a selection of straightforward techniques that are well within reach of beginner knitters. The primary fabric throughout is stocking stitch, which creates the smooth, classic surface seen on the finished toy.

• K (Knit): The fundamental knit stitch, forming the basis of the stocking stitch fabric used across all sections of the toy
• K2tog (Knit two together): A simple right-leaning decrease used to shape the various body parts of Henrietta, reducing the stitch count by one
• Kfb (Knit into the front then back): A neat increase stitch that adds one stitch by knitting into both the front and back of the same stitch, used to shape and build out the rounded forms of the hippopotamus body

The combination of Kfb increases and K2tog decreases allows the pattern to create the rounded, three-dimensional shapes characteristic of knitted toys — from the body and head to the legs and ears — all without the need for complex techniques or advanced shaping methods.

Construction and Finishing

The individual pieces of Henrietta are knitted separately and then sewn together using a yarn needle, a