★ SKILL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE (if you use thick yarn) and ADVANCED (if you use thin yarn)

★ MATERIALS AND TOOLS :
- Yarn
For the hippo we use Gamma «Iris» (cotton, 10g ~ 82m) or Yarnart Iris (cotton, 20g ~ 138m), also you can use floss (Gamma, DMC, Madeira, Anchor or others) in 3-4 threads. Colors: grey, sand. Hook №1 (1mm). Also we need a little brown thread (floss) to embroider the nostrils and navel, white thread to embroider a semicircle beside the eyes, black thread to embroider eyebrows.
For a cap and a heart, we use a floss in 2 threads (i.e. about half as thin as hippo yarn). Colors: light green, green, red, white (a little). Hook №0.7 (0.7mm, it is extremely difficult to crochet from thin yarn, try different hook numbers, perhaps it will be more convenient for you to crochet using thinner or thicker hook: №0.6-0.9).
For balloons, we use floss in 1 thread. Colors: yellow, blue, pink. Hook №0.5 (0.5mm, it is extremely difficult to crochet from thin yarn, try different hook numbers, perhaps it will be more convenient for you to crochet using thinner or thicker hook: №0.5-0.7).

• Fiberfill (to stuff)
• Glue eyes (4mm)
• Mount: legs: buttons size 8mm 4pcs; arms: buttons size 6mm 4pcs; neck: buttons size 6mm 1pc (paste into body side), 8mm 1pc (paste into head side) Additionally, you will need:
• Thin wire (0.4mm) for balloons 3pcs, each ~11cm long
• 1 metal ring Ø4mm (make a button on the top of the cap)
• Round white pearl beads 2pcs (Swarovski pearls for example, one bead smaller Ø3mm, the second larger Ø4mm)
• 1pc of plastic or cardboard, 2pcs foamiran (or isolon) to insert inside the heart. Heart size 2.5x2cm
• A round piece of plastic or cardboard and a piece of fleece Ø3cm (base-stand for balloons)
• Strong thread for attaching legs/arms/head, needle, safety pins, scissors, glue (Moment Crystal), hot glue, thin stick (for the convenience of stuffing small parts).

★ SKILLS REQUIRED:

You must have basic crochet skills (with crocheting mini/micro toys) - this pattern is not so easy so please ask me if you will have some questions/difficulties.
+ I added 6 video lessons

This pattern is ADVANCED LEVEL but easy to follow with step-by-step instructions (16 pages with detailed instructions and ~100 photos illustrating the process)