Wednesday 14 October 2009

Heidi Hedgehog



PDF version
Meet Heidi Hedgehog. A very stylish and friendly hedgehog, and unbelievably cute.

Several months ago I had been given some James C Brett Vixen yarn - I had no idea when I would ever use it. Then it came to me, this is destined to become a hedgehog or two.

Apparently the yarn is discontinued but it is an eyelash yarn - whatever that means. Originally I had planned on a small, fit-in-the-palm-of-your-hand, made-in-no-time hedgehog. However, the yarn was rather overwhelming for the little chap, so she got bigger. She's now about 5 1/2 inches in length - life size!

I was so pleased with the end result that I have copied the pattern here, so anyone can make a cute friend for themselves.

The pattern now has also been translated into Danish by Charlotte.  You can find her translation on her blog, here.


HEDGEHOG PATTERN

Yarn – Double knitting oddments in beige and black. Eyelash (or novelty fur) yarn – I used James C Brett Vixen (about ¾ of a 60 metre ball used).
Hook – 3 mm and 4 mm.
Notions – toy stuffing.

PATTERN (English terms used)
English dc = US sc

Finished size – approximately 14 cm (5½ inches) in length.

Body
With beige and 3 mm hook make 2 chain.

1st round: 6 dc (remember this is the equivalent of US sc) into 2nd chain from hook. Join with a slip st into 1st dc.

2nd round: 1 ch,, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, 1 dc into next dc, [2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into next dc] 2 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (9 dc)

3rd round: 1 ch, 1 dc into each stitch to end, sl st into first dc.

4th round: 1 ch, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, 1 dc into next 2 dc, [2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into next 2 dc] 2 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (12 dc)

5th round: 1 ch, 1 dc into same stitch as chain, 1 dc into next 2 dc, [2 dc into next dc] 6 times, 1 dc into next 3 dc. Sl st into 1st dc. (18 dc)

6th round: 1 ch, 1 dc into same stitch as chain, 1 dc into next 2 dc, [2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into next dc] 6 times, 1 dc into next 3 dc. Sl st into 1st dc. (24 dc).

7th round: 1 ch, 1 dc into each stitch to end, sl st into first dc.

8th round: 1 ch, 2 dc into same stitch as chain, 1 dc into next 3 dc, [2 dc into next dc, 1 dc into next 3 dc] 5 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (30 dc).

9th- 14th rounds: 1 ch, 1 dc into each stitch to end, sl st into first dc.

Break off beige DK yarn and join in eyelash yarn. Change to 4 mm hook.

15th round: turn (the rest of the body is worked inside-out so that the hedgehog ‘spines’ stick out), 1 ch, 1 dc into each stitch to end, sl st into first dc.

16th – 20th rounds: 1 ch, 1 dc into each stitch to end, sl st into first dc.

21st round: 1 ch, [2 dctog, 1 dc into next 3 dc] 6 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (24 dc)
22nd – 24th rounds: 1 ch, 1 dc into each stitch to end, sl st into first dc.

25th round: 1 ch, [2 dctog, 1 dc into next 2 dc] 6 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (18 dc).

26th round: 1 ch, 1 dc into each stitch to end, sl st into first dc.

27th round: 1 ch, [2 dctog, 1 dc into next 1 dc] 6 times. Sl st into 1st dc. (12 dc)

Insert stuffing at this point.

28th round: 1 ch, [2 dctog,] around, until opening is closed. Fasten off.

Using black DK, embroider face.

A nice and easy pattern, and who can resist?



28 comments:

  1. really cute!!!!

    gnathalie2

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  2. Wow, What a fab little hedgehog. well one on such wonderul work, thanks sooooo much for sharing her with us. xxx

    Rosanne

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  3. Awwww what a sweetie! I love her!

    Deb C xx

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  4. its so cute im going to have to make one for my brother he's big in hedgehogs he has one named snuggles.

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  5. sorry i forgot to say thanks lol i just finished making it i didnt read that it was LIFE SIZE that's AWSOME i was sooooooooo happy when i made it. it was just...awsome anyway im happy with it and im proud of myself for makeing it it was my first time using fuzzy wool/yarn.

    oh btw thanks

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  6. Lovely, but I don't crochet! Is there any way to convert the pattern to knit?

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  7. Hi there!
    Thanks for the pattern - however I found that the number of rows for the spikes were not enough and I did twice as many straight rows, and a straight row between each dec row to get the right shape. I didn't see much difference in the two sides of the spiky part and mine looks a bit sparse in places. Any idea of what I might be doing wrong?

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  8. I can't think what could be wrong - maybe it is the yarn for the spikes - mine was considerably thicker than the DK I used for the face, so if you are using a thinner yarn than me then you would need extra rounds to make up for this.
    I hope your hedgehog turns out OK.
    January

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  9. Thanks. The yarn I used is pretty fine, but I also used finer cotton yarn for the head. You can see my hedgehog here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29679904@N07/4581127523/
    Thanks again for the pattern!
    aishakenza

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  10. That is one amazingly ADORABLE hedgehog. I'm definatly going to be keeping that in mind for a future crochet project!!!!

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  11. Too cute! I love her. Linking up at Tangled Happy today. Thanks for sharing this. :)

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  12. Your very welcome! She was quite popular. Wishing you a happy Thursday. :)

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  13. After row 27, you mist have to turn again and turn her rightside out again, in order to stuff, yes???

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  14. thanks so much..i am working on the cast to different children books for my son one happens to be "The Mitten" which has a hedgehog, badger, and other little critters!! so cute:)

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  15. loved making this pattern, he is so cute

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  16. Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. My son loves hedgehogs and I plan to make one to have peeking out of his stocking CHristmas morning!
    Michelle

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  17. How may I knit the hedgehog? I don't know how to crochet or to convert crocheting into knitting. However, I would love to give a go at this hedgehog as my youngest daughter is absolutely in love with hedgehogs. Thank you in advance for your help.

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    1. Have you tried looking on Ravelry? There are lots of knitting to patterns for hedgehogs and many of them are free. There is also a rather cute pattern for hedgehog mittens!

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  18. If anyone wants to buy some Eyelash Yarn, you can get it through Lion Brand Yarns....it is in the Martha Stewart Collection. I just bought some in December for another project.

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  19. Thank you so much for sharing. Hedgehogs are my absolute favorite!!!

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  20. What a cute hedgehog. He's added to my list of things I want to make

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  21. what a darliing little critter. a must make! thank you .

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  22. Thank you for the pattern. I'm busy knitting a hedgehog for my Golden Retriever / care dog, your crocheted hedgehog will be a lovely friend to add to her toy box, thank you

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  23. I started making this yesterday & I've already finished, I just need to get the stuffing. Looks really cute. I didn't follow exactly as I used up some really thick wool with a bigger hook and added a lot more rows for the body. At one point the number of stitches in my rounds got out of control as I was guessing where the previous stitches were but it still looks great. Thanks for sharing. I've gone hedgehog crazy after discovering my little visitor a few weeks ago!

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  24. So glad you like the pattern. It's always interesting to hear how people adapt the pattern and make the pattern their own.

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  25. I LOVE the hedgehog pattern. You are very generous to share your creations with everyone. One question -- How do you get the "hairs" on the eyelash yarn to come out of the stitches? I have been using a brush, with limited results. (The tight stitches of amigurumi keep the eyelash yarn caught in the stitches.)

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    1. Thank you, Teacher Mary. There is no easy answer I'm afraid. I just teased them out with my fingers as best I could - a lot of patience is called for.

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