A cute little hedgehog is snuffling about looking for someone to hug. Could that person be a special someone in your life you knit for?
Start with his 'spines' and finish with his nose, then embroider eyes - the twinkle in his eyes is the result of a couple of carefully placed stitches in white yarn.
You will need
Sirdar Baby Bamboo, 50g x 1 ball of each:
Goldilocks (shade 97) - A
Hedgie (shade 91) - B
Scrap of dark grey DK
3mm (UK 11, US 2/3) knitting needles
Toy filling
Length of black yarn for facial features
Length of white sewing thread
Measurements
Approx 15cm long, about 27cm around middle at widest point
HEDGEHOG
Using yarn A and 3mm (UK 11, US 2/3) needles, cast on 8 sts.
Row 1 Inc in every st. 16 sts Next row K1, p1 to end.
Next row K1, p1 to end.
Next row Inc in every st. 32 sts
Next row Knit.
Next row K1, p1 to end.
Next row K1, p1 to end.
Next row (K1, inc in next st) to end. 48 sts
Next row Knit.
Next row K1, p1 to end.
Next row K1, p1 to end.
Next row (K2, inc in next st) to end. 64 sts
Next row Knit.
Next row K1, p1 to end.
Next row K1, p1 to end.
Next row Knit.
Next row Knit.
Next row K1, p1 to end.
Next row K1, p1 to end.
Rep last 4 rows until body measures 10cm, ending with 4th row.
Next row K8, K2tog to last 8 sts, k8. 40 sts
Next row Knit.
Change to yarn B.
Next row K5, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k14, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k5. 36 sts
Next (and every alt) row Purl.
Next row K4, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k12, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k4. 32 sts
Next row K4, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k4. 28 sts
Next row K3, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k3. 24 sts
Next row K3, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k3. 20 sts
Next row K2, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2. 16 sts
Next row K2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k2. 12 sts
Next row K1, k2tog, k1, k2tog twice, k1, k2tog, k1. 8 sts
Change to length of dark grey yam.
Next row K2tog to end. 4 sts Next row Purl.
Cut yarn and thread through sts. Gather round cast-on sts and pull up tightly.
To make up
Sew seam for about 10cm. Pull up sts from nose tightly and secure. Sew face seam then along back, leaving a 4cm gap. Turn RS out and stuff with filling, a little at a time. To make eyes, use a length of black yarn to cast on 2 sts, k2tog, cut yarn and thread through sts. Rep with second eye. Pin eyes in position about 3cm back from nose with about 2cm in between. Thread the tail ends through hedgehog and pull through gap in seam. Pull ends up gently then knot tog.
Use a length of white sewing thread to work a couple of small straight sts on top of each other in the top right of each eye. Sew rem seam, adding a little more filling if needed. Tie in all loose ends.