25.11.13

hans my hedghog


Hans my Hedgehog has always been one of my favorite fairy tales and a few days ago I got it into my head to knit some hedgehogs.

I mentioned this to my friend Kristen who suggested I have a look at this knitting pattern over at Purlbee.  The pattern is accompanied by a lovely essay which reminds me of the fact that there are no hedgehogs native to the United States, and, like the author of the essay, neither have I ever met a hedgehog in person (aside from Mrs. Tiggywinkle).


I wanted a simpler pattern than the one at Purlbee (as many of you know, I'm a lazy knitter) and so below you will find the result of my efforts to create an easy pattern. 

MATERIALS REQUIRED

To knit the bodies of these hedgehogs I used Jamiesons's fingering weight held double in a color called Moorit.  For the faces I used a DK weight from Jamieson's in a color called Mogit, but any earth-tone heathered yarns in DK or worsted weight would work well.  In addition to two shades of earth-tone DK or worsted weight yarn, you will need a scrap of brown wool felt for ears and a 1/2 yard black 6 ply cotton embroidery floss. Tiny buttons or black beads would work nicely for eyes, too.

NEEDLE SIZE

I used a size US 3 needle, which is smaller than this yarn would normally require.  You can see here that I like knitting tiny animals using size 3 needles -- it keeps my stitches tight so the stuffing doesn't peek through.  And I don't enjoy knitting in the round with DPNS, so this pattern is knit flat then seamed up at the end, but you are welcome to adjust my pattern for DPNS if you prefer.

STITCHES USED

Seed Stitch: Work rows as follows:  (k1, p1), repeat to end.  On alternating rows you will start with a purl stitch i.e. (p1, k1) thus purling into the knit stitches and knitting into the purl stitches.
Stockinette Stitch: knit on RS, purl on WS


PATTERN

LARGE HEDGEHOG (approx. 9 cm finished length)
Cast on 24st using darker colored yarn for the hedgehog body
Rows 1-18: Seed Stitch (k1, p1 alternating with rows of p1,k1)
Row 19: Switch to lighter colored yarn (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of row (18 st.)
Row 20: Purl across row
Row 21: (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of row (14 st.)
Row 22: Purl
Row 23: (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of row
Row 24: Purl
Row 25: k2tog across row (6 st.)
Row 26: Purl
Row 27: k2tog across row and, using a tapestry needle, draw yarn through remaining 3 st.

Using the tail end of the lighter yarn, stitch up snout area of hedgehog and weave in end.

Using the tail end of the darker yarn (where it's joined to the lighter yarn) stitch up the body and weave in end to secure.

Stuff hedgehog, but not too firmly.  Use the tail end from casting on to create running stitches around the end of the hedgehog. Pull tight to gather, and secure end of the yarn to hold the gathered stitches.

If you would like the nose on your hedgehog to turn up, position the hedgehog body with your seam on top, along the back of your hedgehog (don't worry -- the texture of the seed stitch will hide your joining seam.) Then, using black embroidery floss, embroider eyes and nose (note: you can pop in some ball-head straight pins to help decide on eye placement -- see photo below.)   Add ears by stitching on small, rounded bits of felt.


SMALL HEDGEHOG (approx. 6 cm finished length)
Cast on 16st using darker colored yarn for the hedgehog body
Rows 1-12: Seed Stitch (k1, p1 alternating with rows of p1,k1)
Row 13: Switch to lighter colored yarn (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of row(12 st.)
Row 14: Purl across row
Row 15: (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of row (9 st.)
Row 16: Purl
Row 17: k2tog twice, k1, k2tog twice
Row 18: Purl 2tog, p1, p2tog
Row 27:  Using a tapestry needle, draw yarn through remaining 3 st.

See instructions above for finishing.

Note: If you use my pattern, I would be delighted if you would hop over to Ravelry and post a photo of your version.  You can find my hedgehogs here on Ravelry.


42 comments:

  1. Margaret, these are as sweet as honey! I think I will make one for each child for their holiday ornament gift. (Last year was a clothespin doll ornament for each, a gnome and a fairy.) Thanks for the inspiration!

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    Replies
    1. You are very welcome and I'm so glad you like them Rachel. I hope Sage and Lupine love them as well --

      Best wishes for a beautiful Thanksgiving --
      xo

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  2. Lovely! Thank you for the pattern!

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    Replies
    1. You are so very welcome -- do let me know how they turn out!

      Best wishes,
      mb

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  3. You are so talented! I am always in awe of your never-ending creative spark!

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    1. And you are sweet! And I am in arrears for thanking you for the gorgeous, hand-made and very creative Rosh Hashannah card. It was on my mantlepiece until about 2 weeks ago. I couldn't bear to take it down -- it was so lovely...

      Sending love and best wishes for a bright Thanksgivukkah to you and all you hold dear (including your new pup!)
      xo

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  4. I just made one, haven't knitted for years, had to use kebab skewers, but i actually made one��������, thanks for the info, so happy!!!!

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    1. ha! that's funny. my size 3's are not much bigger than kebab skewers -- but I was knitting with some size 1's about a month ago and thinking to myself that I might as well have been knitting with skewers!

      I hope your little hedgehog turned out nicely --

      cheers!
      mb

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  5. I've bookmarked the Purlbee pattern recently, having a hankering for some hedgehog knitting myself. But now that you've done gone and brilliantly made an easier pattern, I'm even more fired up about it! Thank you, thank you!

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    Replies
    1. You are welcome, welcome!!

      Happy knitting to you --
      mb

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  6. Thanks for the great pattern saw the one on the purl bee...yours I can knit!

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    1. You are so very welcome -- let me know how it turns out (you can post photos and a review linked up to my Ravelry page
      http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hans-my-hedgehog

      Cheers!
      mb

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  7. Replies
    1. Thanks! I hope you have fun knitting them!

      Best wishes,
      mb

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  8. Oh, excellent modifications! I need a quick knit and something to keep the kids and I connected this weekend. Thanks for the great tutorial!

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    1. Hi Brienne -- I hope you and your children have fun playing with your new hedgehog family. Also, I visited your blog -- such a gorgeous Vitamin D sweater -- I have added it to my queue on Ravelry... Not that I have much time to knit right now, but I'd like to get around to it (one of these years!)

      Cheers --
      mb

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  9. those hedges are so super cute! i love hedge hogs too. i think i might give one of these a go!

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    1. do have go -- they are super easy to make! hope you have fun with it!

      mb

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  10. Thank you so much. I have made a few of them, including a lovely Valentine hedgie for my classroom. May even make little ones for my valentines for my students. I love making them. Wish I could post a picture on the Rivalry site but do not know how...

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  11. Thank you so much for this adorable tutorial!!! I had used the one from Purl Bee but yours allows for much smaller hedgehogs, so I made a keyring version. Hope you like it: http://clairettetricote.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/porte-clefs-herisson-hedgehog-key-ring/

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  12. merci pour ces explications
    et ces jolies photos
    tout parait facile

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  13. Hi !
    I followed your marvelous tutorial and I put it on my bog : http://atelierdevyvyane.over-blog.fr/2014/02/r%C3%A9union-de-famille-ou-les-h%C3%A9rissons-de-la-r%C3%A9mission.html
    Thank you =)

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  14. Love this! Thank you for sharing. It will go perfectly when we read Hedgie's surprise.

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  15. hi I love this pattern may I use it for fundraising :) I have fibromyalgia and am trying to raise money so that the vital research can start. I will of course give credit to you for the pattern

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  16. Of course -- please go ahead and use the pattern to create hedgehogs to sell for fundraising. Thank you for giving me credit for the pattern and good luck with your fundraising project!

    Best wishes,
    mb

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  17. whenever I reach the end of row 24 I end up with 1 too many stitches, I'm not sure where I'm going wrong. Love the wee hogs! x

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  18. These are adorable - I just made three in an hour. My daughter's been asking for some hedgehogs and this pattern was so easy and fast! Thanks so much!

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  19. I made the large one which is still tiny. So cute. I want to make a large momma sized one. Giving it to a new mom as shower gift. She happens ton love hedgehogs. Can you tell me how to enlarge more. I doubled the cast on to 48 but how do I go from there? Should I do 36 rows instead of 18?

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    1. Hello! I've had several requests recently for an enlarged version of my hedgehog pattern. I haven't got time to work on it right now, so I've been referring inquiries to this "Knit Hedgehogs" pattern at Purl Soho https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2013/02/10/whits-knits-knit-hedgehogs/

      Stay tuned. I will try to up-size my pattern as soon as I have time. Maybe later this fall or sometime in the spring?

      Best wishes and good luck with your hedgehog knitting!!
      mb

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    2. Use Lion brand thick and quick yarn and follow directions it will be a lot bigger. Good luck.

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  20. I've been looking for a knit flat hedgehog for forever it seems lol it will match my daughters nursery perfect!! Christmas presents!!

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    Replies
    1. So glad to know my knit-flat hedgehog pattern will work for you -- Happy knitting!

      mb

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  21. Holly Molly, I looked at the other pattern and I see what you mean. I would never get that one done

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  22. Love this pattern, It looks really simple and I have no idea about knitting in the round- so this is perfect..I'm wanting to make them as cat toys. Looking forward to trying this pattern. Thank You!

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    1. You’re welcome! I hope your cat enjoys playing with the hedgehog!!
      mb

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  23. My grand daughter wanted to make her a hedgehog when I ran across your pattern, it's too cute.. I'm ready to dig my yarn out.

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  24. Thank you I feel like knitting something small for myself. Hans is very cute.

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  25. Thank you. Your adorable hedgehogs will make great Holiday ornaments for my family who like hedgehogs!

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    1. You're so very welcome! I hope you'll post photos on Ravelry or Instagram and tag me so I can see them!
      mb

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