free crochet hedgehog pattern


Free crochet hedgehog pattern

Pattern written in UK English and uses a 3.5mm hook 
Using light brown/beige double knitting weight wool
Round 1 : ch2, 4dc in 1st ch made (or magic ring/adjustable loop of 4dc)
Round 2 : *dc in nxt st, 2dc in nxt st* x2 (6dc)
Round 3 : *dc in nxt 2 sts, 2dc in nxt st* x2 (8dc)
Round 4 : *dc in nxt 3 sts, 2dc in nxt st* x2 (10dc)
Round 5 : dc in each st around (10dc)
Round 6 : *dc in nxt 4 sts, 2dc in nxt st* x2 (12dc)
Round 7 : dc in each st around (12dc)
Round 8 : *dc in nxt 5 sts, 2dc in nxt st* x2 (14dc)
Round 9 : dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in each of nxt 4 sts, dc in nxt 8 sts (18dc)
Change colour to dark brown on last st of round 9
Round 10 : FLO 2dc in nxt st, *dc in nxt st, 2dc in nxt st* x2, dc in nxt st, *dc in nxt st, 2dc in nxt st* x3, ss in nxt 6 sts (18dc+6ss=24sts)
Round 11 : dc in nxt st, 2dc in nxt st, *dc in nxt 2 sts, 2dc in nxt st* x5, dc in nxt 7 sts (30dc) - for neater results dc in same places as where you did the slip stitches of last round, going over the slip stitches. If you try to dc into the slip stitches you will end up with a line of the light brown appearing underneath.
Round 12 : dc in nxt 2 sts, 2dc in nxt st *dc in nxt 3 sts, 2dc in nxt st* x2, dc in nxt 2 sts, *2dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 3 sts* x2, 2dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 8 sts (36dc)
This is a good point to add safety eyes
Round 13 – 15 : dc in each st around
Round 16 : dc in nxt 3 sts, 2dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 22 sts, 2dc in nxt st, dc in nxt 9 sts (38dc)
Round 17 – 21 : dc in each st around (38dc)
Round 22 : dc in nxt 3 sts, dc2tog, dc in nxt 22 sts, dc2tog, dc in nxt 9 sts (36dc)
Round 23 : *dc in nxt 4 sts, dc2tog* x6 (30dc)
At this point stuff with toy filling, the firmer you stuff, the fatter your hedgehog!
Round 24 : *dc in nxt 3 sts, dc2tog* x6 (24dc)
Round 25 : *dc in nxt 2 sts, dc2tog* x6 (18dc)
Round 26 : *dc in nxt 1 sts, dc2tog* x6 (12dc)
Round 27 : *dc2tog* x6 (6dc)
Fasten off leaving a longish tail, weave in and out of last 6 sts, pull tightly to close the hole, then weave in the tail

Taking a piece of black yarn and a wool needle, sew on a nose, do this slightly upwards on the tip, it should make his snout appear to curve up more
Tip – I often leave a tail when I start the nose, and once its looking about right, wrap the tail and the yarn you’ve been sewing with around the nose you just made, pull tightly and tie the two ends together. This will make is ‘bobble up’ a bit more. Then thread your needle through and bring it out a bit further down underneath the snout, cut yarn and give the snout a wiggle, the yarn should disappear inside and in theory doesn’t have much chance of coming out/loosening 


Abbreviations
FLO = front loop only
Dc =double crochet
Ss = slip stitch
St/sts = stitch/stitches
Dc2tog = dc 2 sts together/decrease

for Americans, just remember that in UK terminology dc = sc 
The legal bit: I am happy for you to print this pattern for yourself, and I do not mind if you want to use it at crochet classes or groups. I retain intellectual copyright, I only ask that you do not sell works made from this pattern, and do not publish on any other websites or publications without prior permission