Free Knit Hedgehog Pattern!

Originally designed as a way for me to achieve my goal of knitting a Johnhog (a somewhat obscure reference to BBC Sherlock, for those who don't know the fandom.) this pattern ended up as nothing more than a cute hedgehog. And seeing as to how the majority of knit hedgehogs must be purchased, I figured I may as well throw in my contribution the world of knitted woodland animals. So! Without further ado, here's the pattern for John the Hedgehog c:

Knit Hedgehog Pattern

Materials:

Baby Bee Sweet Delight in Chocolate (CC) and Teddy (MC)

US Size 5 DPNS

Embroidery Needle

Safety Eyes

Body:

In CC, CO 4 st. Work 1 row in I-cord, before distributing st. amonst needles and KFB around to join round (8 st.)

Row 1: Attach light brown yarn and k1 row.

Row 2: K1, KFB around (12 st.)

Row 3 and all odd: K all st.

Row 4: *KFB, k2 st. KFB* twice, k4 (*see notes) st. (16 st.)

Row 6: *KFB, k4, KFB* twice, k4 st. (20 st.)

Row 8: *KFB, k6, KFB* twice, KFB, k2, KFB (26 st.)

Row 10: *KFB, k8, KFB* twice, KFB, k4, KFB (32 st.)

Row 12: *KFB, k10, KFB* twice, KFB, k6, KFB (38 st.)

Row 14: *KFB, k12 st., KFB* twice, KFB, k8, KFB (44 st.)

Row 15 - 16: Knit 2 rows.

(* these 4 stitches will become the brow of your hedgehog. Though you're welcome to position the eyes as you wish, I put my safety eyes on either side of the brow c:)

Row 17: Poking your needle through the first st. as if to knit, make a slip knot with CC and slide it onto your needle, before winding your working MC yarn around the needle (like a regular st.) and knitting the st in question. You should now have 2 working yarns. K1 row with both yarns.

Rows 18 - 42: P25 rows with both yarns.

Now is the opportune time to weave in any loose ends, stuff firmly, (being careful not to stretch the knitting) and attach safety eyes or embroider them with scraps of CC.

Row  43: *P2tog, p7, p2tog* four times (36 st.)

Row 44 and all even rows: P all st.

Row 45: *P2tg, p5, P2tog* four times (28 st.)

Row 47: *P2tog, p3, P2tog* four times (20 st.)

Row 49: *P2tog, p1, P2tog* four times (12 st.)

Row 51: P2tog around (6 st.)

Break  both strands of working yarn and thread through remaining st. Knot and weave in any loose ends.

Ears (Make 2):

On straight needles (or 2 DPNS) cast on 7 st. in MC. 

Row 1: P1 row.

Rows 2: K all st.

Row 3: P all st.

Row 4: K1, SSK, K1, K2tog, K1(5 st.)

Row 5: P1, P3tog, P1(3 st.)

Break yarn and thread through remaining st. Using whipstitch, attach the ears to your hedgehog's face.

Legs (Make 4):

CO 4 st in MC. Distribute amongst needles and KFB around to join in round (8 st.)

Row 1: *KFB, k1* around (12 st.)

Row 2: *KFB, k2* around (16 st.)

Row 3: P all st.

Rows 4 - 7: Knit 3 rows. 

they should look vaguely like little mushroom caps

CO all stitches, leaving a long tail. Stuff the legs lightly, before using the tail to sew the tops of the legs to the underside of the hedgehog. 

I made him a little striped jumper as well, but the pattern for that is a bit screwy and will need some major tweaking before being published u v u;;