Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

To Pattern or Not – That is the Question.

by

(THIS IS A PICTURE OF A BOOK I DO NOT OWN AND DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BUY!!)

So you always use a pattern and follow it to create your crochet masterpieces? I must say that I find patterns to be mere suggestions, guidelines to interpret the original designer’s vision in my own way. This works better with some designs than others. It can be a disaster in filet. You really have to count and line up those little squares. Maybe that’s why filet is not my favored form of crochet! I appreciate its beauty but feel stifled by its lack of flexibility.

Usually, when I see a picture that accompanies a pattern, I am intrigued and want to make the item – exactly as is – for myself, changing only the colors. But, then, I get into the process and become bored. I just won’t make anything in SC. I automatically switch to HDC and proceed with abandon. Disaster sometimes awaits me!

But, for many patterns, they really are JUST suggestions. They give me a scale, a yarn and hook size (which I may or may not adhere to) and an idea of what the finished project should look like. Other than that, I feel that crochet designers are just like me. They have an idea and play around with yarns and hooks til they get it ‘right’ for them. In that regard, the beginning crocheter is exactly at the same level of creativity as the experienced ‘expert’ crocheter.

Of course, there are perfectionists among us. I have seen people who had to make the item EXACTLY as it appeared in print. That’s way too inflexible for me.  I’m just not a rule follower, I guess. One of the advantages of obtaining free patterns is that the designer is often accessible to answer questions and fine tune their design for general publication. Somethings just really DO NOT work in crochet.

But those motifs on the cover of the book above really are lovely and get my hands itching to pick up a hook and thread……

Comments

  3. You can find loads of patterns on picassa web, so why try to find, pay and wait for something that’s already on the web. Try with words like crocheted flowers, crochet or maybe you like to search on your own. Good luck.

Have you read?

Hedgehog Crochet Patterns for Adorable Woodland Makes

There is something about a little pointed nose and a round, woolly bottom that makes a crochet hedgehog terribly hard to resist. I can be quite sensible about my project list until a woodland animal appears, and suddenly the half-finished blanket can wait. Surely there is room for one tiny hedgehog beside the yarn basket?

If you have been searching for a hedgehog crochet pattern, there are some lovely approaches to those prickly backs. Some designers use soft loops, others work textured stitches, and a little fuzzy yarn can give an amigurumi hedgehog a wonderfully tousled appearance. Those different techniques make this a fun theme to explore, whether you fancy a small decoration or a larger handmade gift.

I have gathered free hedgehog crochet patterns alongside a paid hooded blanket design, with a mix of stuffed animals, a flat appliqué and a little winter ornament. There are options for newer crocheters and projects with more involved texture work, too. Traditional brown and cream will always be lovely, but I would happily make a soft grey hedgehog for my craft room. Matching the décor is a perfectly reasonable excuse for another crochet animal, surely.

Free Hedgehog Crochet Patterns for Toys and Gifts

Classic Crochet Hedgehog — Repeat Crafter Me

This rounded little hedgehog is a lovely starting point if you prefer a simpler finish without a back full of elaborate stitches. The original uses worsted-weight yarn and measures approximately 8 by 5 inches, making it a satisfying size for a handmade gift. I like the designer’s suggestion of adding a tiny heart for Valentine’s Day; it gives the same woodland friend a completely different occasion.

Get the free crochet hedgehog pattern from Repeat Crafter Me.

Hedda the Hedgehog — Yarnhild

Hedda has a wonderfully shaggy back made with loop stitches, which is exactly the sort of texture that makes you want to pick a project up. This intermediate pattern uses chunky yarn, with a finished size of approximately 20 by 15 cm. I would choose this one when I wanted to practise loop stitch and make something with plenty of personality along the way.

Find the free Hedda hedgehog crochet pattern at Yarnhild.

Mimi-chan Hedgehog Amigurumi — Craft Passion

Designed by AmiguruMEI for Craft Passion, Mimi-chan has a curled-up posture and fuzzy quills that give her a distinctive little silhouette. The pattern is rated intermediate and produces a hedgehog around 4 inches tall. This is the one I would choose for a woodland shelf display, where those small details can have their moment.

Make Mimi-chan with the free pattern at Craft Passion.

Hygge Hedgehog — Hooked by Kati

Kati Brown’s design combines a smooth face with a soft, fluffy back, and the slightly sculpted eyes give it a wonderfully expressive look. The body is crocheted in one piece, and the intermediate pattern makes a hedgehog approximately 6½ inches tall. It is a lovely choice if your favourite part of amigurumi is bringing a little face to life.

Get the free Hygge Hedgehog pattern on Underground Crafter.

Romantic Hedgehog — Raffamusa Designs

Puff stitches give this little hedgehog its textured back, so it is a nice option if you would rather use smooth cotton than fluffy yarn. Made with the suggested sport-weight cotton, it measures approximately 4 inches long. The designer pairs it with an apple-shaped heart, but I think the hedgehog itself would be just as sweet tucked into a birthday parcel.

Find the free Romantic Hedgehog crochet pattern at Raffamusa Designs.

Ziggy the Hedgehog — Lori Van Den Bosch

If you appreciate plenty of photographs when trying a new project, Ziggy is worth a look. This free, 22-page PDF is written in US crochet terms, uses worsted-weight yarn and is listed as beginner level. I would put this on the shortlist for someone who likes having extra visual help with special stitches and trickier steps; downloading may require a LoveCrafts account.

Download the free Ziggy hedgehog pattern from LoveCrafts.

Out of the Woods Hedgehog — Lion Brand

For something a little bigger, this plush woodland friend stands approximately 11 inches tall in the suggested bulky yarn. Lion Brand rates the design Easy/Beginner+, making it an appealing option for crocheters ready to try a larger animal project. I like this as a feature piece for a woodland-themed room or a gift that feels substantial without committing to a whole blanket.

Find the Out of the Woods Hedgehog crochet pattern at Lion Brand.

Small Hedgehog Crochet Projects

Happy Hedgehog Woodland Ornament — Spin a Yarn Crochet

The little nose peeking over a scarf sold me on this one. Happy Hedgehog combines fur yarn with a buffalo-plaid scarf and is small enough to fit in your palm, making it a lovely candidate for a woodland Christmas ornament. The designer also suggests using a solid-colour scarf or a piece of ribbon or fabric if you fancy a simpler finish.

Get the free Happy Hedgehog pattern at Spin a Yarn Crochet.

H Is for Hedgehog Appliqué — Repeat Crafter Me

A flat hedgehog appliqué is such a useful little make when you want woodland charm without stuffing another toy. This design uses worsted-weight yarn and a picot edge to suggest the prickly back. I would stitch it onto a project bag, a plain cushion cover or a handmade card with a fabric panel on the front.

Find the free hedgehog appliqué crochet pattern at Repeat Crafter Me.

A Hedgehog Crochet Blanket to Settle Into

Hooded Woodland Hedgehog Blanket — MJ’s Off the Hook Designs

This paid PDF turns the hedgehog theme into a proper cosy project, with mock popcorn texture, mittens and a detailed animal hood. It uses super chunky yarn, is listed as intermediate level and folds into a little pillow when it is not being used. I would save this one for someone who loves a playful blanket, and check the pattern’s sizing information before buying yarn.

Shop the Hooded Woodland Hedgehog Blanket crochet pattern on LoveCrafts.

A Few More Woodland Finishing Touches

If you enjoy making useful little gifts, have a peek at our Betty Prickles hedgehog pincushion feature on CraftGossip. A hedgehog sitting beside the sewing machine is rather fitting, especially once the pins become part of the look.

For Christmas gifting, our free printable Forest Friends gift tags on CraftBits include a hedgehog alongside other woodland animals. Add one to a simply wrapped crochet gift and you have a lovely coordinated finish without spending another evening making the packaging.

My pick would be a textured hedgehog for the craft room and a few little appliqués to keep ready for gift bags. Small handmade details have a way of making an ordinary parcel feel thoughtful, and a hedgehog is a particularly charming way to use those brown and cream leftovers. The only difficult bit is handing it over once that tiny face is finished.