Wrapped in a coat of textured spikes, the Free Crochet Hedgehog Amigurumi Pattern brings woodland charm to your craft list. Its cute round body and expressive face make it a delightful project, appealing to both beginners and experienced crocheters. Whether you're searching for a heartfelt gift or a cheerful addition to your desk or shelf, this amigurumi hedgehog stands out as both décor and companion.
Free Pattern: Crochet Your Own Sweet Hedgehog Amigurumi
You can easily personalize your hedgehog, choosing colors that suit your mood or match your space-classic browns and creams for authenticity, or pastel shades for something whimsical. The finished size varies by hook: use a 3.5 mm hook for a smaller hedgehog (about 9 cm x 14 cm), or switch to a 4 mm hook for a larger one (around 12 cm x 16 cm). Soft 100% acrylic yarn makes the finished project durable and easy to keep clean, perfect for kids or frequent handling.
Features
- Spike Texture: Uses the puff stitch (similar to a 5-double crochet bubble) to give the hedgehog its signature spiky look.
- Clear Detailing: Embroidered nose and eyes add personality, using just a bit of black yarn.
- Solid Structure: Main body is crocheted in the round using single crochet and magic ring foundation, ensuring a smooth, seamless finish.
- Dimension: Includes back post single crochet for an extra touch of texture on the body.
- Easy Assembly: Simple sewing attaches the face, body, and detailed accents.
Important Stitch Highlight
The puff stitch (popcorn stitch) is the star of this project, forming the hedgehog's spikes by drawing five double crochets together in the same stitch, creating a full, fluffy effect.
With these approachable techniques and creative color options, your finished hedgehog will be ready to amuse and delight as a special keepsake or practical holder.
Crochet Hedgehog Organizer
Create your own adorable, multitasking crochet hedgehog that's perfect for holding needles, stitch markers, and small notions! This pattern walks you through each round of the body and head, with clear instructions for the distinctive bobble "quills," shaping, and face details. Suitable for newer crocheters ready to try amigurumi and textured stitches, this handy hedgie is as useful as it is cute.
Skill Level & Terminology
Difficulty: Advanced Beginner/Confident Beginner
Terminology: US crochet terms are used throughout the pattern.
Materials & Tools
- Yarn:
- Body: Worsted weight 100% acrylic yarn (e.g., Bernat in "Golden Witch")
- Face & head: Worsted weight acrylic yarn, white
- Eyes & nose: Small amount black yarn
- Hook: 4 mm crochet hook (3.5 mm for the smaller size/nose)
- Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill
- Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, stitch marker or paperclip
Gauge
A circle of 8 rounds in single crochet should measure approx. 12 cm in diameter (for large), or 9 cm (for small, with 3.5 mm hook).
Gauge is not critical for this project, but consistency is helpful for a neat finish.
Abbreviations
- ch: chain
- sl st: slip stitch
- sc: single crochet
- hdc: half double crochet
- dc: double crochet
- dec: decrease (single crochet two together)
- st(s): stitch(es)
- V: loops at top of a stitch ("V" shape)
- puff/bobble/pop: 5 double crochet cluster (see below)
Special Stitch Instructions
Bobble/Bubble/Pop Stitch (5 dc Cluster)
- Yarn over, insert hook into stitch/ring, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops).
- Yarn over, pull through 2 loops. (2 loops on hook)
- Repeat steps 1-2 four more times (each time, yarn over, insert, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through 2).
- You will have 6 loops on hook.
- Yarn over, pull through all 6 loops.
Finished Size
- Large Hedgehog (using 4 mm hook):
- Body: approx. 12 cm (diameter) × 16 cm (length)
- Small Hedgehog (using 3.5 mm hook):
- Body: approx. 9 cm (diameter) × 14 cm (length)
About the Pattern
This hedgehog is worked in continuous rounds, alternating between single crochet and bobble (pop) stitch rounds for texture. After working the body in your main color, you switch to white to shape and close the head, then embroider the nose and eyes. Stitches used include magic ring, single crochet, double crochet (in clusters for bobbles), half double crochet, back post single crochet, and simple embroidery. Start with a magic ring.
Pattern
Body
Begin with body color yarn and 4 mm hook.
Round 1:
- Magic ring, ch 1.
- Work 5 sc into ring.
- Bobble/puff: In same ring, make 1 five-dc pop (see special instructions above).
- Pull tail to tighten ring.
- Sl st to first sc. (6 sts)
Easy explanation: Start with a magic loop and make 5 single crochets and one bobble. Pull the ring tight and join the round with a slip stitch.
Round 2:
- Ch 1, 2 sc in each stitch around, including the top of the bobble (12 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Simple terms: Make two single crochets in every stitch, including the bobble, to double the stitches.
Round 3:
- (sc in next st, bobble in next st) repeat around six times (12 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Alternate one single crochet and one bobble all the way around.
Round 4:
- Ch 1.
- 2 sc in each st around (24 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Work two single crochets in every stitch to make it bigger and rounder.
Round 5:
- (sc in next st, bobble in next st) repeat around (12 sc, 12 bobble = 24 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Repeat the alternating single crochet and bobble pattern around for the next row.
Round 6:
- Ch 1.
- (sc in next st, 2 sc in next st) repeat around (36 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Increase in every second stitch - do one single crochet, then two in the next, continue around.
Round 7:
- (sc in next st, bobble in next st) repeat around (18 sc, 18 bobble = 36 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Continue the one single crochet, one bobble pattern across.
Round 8:
- 36 sc around.
- Sl st to first sc.
Just single crochet in every stitch for a straight, flat round.
Round 9:
- (sc in next st, bobble in next st) repeat around (36 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Again, alternate single crochet and bobbles around for this round.
Rounds 10-15:
- Repeat rounds 8 and 9 (one round of all sc, then one round of sc/bobble) for a total of 6 rounds.
- Each round = 36 sts.
Make three sets of "all sc" round and "sc/bobble" round to build the hedgehog's body length.
Round 16:
- Ch 2.
- Work 36 hdc around.
- Sl st to first hdc.
Use half double crochet in every stitch for this round, which makes a neat transition.
Round 17 (Ribbed Border):
- Ch 1.
- Work 36 back post single crochet (bpsc) around.
- Sl st to first bpsc.
Make a ribbed round by inserting your hook around the post of each stitch from the back, giving texture and separating the head.
Head
Switch to white (or face color) yarn.
Round 1:
- Join with sl st to any stitch. Ch 1.
- 36 sc around.
- Sl st to first sc.
Start the head with a round of single crochets in white, right after the ribbed round.
Round 2:
- Ch 1.
- (sc2tog/dec, 7 sc) repeat four times (32 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Decrease the stitch count slightly by working a single crochet decrease followed by 7 single crochets, repeated four times.
Round 3:
- Ch 1.
- (sc2tog, 6 sc) repeat four times (28 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Continue decreasing: one single crochet decrease, six single crochets.
Round 4:
- Ch 1.
- (1 sc, sc2tog, 1 sc) repeat as fits around OR evenly decrease 2 more (to 26 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Alternate single crochet and single crochet decrease as you go.
Round 5:
- Ch 1.
- (sc2tog, 6 sc) repeat (total 24 sts).
- Sl st to first sc.
Rounds 6-7:
- Continue as before, working 2-4 decreases spaced evenly.
- At the end of Round 7, you should have 20 sts remaining.
[Time to stuff the hedgehog with fiberfill for shape.]
Pause to firmly stuff the body/head before further decreasing.
Rounds 8-11:
- Continue evenly decreasing so you have 12 sts by end of round 11.
- Each round, (sc2tog, 5 sc), (sc2tog, 4 sc), etc., spacing decreases evenly each round.
Round 12:
- (sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog) to close.
- End with slip stitch, fasten off, and weave yarn tail through last stitches to close opening.
Quick tip: After head is closed, use the tail to shape and secure the tip.
Nose
With black yarn and 3.5 mm hook:
- Make a slip knot and join at tip of head.
- Ch 2, work a 5-dc bobble in the next stitch.
- Sl st to finish, fasten off leaving tail for sewing.
- Use tail and tapestry needle to secure into a triangle nose; weave in ends.
Alternate (embroidered) nose: Use needle and black yarn to shape a nose by stitching back and forth across tip three or four times.
After head closure, create an adorable, dimensional nose using a bobble stitch OR simple embroidery.
Eyes
With tapestry needle and black yarn:
- Embroider triangle-shaped eyes between rounds 3 and 4 of the head, spaced regularly.
- Secure ends and hide yarn inside body.
Use your tapestry needle and yarn to make two small triangle eyes, and hide any yarn tails inside.
Assembly & Finishing
- Shape your hedgehog evenly by massaging stuffing and body into form.
- Make sure all yarn tails are neatly hidden inside with the tapestry needle.
- Optional: Add blush with a scrap of pink yarn or thread small beads for extra charm.
Stitches Used in the Pattern
- Magic ring
- Single crochet (sc)
- Increase (inc = 2 sc in one st)
- Decrease (dec = sc2tog)
- Half double crochet (hdc)
- Bobble/bubble/pop stitch (5 dc cluster)
- Back post single crochet
- Slip stitch (sl st)
- Embroidery for features
In summary:
You'll start with a magic ring, then work continuous rounds alternating single crochet and bobble stitches, increasing to your desired body size. After a few rounds of even sides, a ribbed border is worked before switching yarn to make and shape the head. The piece is stuffed and sewn closed, with embroidered nose and eyes added for personality.