Hedgehog toy

Stitch a rustic Hedgehog Toy

Forget about prickles, this loveable little guy is simply made for cuddling

It doesn't get much more adorable than this hessian hedgehog! We can just imagine him snuffling through dry autumn leaves. This sewing project can be completed in an evening and is the perfect make for adventurous beginners who like to push themselves out of their comfort zones!

Hedgehog toy

Kit List

◆ Template from the Members Area ◆ Craft Cotton Co Fat Quarter fabric bundle (944937) ◆ Hessian fabric (101620) ◆ TOFT toy stuffing (638708) ◆ Vlieseline interfacing F220 ◆ Dark grey embroidery floss ◆ Scissors: fabric, paper, embroidery ◆ Sewing machine and complementary thread ◆ Hand sewing needle ◆ Tape measure ◆ Straight pins ◆ Fabric pen ◆ Iron, ironing board and pressing cloth

1Download and cut out the pattern from the Members Area. Interface the body fabric with the Vliseline F220 using a damp cloth, pressing for 8 seconds. Leave to cool flat for 30 minutes. Cut out two body pieces (left and right) and one base on the fold. Mark the centre front and back on the base piece. On the right side of the body fabric pieces, transfer the main positioning lines from the template using your fabric pen. 2Stitch the two body pieces together, right sides together, from point A to point B using a 1cm seam allowance. Trim triangles out from the seam allowance to help remove bulk. Press the seam open and turn the body the right way round. 3Cut the other fabrics and hessian into 6cm strips. Sandwich them, right sides up, fabric-hessian-fabric, and run a line of stitching along the centre holding them all together. 4Place one end of the fabric strip on one of the pen lines and, using your central stitch line, stitch the fabric sandwich along the pen line. Keep any offcuts. Repeat this process until all of the pen lines are stitched with fabric. As you add more strips, the process will become harder so just take your time. Once you have stitched over the lines, use the offcuts (or cut more strips if necessary) to fill in the gaps so the back of the hedgehog is nice and full. The fuller the back, the harder it will be to sew on the strips. 5Once you are happy with your strips, use sharp scissors to snip into the fabric. Cut vertically into the strips to create tabs. Be careful not to snip your stitches. Repeat this process until all of the fabric strips are cut. This will now allow the body shape to become nice and round. 6Turn the hedgehog’s body inside out and stitch the centre front seam from points B to C. 7Next, line up the centre front and centre back points with seam points A and C on the body and pin in place. Pin (and tack if wished) all the way around the base, attaching the base to the body, and sew round with a 1cm seam allowance. Leave a nice big gap along one edge. Turn the hedgehog through. 8Using the toy stuffing, stuff the hedgehog’s body to your desired fullness. Be sure to push the stuffing right into the tip of the nose and also to support the curve of the back. Once the hedgehog is stuffed, stitch up the gap with a neat slip stitch. 9Using six-strand embroidery floss, stitch over the nose to create a rounded point. Decide where you would like to place the eyes, mark them with your fabric pen, and satin stitch in place to finish.

Wild thing

“Who doesn’t love a hedgehog, and even better, this cute chap is one that you can hug!”

REBECCA COLE, DESIGNER

Helping Hand

◆ Pressing the back seam can be tricky as it curves around. Why not stuff the body with a tea towel to hold the form, allowing you to press the curve more easily ◆ If you wish to give this to a child under 3 years of age, omit the hessian and hem the fabric edges of the strips so that they don’t fray. Alternately, use felt as this won’t fray when cut ◆ If you struggle to stitch on the strips, try tacking them in place first so that they don’t move around

Template Download

Visit the Club Members area at createandcraft.com