I created this blanket for two close friends who are having a baby girl. There’s a garter stitch border around the edge, colour work hedgehogs at the bottom and a repeating structural pattern for the main body of the blanket. I used the intarsia method when knitting the hedgehogs. This is so there aren’t lots of loops of yarn on the back that a baby could get their fingers/toes stuck in compared to doing fair isle etc. I then use duplicate stitch to add in some detail onto the hedgehogs. I have given an example chart for the hedgehog spikes but personally add them in slightly differently on each hedgehog to make them a little more interesting. Once blocked, the blanket measured 75cm by 90cm, although this is easily adjustable and some tips for this are included at the end of the pattern. I have added the number of skeins below but also the weight/yardage of each yarn. The gauge doesn’t really matter in this project so you could use any yarn you like – but this will alter the final size obviously. I have used a cotton yarn as she is a summer baby, but you can use whichever type you like. There are written instructions and charts so you can pick which method you prefer!

Skills required: intarsia and duplicate stitch

Materials needed:
5mm circular needles (US size 8)
Darning needle
Stitch markers

Yarn: Drops Paris – 50g/75m.
Mauve (60) - 9 skeins, 420g, 630m
Dark beige (26) 1 skein, 12g, 18m
Brown (44) – 1 skein, 5g, 7.5m
Black (15) – 1 skein, only small piece needed as only doing the eyes so could use any black yarn from your stash that is of similar weight

Gauge: 17 stitches and 22 rows in 10cm/4inches in stst