My sweet hedgehog was inspired by many fond memories of family trips to England. Knitting these socks is so much fun as you see the hedgehogs emerge from under the hedge.

These socks are knit cuff down, increasing sts and changing needle size for the colourwork on the leg to accommodate the less stretchy fabric of stranded knitting. I did not increase stitches in the foot colourwork stripes but do recommend going up a needle size. I started with a US1 (2.25mm) needle and increased to a US1 ½ (2.5mm) for the colourwork. If your gauge is the same for both stranded and plain stockinette then switching needles may not be necessary but I do recommend increasing the stitches in the leg. Many sock knitters have specific needle sizes they always use for making socks.

The heel is a regular heel flap and the toe is stitched together with Kitchener stitch. To orient the hedgehogs correctly (one in front and one on each side), follow the heel set up round as written.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Approx. circumference in stocking stitch, not stretched: 6 ½ (7 ½, 8 ½, 9 ½) inches/16.5 (19, 21.5, 24) cm
Approx. circumference in stranded, not stretched: 7 ½ (8 ½, 9 ½, 10 ½) inches/19 (21.5, 24, 26.5) cm

YARN USED in photo:
MC: Onion Nettle Sock Yarn, 70% Superwash Wool/ 30% Nettle Fibers, 185 m/50g, Dusty Blue (1024)
CC1 (background): Onion Nettle Sock Yarn, 70% Superwash Wool/ 30% Nettle Fibers, 185 m/50g, Off White (1001)
CC2 (leaves): Onion Nettle Sock Yarn, 70% Superwash Wool/ 30% Nettle Fibers, 185 m/50g, Green (1006)
CC3 (flowers): Onion Nettle Sock Yarn, 70% Superwash Wool/ 30% Nettle Fibers, 185 m/50g, Orange (1027)
CC4 (hedgehog): Onion Nettle Sock Yarn, 70% Superwash Wool/ 30% Nettle Fibers, 185 m/50g, Golden Brown (1033)

Approximate yardage used for medium
MC: 202 yds/185 m
CC1: 90 yds/82 m
CC2: 84 yds/77 m
CC3: 19 yds/17 m
CC4: 19 yds/17 m

Yardage Used is a tricky thing to calculate for socks. I have given the yardage I used to make the medium socks for size 8 shoe.
A full 100g skein (or 2 skeins for yarn used in sample) will be plenty for 2 socks. For the CCs, 25g skeins should be plenty for the flowers and hedgehogs. You may need more than 25g skeins for the background and leaves.

TOOLS:
For ribbing and stockinette: US1 (2.25 mm) dpns or circular needles for preferred method of knitting, or size needed to obtain gauge
For colourwork: US1 ½ (2.5 mm) dpns or circular needles for preferred method of knitting, or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch markers
Tapestry Needle

GAUGE:
Using US1 (2.25 mm) after blocking, over single colour stocking stitch, knit in the round: 34 sts x 46 rows = 4” (10 cm)
Using US1 ½ (2.5 mm) after blocking, over stranded pattern knit in the round: 34 sts x 41 rows = 4” (10 cm)

This pattern was tech edited by Sigrun Jones and tested by volunteers.