Deco Fan Hedgehog Crochet Free Pattern

Introduction

Meet the Deco Fan Hedgehog, a palm-sized desk buddy with a little Art Deco glamour. It's a round little ball of a hedgehog with a cream body, soft sage stripes around the middle, and a row of small fan motifs marching down its spine like a sunburst. It's made for crocheters who are comfortable with single crochet, simple shaping, and color changes, and it works up quickly in DK cotton. The finished piece is smooth, dense, and firm enough to sit up on a shelf or beside your keyboard, and it feels lovely and weighty in the hand.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: DK weight cotton, approx. 50 yds cream (A) and 30 yds sage green (B)
• Hook: 2.75 mm (US C-2)
• Notions: stitch marker, tapestry needle, scissors, small amount of polyester fiberfill
• Finished size: approx. 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall and 3.5 inches (9 cm) wide

Abbreviations

• MR: magic ring, an adjustable loop you work your first stitches into
• sc: single crochet
• inc: increase, work 2 sc in the same stitch
• dec: decrease, work 2 sc together into one stitch
• ch: chain
• sl st: slip stitch
• dc: double crochet
• sp: space
• st(s): stitch(es)
• R: round or row

Gauge

24 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet. Work a small swatch in the round and measure across the middle; if your stitches are looser than this, go down a hook size so the stuffing doesn't show through.

Tips Before You Start

• Change colors on the last pull-through of the stitch before the new color begins, so the stripe edge stays crisp.
• Stuff the body firmly but in small pieces as you go, before the opening gets too small.
• Keep your tension tight and even; a dense fabric hides the stuffing and keeps the round shape smooth.
• Pin the fan motifs in place along the spine before sewing so you can space all five evenly.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Body (A)

R1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
R2: inc x6 (12 sts)
R3: [sc, inc] x6 (18 sts)
R4: [2 sc, inc] x6 (24 sts)
R5: [3 sc, inc] x6 (30 sts)
R6-10: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Change to B.
R11-12: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Change to A.
R13-14: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Change to B.
R15-16: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Change to A.
R17-18: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Change to B.
R19-20: sc in each st around (30 sts)
Change to A.
R21: [3 sc, dec] x6 (24 sts)
R22: [2 sc, dec] x6 (18 sts)
R23: [sc, dec] x6 (12 sts)
R24: dec x6 (6 sts)
Fasten off, weave the tail through the remaining sts and pull closed.

Ears (A) x2

R1: MR, 4 sc (4 sts)
R2: inc x4 (8 sts)
R3: sc in each st around (8 sts)
R4: dec x4 (4 sts)
Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing.

Snout (A)

R1: MR, 6 sc (6 sts)
R2: inc x6 (12 sts)
R3-4: sc in each st around (12 sts)
Fasten off, leave a tail. Stuff lightly.

Fan Motif (B) x5

R1: Ch 6, join with sl st to form a ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 2 dc in ring, [ch 2, 3 dc in ring] x3, ch 2, join with sl st to top of ch-3 (4 groups of 3 dc).
R2: Sl st to next dc, ch 1, sc in same st, [ch 3, sc in next dc] x2, ch 3, sc in next ch-2 sp, [ch 3, sc in next dc] x2, ch 3, join with sl st to first sc.
Fasten off, leave a tail for sewing.

Assembly and Finishing

Sew the ears to the head at R3-4, 5 sts apart. Sew the snout to the front at R5-7. Sew the five fan motifs along the spine from R10 to R20, spacing them evenly. Weave in all ends, then gently shape the hedgehog with your fingers and steam or lightly damp-block it to settle the stitches and stripes.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the sage for a metallic or dusty pink cotton to change the Art Deco mood.
• Use a 3.0 mm hook for a slightly larger hedgehog, or 2.5 mm for a tiny one.
• Add a small keyring loop to the top of the head to turn it into a bag charm.