It turns out I was mistaken - Mr Hedges was actually Mrs Hedges. You can't see them terribly well but there are actually two baby hedgehogs in this picture; the other evening they, and their slimmed down mum, were foraging quite openly in my garden. We were so taken with the adorable twins that we didn't notice mum at first, but then we realised there were three sets of scuffing, grunting, chewing sounds. One baby actually crawled into an upturned watering can to raid the slugs, snails and woodlice in there. I was worried it might get stuck, but it got out just fine and I never use anything harmful like pesticides when I water. I suspect there are actually more of them because the plants in the back of my garden were shaking in exactly the same way as the ones where we saw the trio feeding. So happy to see them having such a good time.
I've not been feeling too good this week, pollen highs have really affected my sinus trouble and made life hell. Still, cheered myself up making this fruity little cluster to hang off my daughter's new college bag - when we get the bag, that is!
I was deeply saddened by the news of the death of Christopher Lee today. He had a good, long life, but it still doesn't seem long enough. Still, for me he will remain forever that tall, dark and awesome idol of my teens - like Dracula, he will never truly age or die as long as there is one movie left to watch. A wonderful man, a wonderful actor.
Here's another of my crochet patterns. This angelic Hello Kitty doll hides a secret -
inside she's a bit of a devil!
REQUIRES
Yarn - 50g each of white, black, red and lilac; small amounts black and white Twinkle or other sparkling yarn)
Hook / Needles - 3 mm
Sundries - 4 toy eyes, 2 noses (or black and yellow felt), toy stuffing
INSTRUCTIONS (Given in UK notation)
HEAD (make 2 - one white, one red)
Begin with Head A in red.
Make 11 chain. Rd 1; work 1 dc into 2nd chain from hook, dc into next 8 chain, 3 dc into last chain. Turn the work and work down the other side of the base chain - 8 dc, inc in last stitch. 22 stitches. Rd 2; inc 1, dc 8, inc 3, dc 8, inc 2. 28. Rd 3; Inc 1, dc 9, inc 1, dc 1, inc 1, dc 1, inc 1, dc 9, inc 1, dc 1, inc 1, dc 1. 34. Rd 4; inc 1, dc 10, inc 1, dc 2, inc 1, dc 2, inc 1, dc 10, inc 1, dc 2, inc 1, dc 2. 40. Rd 5: inc 1, dc 11, inc 1, dc 3, inc 1, dc 3, inc 1, dc 11, inc 1, dc 3, inc 1, dc 3. 46. Rd 6; dc. Rd 7: inc 1, dc 12, inc 1, dc 4, inc 1, dc 4, inc 1, dc 12, inc 1, dc 4, inc 1, dc 4. 52. Rd 8; dc. Rd 9: inc 1, dc 13, inc 1, dc 5, inc 1, dc 5, inc 1, dc 13, inc 1, dc 5, inc 1, dc 5. 58. Rd 10 - 12: dc. Rd 13; dec 1, dc 13, dec 1, dc 5, dec 1, dc 5, dec 1, dc 13, dec 1, dc 5, dec 1, dc 5, 52. Rd 14; dc. Rd 15: dec 1, dc 12, dec 1, dc 4, dec 1, dc 4, dec 1, dc 12, dec 1, dc 4, dec 1, dc 4. 46. Rd 16; dc. Rd 17; dec 1, dc 14, dec 1, dc 4, dec 1, dc 17, dec 1, dc 3. 42. Rd 18; dc. Rd 19; (dec 1, dc 3, dec 1, dc 7), repeat twice. 36. Rd 20; dc. Rd 21; (dec 1, dc 2, dec 1, dc 6) repeat to end. 30. Rd 22; dc. Rd 23; (dec 1, dc 1, dec 1, dc 5) repeat to end. 24. Rd 24; dc.
On head A, ss from last to first and fasten off. On Head B (white) do not fasten off but put last stitch on a holder while fixing features and stuffing. On both heads position and fix eyes and nose, and stuff. Embroider whiskers with black yarn.
BODY
Using lilac, attach yarn to last stitch of Head B. Rd 1; dc. Rd 2; dc 5, inc 1, dc 11, inc 1, dc to end. 26. Rd 3; dc 1, inc 1, dc 12, inc 1, dc to end. 28. Rd 4; dc 5, inc 1, dc 1, inc 1, dc 11, inc 1, dc 1, inc 1, dc to end. 32. Rd 5; dc 7, inc 1, dc 13, inc 1, dc to end. 34. Rd 6; dc. Rd 7; dc 8, inc 1, dc 16, inc 1, dc to end. 36. Rd 8; dc 8, inc 1, dc 17, inc 1, dc to end. 38. Rd 9; dc. Rd 10; dc 9, inc 1, dc 18, inc 1, dc to end. 40. Rd 11; dc. Change colour to black. Rd 12; dc. Rd 13; dc 9, dec 1, dc 18, dec 1, dc to end. 38. Rd 14; dc. Rd 15; dc 8, dec 1, dc 17, dec 1, dc to end. 36. Rd 16; dc 8, dec 1, dc 16, dec 1, dc to end. 34. Rd 17; dc. Rd 18; dc 7, dec 1, dc 13, dec 1, dc to end. 32. Rd 19; dc 5, dec 1, dc 1, dec 1, dc 11, dec 1, dc 1, dec 1, dc to end. 28. Rd 20; dc 1, dec 1, dc 12, dec 1, dc to end. 26. Rd 21; dc 5, dec 1, dc 11, dec 1, dc to end. 24. Rd 22; dc. Ss from last to first and fasten off. Stuff body and stitch Head B in position facing same way as A.
EARS (make 2 red, 2 white)
Begin with magic ring, make 6dc into it. Rd 1: (inc 1, dc 1) to end. 9. Rd 2; (inc 1, dc 2) to end. 12. Rd 3; (inc 1, dc 3) to end. 15. Rd 4; (inc 1, dc 4) to end. 18. Rd 5; (inc 1, dc 5) to end. 21. Fasten off, stuff, and stitch to head.
BOW (make 1 lilac, 1 black or Twinkle black)
Part 1: make 8 chain. Rd 1; Work 1 dc into 2nd chain from hook, dc into next 5 chain, 3 dc into last chain. Turn so you are working down back of chain; work 5 dc, inc in last stitch. 16. Rd 2; (inc 1, dc 5, inc 1, dc 1), repeat. 20. Rd 3; (inc 1, dc 7, inc 1, dc 1), repeat. 24. Ss from last to first stitch, fasten off.
Part 2: make magic ring, work 6 dc into it. Rd 1; (inc 1, dc 1) to end. 9. Ss from last to first and fasten off.
Using length of same yarn, draw Part 1 up tightly at the centre and stitch to hold, leaving a long tail. Stitch Part 2 to centre of Part 1, then use tail to sew bow to head next to one ear.
ARMS (make 2 red/black, 2 white/lilac).
Begin with red for Devil Kitty, white for Angel Kitty. Make magic ring and work 6 dc into it. Rd 1; inc all round. 12. Change to lilac for angel, black for devil. Rd 2; dc through back loops only. Rd 3 - 14; dc. Rd 15; dc 3, dec 1, dc 3, dec 1, dc 2. 10. Fasten off, stuff and attach to body.
RUFF (make 1 in lilac or sparkling white, I in plain or sparkling black)
Make 8 chain. Row 1; dc into 2nd chain from hook, dc to end. 7. Row 2; ch 1 (does not count as stitch), dc into back loops of all dc. 7. Repeat Row 2 x 58 (you ma=y have to make it longer or shorter, depending how wide your kitty’s neck is and how thick your yarn; remember it is gathered up, so has to be wider than the actual neck measurement). Fasten off leaving very long tail. Using this and darning needle run yarn through row ends along one edge and gather up, not too tightly - you can check it by placing it round the neck and loosening or tightening as required. Position on neck with gathered edge at top and open ends at back, sew in position and finally sew first and last row together to form ruff seam.
WINGS
(DEVIL - make 2)
Using red make 4 chain. Row 1; dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc to end. 3. Ch 1, turn. Row 2; dc 3, dc 4, turn. Row 3; dc into 2nd chain and next 2 chain, htr into 3 dc of last row. 6. Ch 1, turn. Row 4; dc 3, ch 5. Turn. Row 5; dc into 2nd ch from hook and next 3 ch, htr into 3 dc of last row. 7. Ch 1, turn. Row 6; dc 4, ch 6. Turn., Row 7; dc into 2nd ch and next 4 st, 4 htr. 9. Ch 3. Work 8 dc evenly along top edge opposite points, ss into 1st chain made and fasten off. Stitch to back.
(ANGEL - make 2)
Using white make 4 ch. Row 1; dc into 2nd chain from hook, dc to end. 3. Turn. Row 2; ss into 3 dc, make 3 ch. Turn. Row 3; dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc to end. 5. Turn. Row 4; ss into all 5 stitches, make 3 ch, turn. Row 5; dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc to end. 7. Turn. Row 6; ss into all 7 stitches, make 3 ch. Turn. Row 7; dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc to end. 9. Turn. Row 8; ss into all 9 stitches, make 3 ch. Turn. Row 9; dc into 2nd ch from hook, dc to end. 11. Do not turn. Make 3 chain, work 6 dc evenly along top edge to starting ch. Fasten off and stitch in place.
TAIL
(ANGEL)
Using white make magic ring, work 6 dc into it. Rd 1; dc 2, inc 1, dc 2, inc 1. 8. Rd 2 - 4; dc. Fasten off, stuff lightly and stitch to outside of gown. (I recommend you attach the tails during working of the gowns, when they are about half the full length - it is easier to attach the tails before you have the full gown completed).
(DEVIL)
Using red, make 8 chain and join in a ring with ss. Rd 1; dc in every chain. 8. Rd 2 - 4; dc. Rd 5; dc 2, dec 1, dc 2, dec 1. 6. Rd 6; dec all round till gap is closed. Do not fasten off. Down side of tail work 2 dc, ch 3, turn. Dc into 2nd chain from hook, dc into 2 dc already made. Now work down opposite side making 2 dc and 3 chain. Turn. Work dc into 2nd chain from hook, dc 2, ss into next dc. Turn. Dec I, fasten off. Stuff and stitch to outside of gown.
GOWNS (Make 2 - 1 using black and black twinkle for devil, 1 using lilac and white twinkle for angel)
Using body colour, attach yarn to row immediately above colour change and work 40 dc evenly round waist, working around the stem of your original stitches where possible. Be sure you are working in the right direction to have your gown right side out, and keep an eye on the size - you may need to make it wider or narrower, longer or shorter, depending on your yarn.
Rd 1; dc. Rd 2; (dc 3, inc 1) to end. 50. Rd 3; dc. Rd 4; (dc 4, inc 1) to end. 60. Rd 5 - 7; dc. Rd 8; (dc 9, inc 1) to end. 66. Rd 9; dc. Rd 10; (dc 10, inc 1) to end. 72. Rd 11; dc. Rd 12; (dc 11, inc 1) to end. 78. Rd 13 - 15; dc. Rd 16; (dc 12, inc 1) to end. 84. Rd 17 - 32; dc. Change to sparkly yarn for frill. Rd 33; dc through back loops only. Rd 34; (dc 1, htr 1, tr 3 into next 2 st, htr 1, dc 1) to end. 140. Ss from last stitch to 1st and fasten off. You may wish to stitch the two gowns together at the bottom edge; if you do I recommend you attach them where the frills begin, using invisible thread if possible. But It is not essential to do this as it is quite easy to turn them over without it.
