Knit adorable hedgehog socks every child loves!
These soft, prickly hedgehog socks are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. They are knitted with two different shades of brown yarn, and the spikes are made with a crochet hook.
Hedgehog socks for children
Size: approx. 22(26)30.
Hedgehog socks: materials
- 7 Veljestä yarn (75% wool, 25% polyamide, 150 g = 300 m): 25(50)50 g in shade ruispuuro (069) and 25(50)50 g in shade hiekka (060)
- A small amount of black wool-blend yarn for embroidering the eyes and nose
- 3.5 mm (US 4) double pointed needles (or the size needed to match gauge) and a 3.5 mm (US 4) crochet hook.
Stitch patterns
- Rib stitch in the round: knit *k2, p2*, repeat from * to *.
- Stockinette stitch in the round: knit all stitches on every round.
Gauge: 21 sts in stockinette stitch = 10 cm.
Hedgehog socks: instructions
Using the sand-colored yarn, cast on 32(36)40 sts onto your needles. Distribute the stitches evenly across four needles, with 8(9)10 sts on each. The start of the round is always between needles I and IV. Then knit in the round in rib stitch for 10(11)12 cm.
Next, begin the heel flap by knitting the stitches from needle I in rib stitch onto needle IV (=16-18-20 sts). Leave the remaining stitches on hold. Turn work and start the reinforced stitch pattern:
Row 1 (wrong side): slip the first st and purl the remaining stitches. Turn work.
Row 2 (right side): *slip 1, k1*, repeat from * to * until the end of the row. Repeat rows 1–2 a total of 8(9)10 times (=16-18-20 rows).
Knit one more wrong side row and then start the heel turn: continue the same reinforced stitch pattern as before. Knit from the right edge until 6(6)7 sts remain. Work an skp decrease (= slip 1 st knitwise, knit 1 st, pass slipped st over) and turn the work.
Slip the first stitch, purl 4(6)6 sts, then purl the next 2 sts together, turn work. Slip 1 st, knit until 5(5)6 sts remain, work an skp decrease. Continue in this manner, decreasing the side stitches while keeping the center stitches (6(8)8) the same. When all side stitches are gone, divide the heel flap stitches onto 2 needles (3,3–4,4–4,4).
Next, pick up and knit 8(9)10 sts plus 1 st between the needles along the left edge of the heel flap with a free needle. Knit these picked-up stitches through the back loop onto needle I. Knit the stitches on needles II and III. Pick up and knit 8(9)10 sts plus 1 st between the needles along the right edge of the heel flap and knit these picked-up stitches through the back loop onto needle IV.
Continue with the darker brown yarn in stockinette stitch on needles I and IV, and work the “textured pattern” on needles II and III. At the same time, begin the gusset decreases as follows: at the end of needle I, knit the last 2 sts together and on needle IV, work an skp decrease for the first 2 sts. Repeat these decreases every other round until 8(9)10 sts remain on needles II and III, then stop decreasing.
Textured pattern: First, work 2 rounds in stockinette and simultaneously decrease 1 stitch at the start of needle III (so there are now 15–17–19 sts in total on needles II and III). Then begin crocheting the hedgehog spines on needle II as follows:
Round 1: *Take the crochet hook and insert it through the next stitch on the left-hand needle without dropping the stitch from the needle. Chain 8 and fasten the chain to the stitch on the needle with a slip stitch. Free the stitch from the left needle and transfer the stitch on the hook to the right needle. Knit 3 sts.* Repeat from * to * 3(4)4 times, then make another hedgehog spine as previously described. For sizes 22 and 30, knit 2 more sts.
Rounds 2 and 3: Knit all stitches.
Round 4: *Knit 2 sts, insert the hook into the next stitch on the needle without dropping it. Chain 8 and attach the chain to the stitch on the needle with a slip stitch. Free the stitch from the left needle and transfer the stitch on the hook to the right needle. Knit 1 st.* Repeat from * to * 3(4)4 times, then knit 2(1)2 sts. For sizes 22 and 30, crochet one more hedgehog spine as previously described.
Repeat rounds 1–4.
When the sole measures 11(12)14 cm, stop working the textured pattern and switch to the sand-colored yarn. Continue in stockinette stitch on all needles until the sole measures 12(13)15 cm or until the little toe is covered.
Then begin the toe decreases: divide the stitches onto 3 needles: 11(12)13 sts on needle I, 9(11)13 sts on needle II, and 11(12)13 sts on needle III.
Decrease 1 st at the beginning and end of each needle as follows: knit 1, skp, and when 3 sts remain, knit 2 sts together and knit 1. Repeat these decreases every other round. For size 22(26), start the toe decreases only on needles I and III and continue to knit stockinette on needle II. Continue decreasing in this way until there are (9)11 sts on each needle, then work decreases on every needle. When there are 3(3) sts left on each needle, cut the yarn, pull it through all remaining stitches, tighten, and weave in the ends. For size 30, work decreases on every needle from the start. When 6 sts remain in total, cut the yarn, pull it through all remaining stitches, tighten, and weave in the ends.
Finishing
Use black yarn to embroider the hedgehog’s eyes with 5 mm-long straight stitches near the toe decreases on needle II, and embroider the nose on the toe with 10 mm-long straight stitches. Lightly steam the finished hedgehog socks.
Pattern: Susanna Mertsalmi/Novita
