Crochet Hedgehog Lovey Pattern (Free Baby Security Blanket Pattern)

By Jan Bay

This crochet hedgehog lovey pattern combines an adorable woodland animal with a soft security blanket that babies love to cuddle. The easy-to-follow pattern includes complete stitch counts, assembly instructions, baby-safe finishing tips, and helpful measurements so you can confidently create a handmade keepsake that's perfect for baby shower gifts, woodland nurseries, or your own little one.

Supplies for This Easy Crochet Project

Brown and Cream Baby Yarn for Crochet Loveys

Polyester Fiberfill Stuffing

Ergonomic Crochet Hook Set

Tapestry Needles for Assembly

Locking Stitch Markers

The crochet hedgehog lovey pattern gets its character from the snout, the low ears and the textured brown back cap. Without those details, a round animal head can start looking like a bear, mouse or squirrel. With them, the hedgehog reads clearly, and the finished lovey looks much more intentional.

Do not use plastic safety eyes on a baby lovey.

This crochet hedgehog lovey pattern makes a woodland-style security blanket with a simple granny-style blanket body, a rounded head, small snout, ears, legs and a textured brown back cap that gives the hedgehog its fuller shape without loose fringe or plastic parts. If you like animal loveys in this same family, the crochet animal lovey patterns page is the main hub I would keep open while planning colors.

Crochet Hedgehog Lovey Pattern Supplies for a Woodland Baby Gift

A hedgehog lovey does not need fancy yarn to look finished, but the yarn choices matter. In many nurseries, the lovey ends up beside a chair, tucked into a diaper bag or folded with a gift, so the colors need to look good in real life, not just on a craft table.

• Worsted weight yarn in warm brown for the textured back cap and two blanket border rounds
• Worsted weight yarn in oatmeal, tan or ivory for the blanket body, face, snout, ears, arms and three corner legs
• Small amount of dark brown or black yarn for the embroidered eyes, nose and mouth
• Size H, 5.0 mm crochet hook, or hook needed to make tight stitches
• Polyester fiberfill for the head, snout, arms and three corner legs
• Yarn needle for sewing pieces together
• Stitch markers
• Scissors
• Measuring tape

Hook note: Use the 5.0 mm hook for the blanket. For the head, snout, arms and three corner legs, use the 5.0 mm hook only if the stitches are tight enough that fiberfill cannot show through. If gaps appear, use the next smaller hook for the stuffed pieces without changing the stitch counts.

I believe the best hedgehog lovey colors are not flat brown and white. A little oatmeal in the face and a slightly deeper brown on the back gives the animal shape more definition, especially when it is photographed or displayed in a woodland nursery.

Simple Crochet Stitches Used in This Hedgehog Lovey

This pattern uses basic crochet stitches, but the piece looks more detailed because the head and back are shaped separately. That is helpful if you are not ready for a complicated amigurumi pattern but still want the finished hedgehog to look planned.

• ch means chain
• sl st means slip stitch
• sc means single crochet
• hdc means half double crochet
• dc means double crochet
• inc means work 2 stitches into the same stitch
• dec means single crochet 2 stitches together
• sc2tog means single crochet 2 stitches together; it is the same decrease as dec
• st means stitch
• FO means fasten off

Use a stitch marker at the start of each round. This matters most on the head because one missed increase can make the snout sit crooked, and that little detail shows after assembly.

For every piece that begins with a magic ring, pull the starting ring tightly closed. Before trimming the starting tail, weave it through the wrong side of the first round in one direction, then reverse direction and weave through several more stitches. Check the center again after stuffing to make sure it cannot loosen or expose fiberfill.

Unless a section says otherwise, work the head, snout, ears, arms and three corner legs in continuous rounds without joining or turning. Move the stitch marker to the first stitch of each new round.

Crochet Hedgehog Lovey Blanket Body With Neat Corners

The blanket body should be easy for small hands to hold without turning into a full-size baby blanket. For this pattern, the finished 16 to 18 inch measurement is taken diagonally from one blanket corner to the opposite corner, not along one straight side.

The beginning ch 3 counts as the first dc of each blanket round. The ch 1 side spaces and ch 2 corner spaces do not count as stitches. The ch 1 at the beginning of each border round does not count as a stitch.

With oatmeal or ivory yarn, ch 4 and join with a sl st to form a ring.

1. Round 1: Ch 3, work 2 dc into the ring, ch 2. Work 3 dc into the ring, ch 2. Repeat two more times. Join to the top of the beginning ch 3. 12 dc and four ch 2 corner spaces.
2. Round 2: Sl st in each of the next 2 dc and into the next ch 2 corner space. Ch 3, work 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same corner, then ch 1. In the next corner, work 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc, then ch 1. Repeat in the remaining 2 corners. Join to the top of the beginning ch 3. 24 dc, four ch 2 corner spaces and four ch 1 side spaces.
3. Round 3: Sl st in each of the next 2 dc and into the next ch 2 corner space. Ch 3, work 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in the same corner. Continue around, working 3 dc in each ch 1 side space and 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in each remaining corner. Ch 1 between adjacent 3-dc clusters along every side. Join to the top of the beginning ch 3. 36 dc, four ch 2 corner spaces and eight ch 1 side spaces.
4. Round 4: Repeat the Round 3 placement, working 3 dc in every ch 1 side space, 3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc in every corner, and ch 1 between adjacent clusters along the sides. 48 dc, four ch 2 corner spaces and twelve ch 1 side spaces.
5. Round 5: Repeat the same placement. 60 dc, four ch 2 corner spaces and sixteen ch 1 side spaces.
6. Round 6: Repeat the same placement. 72 dc, four ch 2 corner spaces and twenty ch 1 side spaces.
7. Round 7: Repeat the same placement. 84 dc, four ch 2 corner spaces and twenty-four ch 1 side spaces.
8. Round 8: Repeat the same placement. 96 dc, four ch 2 corner spaces and twenty-eight ch 1 side spaces.
9. Round 9: Repeat the same placement. 108 dc, four ch 2 corner spaces and thirty-two ch 1 side spaces. Join and FO the oatmeal or ivory yarn.
10. Border Round 1: With the right side facing, join brown yarn with a sl st in any ch 2 corner space. Ch 1. Work 3 sc in the same corner. Work 1 sc in every dc and 1 sc in every ch 1 side space. Work 3 sc in each remaining ch 2 corner space. Join to the first sc. 152 sc.
11. Border Round 2: Ch 1. Work 1 hdc in every sc, except work 3 hdc in the center sc of each 3-sc corner. Join to the first hdc. 160 hdc. FO.

After Border Round 2, lay the blanket flat without stretching it and measure diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner. The target measurement is about 16 to 18 inches. If the blanket ripples or pulls inward, confirm that Border Round 1 has 152 sc, Border Round 2 has 160 hdc, and every corner increase was placed exactly as written. Correct any missed or extra stitches before attaching the animal pieces. Do not add extra corner chains because that would change the stated stitch counts. Lightly block the blanket according to the yarn label, shape it into a square and allow it to dry completely without forcing it beyond the target measurement.

For more baby blanket ideas beyond loveys, visit free baby crochet patterns. That page is useful when you want a matching hat, blanket or small handmade gift to go with the hedgehog.

Crochet Hedgehog Head With a Rounded Stuffed Shape

The head is worked in continuous rounds. Keep the stitches snug so stuffing does not show through. A loose head can look fine at first, then lose shape after the first wash.

With tan or oatmeal yarn, make a magic ring.

1. Round 1: 6 sc in ring. 6 sts.
2. Round 2: Inc in each st around. 12 sts.
3. Round 3: Sc 1, inc. Repeat around. 18 sts.
4. Round 4: Sc 2, inc. Repeat around. 24 sts.
5. Round 5: Sc 3, inc. Repeat around. 30 sts.
6. Rounds 6 through 10: Sc around. 30 sts.
7. Round 11: Sc 3, dec. Repeat around. 24 sts.
8. Round 12: Sc 2, dec. Repeat around. 18 sts.
9. Begin stuffing the head firmly, but do not stretch the stitches.
10. Pause after Round 12 with 18 sts remaining. Secure the working loop on a locking stitch marker. Make and attach the snout, embroider the nose, mouth and eyes, and secure all facial yarn tails inside the open head before continuing.
11. Return to the head. Round 13: Sc 1, dec. Repeat around. 12 sts.
12. Finish stuffing and shape the head before the opening becomes smaller.
13. Round 14: Dec around. 6 sts.
14. FO, leaving a tail at least 24 inches long. Draw the tail through the remaining 6 sts and pull the opening closed. Keep this tail for attaching the head to the blanket.

The head should feel sturdy enough to hold its shape when gently squeezed. That does not mean hard. It means the seams will not collapse when the lovey is picked up by the animal head.

Crochet Hedgehog Snout That Gives the Face Character

The snout is small, but it changes the whole expression. Without it, the head can look like a bear or mouse, which is not what this page is here to make.

With tan yarn, make a magic ring.

1. Round 1: 6 sc in ring. 6 sts.
2. Round 2: Sc around. 6 sts.
3. Round 3: Sc 1, inc. Repeat around. 9 sts.
4. Round 4: Sc around. 9 sts.
5. FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Embroider the nose at the tip of the snout before stuffing it. With the same dark yarn, make one short vertical stitch below the nose and one shallow curved stitch on each side to form the mouth. Keep the mouth stitches short and secure all nose and mouth yarn ends on the inside of the snout. Add a tiny amount of stuffing. While the head is paused after Round 12 and the opening remains accessible, hold the head with the magic-ring end at the top and the open decrease end at the bottom. Sew the open edge of the snout to the lower front of the head, centered between head rounds 8 and 11. Secure the sewing tail inside the head. Mark two matching eye positions above the snout, embroider the eyes with short satin stitches, and secure those yarn ends inside the head. Return to the head instructions and complete Rounds 13 and 14.

For current baby product safety guidance, I like checking the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission safe sleep information because a handmade lovey should be treated as a supervised comfort item, not loose bedding for an infant sleep space.

Crochet Hedgehog Ears With a Tidy Woodland Look

The ears should be small and low enough to read as hedgehog, not bunny. If the ears are too tall, the whole animal changes species without meaning to.

Make 2 ears.

With tan yarn, make a magic ring.

1. Round 1: 6 sc in ring. 6 sts.
2. Round 2: Sc 1, inc. Repeat around. 9 sts.
3. Round 3: Sc around. 9 sts.
4. FO, leaving a long sewing tail. Do not work a separate closing row.

Flatten each ear without stuffing it. Sew through both layers of the open edge as you attach the ear to the head around rounds 5 through 7. Catch the entire open edge in the seam so no opening remains. Angle the ears slightly outward. If they sit straight up, the face may look startled instead of tucked and woodland-like.

Crochet Hedgehog Arms for the Sides of the Lovey

Make 2 matching arms. Work in continuous rounds and use a stitch marker.

With tan, oatmeal or ivory yarn, make a magic ring.

1. Round 1: 6 sc in the ring. 6 sts.
2. Round 2: Inc in each st around. 12 sts.
3. Rounds 3 through 9: Sc around. 12 sts.
4. Round 10: Sc in each of the next 4 sts, dec. Repeat once more. 10 sts.
5. Rounds 11 through 13: Sc around. 10 sts.
6. FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Lightly stuff the rounded end and middle of each arm. Leave the final 2 rounds unstuffed so the shoulder can lie flat. Flatten the open 10-stitch edge into 5 matching pairs. Do not sew the opening closed separately because the attachment seam will close both layers as the arm is sewn to the head.

Small Crochet Hedgehog Legs for a Finished Lovey

Legs are optional on some loveys, but I like them here because they help the hedgehog head look anchored to the blanket. They also give little fingers another small rounded place to grasp during supervised use.

Make 3 small rounded corner legs. The fourth blanket corner stays clear because that is where the hedgehog head is attached.

With tan yarn, make a magic ring.

1. Round 1: 6 sc in the ring. 6 sts.
2. Round 2: Inc in each st around. 12 sts.
3. Round 3: Sc around. 12 sts.
4. Add a small amount of stuffing, keeping the piece softly rounded rather than firm.
5. Round 4: Dec around. 6 sts.
6. FO, leaving a long tail. Do not draw the remaining 6 stitches closed.

Keep the open Round 4 edge facing the blanket. Sew the entire six-stitch opening securely around each visible blanket corner, passing through both the leg edge and several blanket stitches so the stuffing cannot escape. Leave the upper blanket corner clear for the hedgehog head.

Crochet Hedgehog Back Cap That Creates Realistic Spines

The textured back cap gives this crochet hedgehog lovey its unmistakable woodland appearance. Instead of attaching narrow strips, this version uses one separate crocheted back piece that wraps from the forehead over the crown and down the back of the head. The stitch texture creates the look of hedgehog spines without loose fringe, buttons or plastic parts.

Bobble stitch, abbreviated bo: Yarn over, insert the hook into the indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Repeat that partial double crochet 2 more times in the same stitch. Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops on the hook. Each bobble counts as 1 stitch. Work the bobbles on wrong-side rows so they push toward the right side of the cap.

With brown yarn, ch 18. Row 1 is a right-side row. The ch 1 turning chains do not count as stitches.

1. Row 1, right side: Sc in the second chain from the hook and across. 17 sts. Ch 1, turn.
2. Row 2, wrong side: Sc in the first st. *Bo in the next st, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 8 times total. 17 sts. Ch 1, turn.
3. Row 3: Sc across. 17 sts. Ch 1, turn.
4. Row 4: Repeat Row 2. 17 sts. Ch 1, turn.
5. Row 5: Sc across. 17 sts. Ch 1, turn.
6. Row 6: Repeat Row 2. 17 sts. Ch 1, turn.
7. Row 7: Sc across. 17 sts. Ch 1, turn.
8. Row 8: Repeat Row 2. 17 sts. Ch 1, turn.
9. Row 9: Sc2tog, sc in each of the next 13 sts, sc2tog. 15 sts. Ch 1, turn.
10. Row 10: Sc in the first st. *Bo in the next st, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 7 times total. 15 sts. Ch 1, turn.
11. Row 11: Sc across. 15 sts. Ch 1, turn.
12. Row 12: Sc2tog, sc in each of the next 11 sts, sc2tog. 13 sts. Ch 1, turn.
13. Row 13: Sc across. 13 sts. Ch 1, turn.
14. Row 14: Sc in the first st. *Bo in the next st, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 6 times total. 13 sts. Ch 1, turn.
15. Row 15: Sc2tog, sc in each of the next 9 sts, sc2tog. 11 sts. Ch 1, turn.
16. Row 16: Sc in the first st. *Bo in the next st, sc in the next st. Repeat from * 5 times total. 11 sts. Ch 1, turn.
17. Row 17: Sc across. 11 sts. Ch 1, turn.
18. Row 18: Sc2tog, sc in each of the next 7 sts, sc2tog. 9 sts.

Turn so the right side faces you. Ch 1. Work 1 sc in each of the 9 stitches across the final edge, 1 sc in the end of each of the 18 rows down the first side, 1 sc in each of the 17 unused foundation-chain loops across the wide edge, and 1 sc in the end of each of the 18 rows up the second side. Join with a sl st to the first sc. 62 sc total. Do not add extra corner stitches because the adjoining edge stitches already provide 2 stitches around each corner. FO, leaving a long sewing tail.

Before sewing, pin the cap to the completed head without stretching it. Place the wide 17-stitch foundation edge across the forehead between the ears. The narrow 9-stitch final edge should point down the back of the head. The cap should cover the crown and back while leaving the face, snout and ear fronts visible.

Block the cap only according to the yarn manufacturer's care instructions. Do not press the cap or apply direct heat or steam to acrylic yarn. Sew completely around the cap with small whip stitches close to the outer edge. Keep the raised bobbles on the visible right side and check that the cap lies smoothly without gathering the head.

If you are building out a woodland collection, this hedgehog pairs naturally with my crochet fox lovey pattern or my crochet bunny lovey pattern. Keeping the blanket shape consistent while changing each animal's head and adding texture to the back of the hedgehog creates a coordinated handmade gift set that still gives every design its own personality.

Crochet Hedgehog Lovey Assembly That Holds Up

Assembly is where a handmade lovey either looks finished or homemade in the wrong way. Take your time with placement before sewing. Pinning pieces first can save a lot of unpicking.

1. Lay the blanket flat with the chosen right side facing up and one corner pointing upward like a diamond.
2. Confirm that the snout, embroidered nose, mouth and eyes are complete, all facial yarn tails are secured inside the head, and the head has been stuffed and closed.
3. Flatten and sew the ears to the upper sides of the head, catching both layers of each open ear edge in the seam.
4. Pin the brown back cap to the head with its wide foundation edge across the forehead between the ears and its narrow final edge pointing down the back. Sew completely around the cap without stretching it.
5. Place one arm on each lower side of the head around head rounds 10 through 12. Match their height and angle before sewing. Use each long arm tail to sew through both layers of the flattened 10-stitch shoulder edge and through several head stitches, completely enclosing the arm opening.
6. Attach one rounded corner leg to each of the three free blanket corners. Keep each six-stitch opening against the blanket and enclose the entire opening in the attachment seam.
7. Place the closed decrease-round end of the head over the upper blanket corner. Turn the face toward the chosen front of the blanket.
8. Using the long head tail, sew in a small circle around the lower head, passing through head stitches around rounds 11 through 13 and through several blanket stitches. Do not attach the head only through the 6 closing stitches.
9. Make a second pass around the same head attachment area so the head cannot pivot or pull away from the blanket corner.
10. From the back, add several small hidden stitches from each arm shoulder into the adjacent upper blanket edge. These stitches should keep the arms from twisting without pulling them flat against the blanket.
11. Weave in and bury every remaining yarn end securely.
12. Gently tug the head, cap, snout, ears, both arms and all three corner legs. Check that no seam opens and no stuffing is visible.

I believe the best placement is at the upper corner, not the exact center of the blanket. That gives the finished lovey the same diamond shape shown in the example image and leaves the three rounded corner legs visible.

Crochet Hedgehog Lovey Measurements for the Finished Piece

Finished measurements help keep this crochet hedgehog lovey pattern from drifting into toy size or blanket size. That matters because a lovey has a very specific job. It should be small enough to carry and large enough to cuddle.

• Blanket body: about 16 to 18 inches measured diagonally from one corner to the opposite corner after light blocking
• Head: about 3.5 to 4 inches tall
• Snout: about 1 inch long
• Ears: about 1 inch tall
• Arms: about 3 to 4 inches long each
• Three visible rounded corner legs: about 1 inch long each
• Full lovey from top of head to lower blanket point: about 19 to 21 inches

If your finished lovey is smaller, check your hook size before starting another one. If it is larger, make sure the head still looks balanced with the blanket and does not flop forward.

Easy Ways to Customize a Crochet Hedgehog Lovey

A hedgehog lovey has enough shape to be recognizable, but it still leaves room for small changes. That is useful when you want a handmade gift to coordinate with a nursery without copying someone else’s exact look.

• Use taupe and ivory for a modern woodland nursery.
• Use chestnut brown and oatmeal for a warmer fall baby gift.
• Make the blanket border in the same brown as the textured back cap.
• Add one extra blanket round for a larger toddler comfort blanket.
• Use a puff stitch border only if every stitch is tight and secure.
• Skip long fringe, loose loops and button details for babies.

For another woodland animal with a different face shape and blanket personality, the crochet bear lovey pattern is a good next stop. It keeps the nursery direction similar while giving the maker a simpler head shape than the hedgehog.

Baby Safety Notes for a Crochet Hedgehog Lovey

Handmade does not automatically mean safe. The safer version is the one with stitched facial details, short secured yarn ends, washable materials and no loose add-ons.

• Embroider the eyes instead of using plastic eyes.
• Skip buttons, beads, bows, long ties and glued pieces.
• Sew every attachment through several rounds of stitches.
• Use yarn that can be washed and dried according to the label.
• Check seams again after washing.
• Give handmade loveys during supervised awake time for young babies.

Cribs should stay clear for infant sleep. A lovey can be a keepsake, stroller companion or supervised comfort item, but it should not be treated as safe loose bedding for a baby who is sleeping.

If you want another animal pattern with a nursery-friendly look, the crochet otter lovey pattern gives you a different shape and water-animal theme without competing with this hedgehog design.

Crochet Hedgehog Lovey Questions Parents Ask Before Starting