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| The photo above © Zehava Jacobs 2013 |
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Pine Cone Hedgehog. Photo © Aga Tutak
Pine Cone Hedgehog by Aga Tutak is a clever free knitting pattern that turns a real pine cone into an adorable little hedgehog.
Instead of knitting the entire animal, you knit a tiny head and combine it with a pine cone that forms the hedgehog's wonderfully realistic spiny body. Better still, the knitted part uses only about 11–16 yards (10–15 m) of Aran-weight yarn, making this a fantastic scrap-yarn project.
The most charming feature of this project is also the simplest: the pine cone becomes the hedgehog's spiny body.
You only need to knit the small head section that fits onto one end of the cone. Once assembled, the overlapping scales of the pine cone look surprisingly similar to a hedgehog's natural spines.
It is a lovely example of combining knitting with natural materials to create a small seasonal decoration.
Pine Cone Hedgehog requires only about 10–15 metres (11–16 yards) of yarn.
That makes it an excellent project for using a small amount of Aran yarn left over from a larger sweater, hat, scarf or blanket.
You certainly don't need to buy a full skein specifically for one hedgehog if you already have a suitable scrap in your yarn stash.
In addition to a small amount of yarn, the original pattern calls for:
Most of these supplies are things knitters and crafters may already have at home, which helps make this a wonderfully economical little project.
The current Ravelry listing suggests Novita 7 Veljestä, an Aran-weight wool-blend yarn.
Because such a tiny quantity is required, however, this pattern is especially suitable for experimenting with leftover yarn.
Choose a color that works naturally with your pine cone. Warm browns, beige, gray and other earthy shades can create a traditional woodland look, while a brighter yarn can make a more whimsical hedgehog.
Since the pine cone forms most of the finished animal, its shape has a big effect on the final appearance.
Look for a dry cone with an attractive, fairly even shape and scales that are nicely opened.
The knitted head needs to fit naturally against one end, so it can be useful to choose your pine cone before finishing the project rather than treating all cones as identical.
The knitted portion of the Pine Cone Hedgehog is worked in the round.
Aga Tutak specifies four double-pointed needles in size 2.5 mm.
This method allows the small head to be shaped as a three-dimensional piece rather than knitting two flat pieces and sewing them together.
Because the circumference is tiny, this project is a useful opportunity to practice knitting small objects on double-pointed needles.
Keep the stitches distributed comfortably between your needles and pay extra attention to the joins between needles so that loose ladders do not develop.
The small size also means you can practice the technique without committing to a much larger project such as socks or sleeves.
The original materials list includes black cotton thread for embroidering the eyes and nose.
These tiny facial details are what transform the knitted shape and pine cone into a recognizable little hedgehog.
Because the features are embroidered rather than relying on plastic eyes, you can control their placement and expression while finishing your project.
A small amount of stuffing gives the knitted section its shape before it is attached to the pine cone.
The materials list specifies hot glue for assembly. Take care when working with hot glue and allow the attachment to cool completely before handling the finished decoration.
This is a mixed-media decorative craft, so the finishing process is a little different from assembling a traditional fully knitted toy.
The finished Pine Cone Hedgehog is approximately 11.5 cm (about 4.5 inches) long.
Since a real pine cone forms the body, the exact finished dimensions and proportions can naturally vary depending on the cone you use.
With only a few yards of knitting required, this is a fun project when you want to make something small between larger projects.
It can also be a charming addition to an autumn woodland display, nature-inspired table decoration or handmade seasonal arrangement.
Make several with differently shaped pine cones and yarn colors and each little hedgehog can develop its own personality.
Useful techniques and crafting skills for this project include:
The pattern itself is classified as Beginner on its current LoveCrafts listing.
The main consideration for a newer knitter is that the project is worked in the round on small double-pointed needles.
If you are already comfortable with DPNs, the tiny amount of knitting makes this a very manageable little project.
One of the best reasons to save small yarn leftovers is that patterns like this require almost no yardage.
Even a scrap that seems too small for a hat, dishcloth or pair of booties may contain enough yarn for a Pine Cone Hedgehog.
At only 11–16 yards, it is one of the smallest stash-busting knitting projects featured on Amazing Knitting.
The combination of wool and a natural pine cone gives this little hedgehog a rustic woodland character that would be difficult to create with yarn alone.
It is particularly well suited to autumn and woodland-themed decor, but the simple design can be displayed at any time of year.
Because every pine cone is different, no two finished hedgehogs need to look exactly alike.
The designer specifically warns to keep the finished Pine Cone Hedgehog away from fire.
It also contains a real pine cone, glue and small decorative elements, so it is best treated as a decorative craft rather than a washable soft toy.
This project manages to turn just a few yards of yarn and an ordinary pine cone into something genuinely charming.
It is quick, inexpensive and unusual, and it gives you a practical use for those tiny Aran-weight yarn scraps that are too good to throw away.
The natural pine-cone body also means much less knitting than a traditional stuffed hedgehog while still producing a recognizable little woodland animal.
The complete Pine Cone Hedgehog by Aga Tutak is currently available as a free downloadable knitting pattern from the designer's Ravelry store in English and Polish.
Get the Free Pine Cone Hedgehog Knitting Pattern →
Pattern availability was checked when this article was updated. Availability and pattern details on external websites may change over time.
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| Photos above © purlsoho |
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| The photo above © purlsoho |
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| the photo above © G-knits |
Thorpe Earflap Hat. Photo © Kirsten Kapur
Thorpe by Kirsten Kapur is a classic top-down earflap hat knitting pattern designed for children, teens and adults. Worked in cozy bulky-weight yarn, it combines practical winter warmth with plenty of opportunities for color and customization.
Originally published in 2007, Thorpe later received a major update from the designer. The revised pattern now includes five sizes from XS to XL, improved starting instructions, additional colorwork options and video support.
Availability update: Thorpe was previously distributed as a free pattern, which is why this older Amazing Knitting page originally described it as free. The updated edition is now a paid pattern.
The updated Thorpe pattern offers five finished hat circumferences:
Together, these sizes are designed to accommodate actual head circumferences of approximately 17–26.5 inches (43–67 cm).
This broad range makes Thorpe suitable for children, teens and adults rather than limiting the design to one age group.
Thorpe is designed to be worn with approximately 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm) of negative ease.
In other words, the finished hat should be smaller than the wearer's actual head circumference so that the knitted fabric stretches gently for a secure fit.
Measure around the widest part of the head and choose a finished circumference approximately 2–3 inches smaller.
Thorpe is worked from the top down.
The crown begins first, and the hat expands as you work toward the brim. The earflaps are then incorporated into the lower portion of the design.
Top-down construction is especially useful for a hat because it allows you to see the shape developing as you knit.
The main body of Thorpe is knitted in the round, creating a one-piece hat without a traditional back seam.
If you are new to circular knitting, this project can be a useful way to practice working relatively small circumferences while making a practical winter accessory.
Kirsten Kapur originally published Thorpe in 2007. More than a decade later, she revisited the design and brought the instructions in line with her newer pattern-writing style.
One important change was the beginning of the hat. The designer revised this section to make it easier to work and also created a video tutorial demonstrating the updated start.
The sizing was expanded as well, giving today's pattern a much wider fit range than the earliest version.
Thorpe does not have to be knitted in multiple colors.
A solid version allows the classic earflap shape to take center stage and can be an excellent choice for a beautiful hand-dyed bulky yarn.
If you enjoy colorwork, however, the pattern provides several ways to add stranded motifs.
The updated pattern retains the original solid and all-over colorwork versions and adds two additional options featuring bands of colorwork.
This gives you four broad approaches to the same basic hat:
Changing the yarn colors can make each version look dramatically different.
The pattern calls for bulky-weight yarn, with Malabrigo Chunky listed as the suggested yarn.
The original yarn is 100% merino wool and contains approximately 104 yards per 100 grams.
Bulky yarn helps create a warm fabric while also allowing the hat to progress relatively quickly compared with a fingering-weight winter accessory.
The documented requirement ranges from approximately 90–200 yards (82–183 m).
The exact amount depends on the size and version you choose, particularly if you add colorwork, edging or braided ties.
When substituting yarn, compare yardage and gauge rather than relying only on the number of skeins.
A warm bulky-weight wool or wool blend is a natural choice for an earflap hat designed for cold weather.
For colorwork versions, choose yarns with similar thickness and fiber behavior so that the stranded sections remain even.
Good contrast between colors will also make the motifs easier to see.
The pattern specifies US 9 (5.5 mm) needles.
The documented blocked stockinette gauge is:
15 stitches × 25 rows = 4 inches (10 cm)
Gauge is important for a fitted hat because even a relatively small difference can noticeably change the finished circumference.
Swatch with your chosen yarn and adjust needle size when necessary.
Thorpe includes an optional crochet edging around the lower edge and earflaps.
A 4.5 mm crochet hook is listed for this finishing option.
Using a contrasting color for the edging is an easy way to add another detail without committing to full stranded colorwork.
The updated pattern also provides an alternative for knitters who do not want to crochet the edge.
Instructions are included for a contrasting garter-stitch edging finished with an Icelandic Bind-Off.
This creates another way to personalize the lower edge while keeping the finishing entirely within knitting techniques.
The revised Thorpe pattern uses the Icelandic Bind-Off for the optional garter-stitch edging.
Kirsten Kapur provides a video tutorial for this technique, making it easier to learn if you have never used this bind-off before.
Braids can be added below the earflaps to give Thorpe its classic winter hat appearance.
They are also another opportunity to combine the colors used elsewhere in the hat.
A solid hat with contrasting braids can look just as distinctive as a full colorwork version.
Depending on the version you choose, useful skills include:
The solid version is considerably more approachable than the all-over-colorwork version.
A knitter already comfortable working in the round can use the solid hat to become familiar with top-down construction and earflap shaping.
The colorwork options provide a natural next step if you want to add another skill to the project.
If Thorpe is your first earflap hat, consider beginning with one color.
This lets you concentrate on the unusual top-down construction, shaping and fit without simultaneously managing multiple strands of yarn.
Once you understand the construction, a second Thorpe can be a great opportunity to try one of the stranded versions.
The beginning of Thorpe is unusual enough that Kirsten Kapur created a dedicated video tutorial when she updated the pattern.
Watching the technique before casting on can make the first portion much easier to visualize.
The updated pattern page also links to the designer's tutorial for the Icelandic Bind-Off used in one of the optional finishing methods.
Thorpe is designed as a unisex hat, and its five-size range makes it adaptable to many ages and head sizes.
The character of the finished hat can change dramatically with yarn choice: natural wool shades create a traditional outdoor look, while bright contrasting colors can emphasize the playful stranded motifs.
Thorpe has remained popular because it combines a practical cold-weather shape with a highly customizable design.
You can keep it simple with one color, add an all-over stranded motif, choose one of the newer colorwork bands, add contrasting edging, or finish the earflaps with braids.
The expanded XS–XL sizing also makes the updated version useful when you want to knit similar hats for different members of a family.
Thorpe by Kirsten Kapur is currently available as an updated paid digital knitting pattern.
View the Thorpe Earflap Hat Pattern →
Thorpe was originally published as a free pattern, but the designer's revised edition is currently paid. Pattern availability and pricing may change over time. Amazing Knitting does not reproduce or distribute the designer's copyrighted instructions.