Harvest Moon Hedgehog Amigurumi Free Pattern – A Knitted Woodland Pumpkin Companion

As the leaves begin to turn and the air gets crisp, there's nothing quite like cozying up with a warm cup of tea and a delightful knitting project. Today, I am absolutely thrilled to share a pattern that perfectly captures the magic of autumn: the Harvest Moon Hedgehog Amigurumi. This adorable knitted hedgehog is nestled snugly inside a tiny pumpkin, making it the perfect seasonal decor piece for your mantlepiece or a heartfelt handmade gift for the nature lover in your life.

This project is a joy to create, combining simple knit-in-the-round techniques with charming details like a leaf-shaped ear and a curly tail. Even if you're a beginner knitter looking to dip your toes into the world of amigurumi, this pattern is wonderfully approachable. The result is a soft, textured, and utterly charming woodland companion that measures about 4 inches tall. Let's gather our supplies and get started on this fall favorite!

Materials Needed

Before we cast on, let's make sure you have everything you need. This project uses simple, readily available materials:

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in the following colors:
  • Rust Orange (for the pumpkin)
  • Warm Brown (for the hedgehog body, ears, and tail)
  • Cream (for the hedgehog face)
  • Green (for the leaf and stem)
• Needles: US 4 (3.5 mm) double-pointed needles or a circular needle for the magic loop method.
• Notions: Stitch markers, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and assembly.
• Stuffing: Polyester fiberfill stuffing for a soft, squishy finish.
• Embroidery Floss: A small amount of black embroidery floss for the eyes and nose.

Note on Gauge: The gauge is 5 stitches and 7 rows = 1 inch in stockinette stitch. While gauge isn't critical for amigurumi, maintaining consistent tension throughout will help ensure your pieces come out looking neat and proportional.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Let's break this down into manageable pieces. We'll start with the pumpkin, then move to the hedgehog, and finally assemble our adorable duo. Here are the abbreviations we'll use:

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• K2tog: Knit two together (decrease)
• M1: Make one (increase by lifting the bar between stitches and knitting through the back loop)
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• Rnd: Round
• BO: Bind off

Pumpkin Body (Make 1 in Rust Orange)

We'll begin with the pumpkin, which is worked in the round from the bottom up.

1. CO 6 sts, join in the round, and place a marker to mark the beginning of the round.
2. Rnd 1: M1 in every st (12 sts).
3. Rnd 2: *K1, M1* repeat around (18 sts).
4. Rnd 3: *K2, M1* repeat around (24 sts).
5. Rnd 4: *K3, M1* repeat around (30 sts).
6. Rnd 5: *K4, M1* repeat around (36 sts).
7. Rnds 6-12: K all sts (36 sts). This creates the straight sides of the pumpkin.
8. Rnd 13: *K4, K2tog* repeat around (30 sts).
9. Rnd 14: *K3, K2tog* repeat around (24 sts).
10. Rnd 15: *K2, K2tog* repeat around (18 sts).
11. Now, stuff the pumpkin firmly with fiberfill. Make sure it's nice and plump.
12. Rnd 16: *K1, K2tog* repeat around (12 sts).
13. Rnd 17: K2tog around (6 sts).
14. Cut the yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 6 sts, pull tight to close the hole, and weave in the end securely.

Pumpkin Ridges (Optional but Adds Texture)

To give your pumpkin those beautiful, defining ridges, we'll do a little shaping with a tapestry needle.

1. Thread a long strand of rust orange yarn onto a tapestry needle.
2. Insert the needle at the bottom center of the pumpkin and bring it out at the top center.
3. Pull the yarn gently to create an indentation, then secure it at the top and bottom.
4. Repeat this process at 6 evenly spaced points around the pumpkin to create the classic segmented look.

Hedgehog Body (Make 1 in Warm Brown)

Now for our spiky little friend! The hedgehog body is also worked in the round.

1. CO 6 sts, join in the round, and place a marker.
2. Rnd 1: M1 in every st (12 sts).
3. Rnd 2: *K1, M1* repeat around (18 sts).
4. Rnd 3: *K2, M1* repeat around (24 sts).
5. Rnd 4: *K3, M1* repeat around (30 sts).
6. Rnds 5-8: K all sts (30 sts).
7. Rnd 9: *K3, K2tog* repeat around (24 sts).
8. Rnd 10: *K2, K2tog* repeat around (18 sts).
9. Stuff the body firmly with fiberfill.
10. Rnd 11: *K1, K2tog* repeat around (12 sts).
11. Rnd 12: K2tog around (6 sts).
12. Cut the yarn, thread through the remaining sts, pull tight, and weave in the end.

Hedgehog Face (Make 1 in Cream)

This piece forms the cute, lighter-colored face of the hedgehog.

1. CO 6 sts, join in the round.
2. Rnd 1: M1 in every st (12 sts).
3. Rnd 2: K all sts (12 sts).
4. Rnd 3: *K1, M1* repeat around (18 sts).
5. Rnd 4: K all sts (18 sts).
6. Rnd 5: *K2, M1* repeat around (24 sts).
7. Rnds 6-7: K all sts (24 sts).
8. BO loosely. Leave a long tail for sewing.
9. To attach, sew the face onto the front of the hedgehog body, slightly overlapping the brown body. Stuff it lightly with a tiny bit of fiberfill before closing the seam to give it a soft, rounded shape.

Hedgehog Ears (Make 2 in Warm Brown)

These little ears are worked flat and then folded for a cute, dimensional effect.

1. CO 4 sts.
2. Row 1: K all sts.
3. Row 2: K1, M1, K2, M1, K1 (6 sts).
4. Row 3: K all sts.
5. Row 4: K2tog, K2, K2tog (4 sts).
6. BO. Fold each ear in half and sew the folded edge to the top of the hedgehog's head, positioning them symmetrically.

Hedgehog Tail (Make 1 in Warm Brown)

A tiny curly tail adds so much charm!

1. CO 3 sts.
2. Knit an I-cord for 2 inches. (If you're unfamiliar, an I-cord is simply knitting a small tube on double-pointed needles by sliding the stitches to the other end of the needle after each row.)
3. BO, curl the tail slightly with your fingers, and sew it to the back of the hedgehog body.

Leaf (Make 1 in Green)

This simple leaf shape is the perfect finishing touch for the pumpkin top.

1. CO 3 sts.
2. Row 1: K all sts.
3. Row 2: M1, K1, M1 (5 sts).
4. Row 3: K all sts.
5. Row 4: M1, K3, M1 (7 sts).
6. Row 5: K all sts.
7. Row 6: K2tog, K3, K2tog (5 sts).
8. Row 7: K all sts.
9. Row 8: K2tog, K1, K2tog (3 sts).
10. Row 9: K3tog. BO. Sew the leaf to the top of the pumpkin.

Stem (Make 1 in Green)

Finally, a little stem to complete the pumpkin look.

1. CO 4 sts.
2. Knit an I-cord for 1 inch.
3. BO and sew it to the top of the pumpkin, right next to the leaf.

Assembly and Finishing Touches

Now for the fun part—bringing it all together!

1. Place the Hedgehog: Gently place the hedgehog inside the pumpkin, with its cute cream face peeking out over the edge. Sew the hedgehog to the inside of the pumpkin at a few discreet points to keep it secure.
2. Embroider the Face: Using the black embroidery floss, embroider two small eyes and a tiny nose onto the cream face. A simple French knot or a few small straight stitches work perfectly.
3. Weave in Ends: Take your tapestry needle and carefully weave in any remaining loose ends to give your project a clean, professional finish.
4. Shape and Fluff: Gently pull the ridge threads on the pumpkin to enhance its shape. For the hedgehog, use a soft brush (like a clean toothbrush) to gently brush the brown body. This will fluff up the yarn and create that adorable, spiky hedgehog texture.

And there you have it—your very own Harvest Moon Hedgehog! This little guy is perfect for adding a touch of whimsy to your fall decor, and he makes a wonderfully unique gift. I hope you enjoyed knitting this pattern as much as I enjoyed sharing it. Happy knitting, and enjoy the cozy season!