Introduction: Hedgehog Pincushion Instruction
This pincushion is modeled after an extremely cute image of a baby hedgehog. Seeing nothing but a brown ball at first glance, you will see the creature all snuggled up when you turn it upside down.
Tools
curved needle
scissors
pins
pen
sewing machine (optional)
crochet needle
cutter & plier
Materials
PU foam 5x10x20 cm
packing rope
dark-brown stretchy fabric 20x20 cm
light-brown felt 10x10 cm
white fluffy fleece 10x20 cm
thread (brown, white and black)
black felt (tiny piece for the eyes)
metal wire
Tools
curved needle
scissors
pins
pen
sewing machine (optional)
crochet needle
cutter & plier
Materials
PU foam 5x10x20 cm
packing rope
dark-brown stretchy fabric 20x20 cm
light-brown felt 10x10 cm
white fluffy fleece 10x20 cm
thread (brown, white and black)
black felt (tiny piece for the eyes)
metal wire
Step 1: The Body
The body is shaped out of PU foam. I don't have a pattern for this, it is free-style sculpting. Aim for a size that fits the palm of your hand. To start I used a rectangular piece of foam.
1. Fold the foam bar and wrap it as a package with the rope.
2. Loosely stitch it together at the sides in the middle.
3. Cut small pieces from the foam, to give it an oval ball shape. Cut slightly more material away from the bottom, to leave space for the head. Chamfer the edges.
4. Hollow the body out, approximately 2 cm deep.
5. Cut a piece of dark-brown fabric and drape it over the ball. Slightly stretch the fabric and pin it around the edges. To get rid of overlapping textile, you can make a cut towards the middle and cut away the abundant material. Close the stitch.
6. Turn the body upside down, trim the fabric. Leave 1 cm to overlap the edge.
7. Stitch the fabric to the foam, well inside the belly. The curved needle will prove it's power here!
8. Cut an oval piece of white fleece, matching the curved shape of the inside. Pad it.
9. Stitch it to the dark-brown fabric, all around the edge. Make sure you don't see the thread.
TIP: the fluffier the fleece the better. In best case, you will see a clear difference between the back-side and the right-side of the fabric. Use the fluffiest side up for the belly, and use the other side for the head. Like this the head will stand out nicely, but still be perceived as one body.
1. Fold the foam bar and wrap it as a package with the rope.
2. Loosely stitch it together at the sides in the middle.
3. Cut small pieces from the foam, to give it an oval ball shape. Cut slightly more material away from the bottom, to leave space for the head. Chamfer the edges.
4. Hollow the body out, approximately 2 cm deep.
5. Cut a piece of dark-brown fabric and drape it over the ball. Slightly stretch the fabric and pin it around the edges. To get rid of overlapping textile, you can make a cut towards the middle and cut away the abundant material. Close the stitch.
6. Turn the body upside down, trim the fabric. Leave 1 cm to overlap the edge.
7. Stitch the fabric to the foam, well inside the belly. The curved needle will prove it's power here!
8. Cut an oval piece of white fleece, matching the curved shape of the inside. Pad it.
9. Stitch it to the dark-brown fabric, all around the edge. Make sure you don't see the thread.
TIP: the fluffier the fleece the better. In best case, you will see a clear difference between the back-side and the right-side of the fabric. Use the fluffiest side up for the belly, and use the other side for the head. Like this the head will stand out nicely, but still be perceived as one body.
Step 2: The Face
The face can be modeled fully, before you attach it to the body.
1. Cut a small piece of PU foam to shape the head.
2. Cut a piece of white fleece to cover the foam. Pin it gently and stitch onto the foam.
3. Cut two ears from the felt, see photo for the shape. Fold them and stitch them to close the slit.
4. Position the ears on both sides of the face. Pin and stitch them from the backside. Try to avoid to pierce through the ears completely! Rather push your needle through the surface of the felt to connect it to the head.
5. Take a tiny left-over piece of foam and wrap it in dark-brown fabric. Tie it up to shape a little nose. Stitch together and trim it close to the stitch.
6. Position the nose and stitch it to the face. Try to make as invisible stitches as possible.
7. Cut two even tinier eyes out of black felt. The position on the face totally determines it's expression. Play with it and find out what works. If you found the right position, pierce a pin through the middle and stitch on four sides. Pull the thread with some force, so the eyes will sink in the face.
1. Cut a small piece of PU foam to shape the head.
2. Cut a piece of white fleece to cover the foam. Pin it gently and stitch onto the foam.
3. Cut two ears from the felt, see photo for the shape. Fold them and stitch them to close the slit.
4. Position the ears on both sides of the face. Pin and stitch them from the backside. Try to avoid to pierce through the ears completely! Rather push your needle through the surface of the felt to connect it to the head.
5. Take a tiny left-over piece of foam and wrap it in dark-brown fabric. Tie it up to shape a little nose. Stitch together and trim it close to the stitch.
6. Position the nose and stitch it to the face. Try to make as invisible stitches as possible.
7. Cut two even tinier eyes out of black felt. The position on the face totally determines it's expression. Play with it and find out what works. If you found the right position, pierce a pin through the middle and stitch on four sides. Pull the thread with some force, so the eyes will sink in the face.
Step 3: The Feet
The feet reach up to the nose, to get the cosy snuggly effect. They are reinforced with metal wire, to shape them.
1. Take a piece of light-brown felt (same as you used for the ears) and fold it. Draw two feet, see photo.
2. Sew the feet, leave the heels open. Make sure you have a strong stitch at the heels, since you will apply some force when turning them inside-out.
3. Cut the feet out (2 mm seam) and turn them inside out. It helps to pull them over the backend of a crochet needle.
4. Stitch lines to emphasize toes.
5. Cut two pieces of metal wire. Curl the ends with the plier.
6. Slide them inside the feet, bend as you see fit.
1. Take a piece of light-brown felt (same as you used for the ears) and fold it. Draw two feet, see photo.
2. Sew the feet, leave the heels open. Make sure you have a strong stitch at the heels, since you will apply some force when turning them inside-out.
3. Cut the feet out (2 mm seam) and turn them inside out. It helps to pull them over the backend of a crochet needle.
4. Stitch lines to emphasize toes.
5. Cut two pieces of metal wire. Curl the ends with the plier.
6. Slide them inside the feet, bend as you see fit.
Step 4: Assembly
Finally, attach the head and feet to the body to complete your adorable creature.
1. Position the head and the feet inside the body. Arrange to fit.
2. Pin head and feet gently onto the body.
3. Turn it upside down on the table, to see if it doesn't wobble. If it does, your head should sink deeper inside the belly.
4. Stitch everything and you're done!
1. Position the head and the feet inside the body. Arrange to fit.
2. Pin head and feet gently onto the body.
3. Turn it upside down on the table, to see if it doesn't wobble. If it does, your head should sink deeper inside the belly.
4. Stitch everything and you're done!
