New pattern: Hedgehog and Hoglets baby blanket

Autumn is very definitely on its way, the mornings are starting to feel crisp (Tuesday was an exception, with the hottest weather of the year so far, but today it's cooled down again), the leaves are starting to turn brown round the edges and the nights are drawing in. My latest pattern has a very autumnal feel: a little hedgehog family on a beige background.

Hedgehog and Hoglets. Image copyright Practical Publishing

Hedgehog and Hoglets is knitted from the bottom up, with the hedgehogs knitted in to a stocking stitch background using the intarsia technique, and a moss stitch border knitted as you go. The blanket is knitted in aran weight yarn, and with the two large stocking stitch sections shouldn't take too long to knit.

Not only would the blanket be the perfect gift for an autumn baby, it would also work in a woodland themed nursery, and make a nice change from the ubiquitous owl!

The blanket is knitted in King Cole Fashion Aran, a wool/acrylic blend. As with all my blankets, you don't have to use the recommended yarn, and can use any wool, wool/acrylic, acrylic yarn that knits to the correct tension. Remember though that babies have delicate skin, so you'll want to go for something soft; I used a tweedy yarn to add extra texture to the hedgehogs prickles.

Hedgehogs and Hoglets appears in Issue 65 of Knit Now magazine, which is available in the UK now, or can be purchased digitally via the More Mags website. The issue also features another of my designs, which I will tell you about tomorrow (and there'll be a chance to win a copy of the magazine and a few other goodies, so you'll definitely want to come back for that!).