Hedgehogs are a much rarer sight in our gardens than they used to be and I remember my dad getting my 11 year old self, and younger brother out of bed at midnight to see a visiting hedgehog in our garden. What a treat and such cherished memories! Whilst you may not see the real thing very often, at least you can have your own handmade hoglet to keep you company all year round. So, I present my needle felted version of our beloved hedgehog and how using a reverse felting needle creates fabulous spikey details.
Did You Know?
Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant so bread and milk is not good for them! Find out what they really love to eat on The Woodland Trust blog at the bottom of this post.
MAKE YOUR OWN NEEDLE FELTED HEDGEHOG
Skill level: Complete beginners and beyond
Make time: 1 hour
Time to settle down with creativity, a cuppa, maybe a slice of cake, and join me for a full tutorial teaching you new needle felting tips, tricks and techniques.
VIDEO TUTORIAL AND MATERIALS LIST
You will need:
- Grey wool top for body
- Brown carded batting for top layer
- Light brown wool top or carded for face
- Darker wool for nose
- Brown wool top for spikey halo
- Standard/medium felting needle – I use a 38 star
- Reverse felting needle for spikes – I use a 32 reverse
- Glass beads for eyes
- Felting mat
- Enthusiasm
SHOP NEEDLE FELTING KIT- MAKES THREE COLIN HEDGEHOGS
Available from: LINCOLNSHIRE FENN CRAFTS or ETSY
If you want to encourage hedgehogs in your own garden here are a few guidelines from James Martin, content editor of the WOODLAND TRUST
What do hedgehogs eat, and how to feed them?
FOOD FIT FOR A HEDGEHOG
Insects and other invertebrates are the hedgehog’s main natural food source. A typical diet includes:
- Beetles
- Earwigs
- Caterpillars
- Earthworms
- Millipedes
- Fly larvae
What to feed hedgehogs?
As opportunistic eaters, hedgehogs will readily consume food left out in your garden. The best foods to provide are:
- Meat-based cat or dog food
- Specially-made hedgehog food
- Cat biscuits
As well as providing food, you can put out a shallow dish of water to ensure any visiting hogs stay hydrated.
What not to feed hedgehogs
The following foods should be avoided when feeding hedgehogs:
- Bread and milk (hogs are lactose intolerant so milk can make them ill. Bread has little nutritional value)
- Mealworms (thought to cause health problems when eaten in large quantities)
Read the full blog at THE WOODLAND TRUST
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