Can you tell what it is yet?

I've been meaning to start on one of these for a long time now and then all of a sudden last week I was seized by a badgery moment! I still have to work out the ears and how to integrate a grey body but at least I have the head shaping done!

In other news, we had a great time at the special needs club. Toby settled very well and made a beeline for a big crate of duplo lego. I managed to get him to explore a little too and he coped ok with quite high noise levels. I feel fairly confident that he'll be ok there and the staff are great so I've booked him in from September to go regularly. It will be great as this will give H and I a few precious hours to spend with just Amy. Thanks for all of your good wishes - they obviously worked!

In hedgehoggy news things aren't so great although there is a happy ending! The babies came out again in the hot sun of saturday afternoon (obviously very hungry) and so I scooped them up and popped them in the cool garage with lots of mashed up food and water. After the children were in bed I checked on them with the plan of releasing them again but unfortunately while looking them over to check there were no fly eggs (maggots will eat a hedgehog alive!) I found that they were absolutely covered in ticks. The smallest one in particular had over 40 of them all around her eyes, ears and bottom. This amount of ticks would probably cause death in such a small hedgehog and certain would cause infection, anaemia and severe fatigue so I knew I couldn't cope with them and they needed help. Luckily Epping Forest Hedgehog rescue is only a 40 minute drive and they agreed to take them in. Amy and I set off very slowly in the car on Sunday morning and delivered the hoglets. They were immediately de-ticked, fed, housed and dosed up with antibiotics so hopefully they will all survive. They were 2 girls and a boy of 4-5 weeks old and we are looking forward to a phone call in 5 weeks or so to let us know that we can collect them and release them back into the garden - so I'll keep you posted! Having chatted to the experts there it seems unlikely that Herbert Hogwart would have been the parent (being him/herself only a late baby from last year) so he/she may still be around - there are certainly quite a few hedgehogs that visit our garden each night but it's hard to tell them apart. Maybe I should have knitted Herbert some socks or a scarf to help him stand out from the crowd?!

Comments

[April Pardoe]

I love the badger head - can't wait to see him all finished. Caitie's nickname is badger and I am always on the look out for badgery things!

Hope the hedgehogs are ok

April xx

[Gemma]

Oh the poor things, that must have been torture for them.

[erna]

what a cutie~!!!!

[michaela]

Loving the hedgehog news nearly as much as I'm loving the badger. He is so gorgeous!

[Nicole]

You are very dedicated to your hedgehogs and they are quite lucky to have found their way to your garden. :)
I just discovered your blog and I am in love with your knitted friends. I can't wait until you have some new ones to sell. My youngest daughter turns two in October and I think she would love a little Mary Beth! Thank you for sharing your talents!

[Dawn]

Glad you got them help in time, apart from mozzies ticks come quite high on my hate list!
Look forward to more lovely pics of them when they're returned to you

[KarenV]

The badger looks fabulous, so cute :)

Glad that the hedgehogs are being looked after, I hope they all survive.

[Marijke]

Hi,

love the badger-head.
Would it be an idea to continu the cute black striping into the body (and legs)?

Marijke

[Caroline B]

Oh my goodness, I think I've just fallen in love - can't wait to see the finished badger, his head is just gorgeous!
Are you sure the local hedgehogs aren't using you as a sitting service? So glad the babies will be ok.

[Ali]

A few little pompoms on their prickles ought to let you identify your own!! And Mr Brock is going to be a very handsome fellow indeed. I see him in a waistcoat (a la Rupert the Bear).

[carolyn]

I love the little badger but thought perhaps you were working on a hedgehog what with the recent garden news---so glad the little ones are in good care....If you're in need of any more sewing our little "Nettie" wants a fox friend.

[periwinkle]

Really looking forward to seeing your badger all done, there aren;t many of them out there. I'm glad he had a good time and you feel ok to leave him for a while :-) cute hedgehogs, heres hoping they;ll all be ok
lisa x

[Anina]

Is it a badger? I thought it may be a little skunk. Cute though, very cute.

[Kitty]

Oh wow - that badger head is wonderful! You'll be able to do a whole Wind in the Willows soon!

Good to hear that the hedgelets are somewhere that should make them well - sorry to hear that it's not with you and your family though.

Excellent news on Toby - I'm so pleased for you. x

[Dragonfly]

Fantastic badger in the making, I can't wait to see him finished.
I'm so glad Toby's experience was a good one, I'm sure he'll love it and it'll be lovely for you to spend some time with Amy.
I wish I had hedgehogs in the garden - I've seen one once, but not for years now.

[Lia]

Hello

Excuse-me, I´m so sorry about my English, but I need to say that I love your blog! I came here every day to say what you are doing! And now I´m making the mini Christmas Stocking pattern that you posted in 06/15/2007. Thank you very much !! And, again excuse-me for my so pour English !
Lia

[renny]

So sweet little guy :]

[Kristen]

I just had to tell you....I am an advanced beginner knitter/crocheter (at best), but whenever I browse your blog I feel like I want to quit my office job and just sit home and knit/crochet 24 hours a day! :o) your creations are LOVELY, every single one.

[French Knots]

So glad it went well with Toby.
Lovin' the badger, perfect shape, looking forward to seeing the finished Brock!

[michelle]

he is adorable !!!!

[Marimi]

beautiful

[Kym]

What a gorgeous badger! Although based on all your other critters how could he be any other way?

[Suse the slow knitta]

that is a wonderful badger.
I'm so pleased that the day was good for Toby, it can be nerve-wracking for the parent as sometimes a place is good, and sometimes not, and its hard to see what was good or bad and made the difference.
Good news for the hedgies, getting rid of the ticks will help them so much.
I feel like your blog is an extension of Springwatch!

[Danielle]

Oh the badger head is so cute!
And yay for Toby's great day at the special needs club :)
But sad news about the poor little hedgehogs :( Hope you'll get a good call in 5 weeks time! You're too funny about knitting Herbert a little scarf or something to tell him apart from the the others lol ;)

[Molly's Knitted Teddy Bears]

Your designs are always so cute--the badger looks great. I can't wait to see him finished.

Thanks for the hedgehog update--I've been thinking about them over the last couple of days. At least they will be well-taken care of. I hope they return to you strong and healthy.

[Jennifer]

Adorable badger! And as for the baby hedgehogs, way to go taking them to the rescue. I just had the same situation with baby bunnies... talk about being in over your head! And you get so attached! :-( We wish your hedgies well! :-)

[Stacey]

I wish I could give you a big hug for taking such good care of those hedgehog babies. I can't wait to hear the next update--I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for them!

[Dees]

Ohhhh now you've done it!I will probably be thinking of these for the rest of the week.....I LOVE BADGERS!I support a local shelter here in Holland and have visited them many times.O sigh..just when I thought your bunnies were hard to snatch up these are probably way our of reach to begin with!What a great job!xoxo

[frazzy dazzles]

Great to hear that Toby has found his groove at his special needs club. Its a wonderful thing to find somewhere that you are happy to leave him and where he is happy to be and explore the possibilities it offers you as a family. Respite is...as you of course know...essential. Your little badger is badger-licious! Use him in a give away and you might set an all time record for comments placed! He is soft, dignified and desirable...what more could a badger want to be? He is going to sprint out of your shop. Jen

[Zoe]

The badger head is wonderful. So glad that Toby enjoyed himself. Well done with the hedgehogs and love the ideda of socks for Herbert!

[Beth]

Ohhhh, the badger is already so cute I can't stand it!!! I've really loved your other toys and have wanted one, but not been fast enough, but I REALLY want the badger!!! I will have to start some finger exercises. Glad to hear that Toby did well and you will get a break. And I love the hedgehog stories and send good wishes they will be okay.

[Jane]

Your Badger is so cute looking forward to seeing him when he's finished. Glad Toby enjoyed his special club and that you can spend time with Amy. Those hedgehogs are so lucky you spotted them hope they all do well. Jane x

[carolyn]

You're becoming quite the veteran hedgehog foster mum aren't you?

[jaimee]

Such a sweet little badger! I love him!

[Deb]

I think the hedgehogs are so lucky to venture into your yard/gardens! But I do think you need to make a little hedgehog as one of your next creations! :) In honor of Herbert of course! But it does break my heart to think about the tiny hedgehog babies with all those nasty ticks! So glad you have a special needs club that Toby might enjoy!!!

[lina]

What a cute little fella and how sweet are you to take care of the little hoggies!

[Kim Bunney]

Cant wait to see the finished badger! Perhaps you should make a hedgehog next, with so many cute models available for inspiration!

[dirftwood shack]

What a cute badger head- I thought I saw some badgers in my garden in the night recently and got all excited only to realise my sleepy eyes had see the drain covers in the lawn and mistaken them for Brocks! What a wally! Well done for the hoggy rescue

[Jesse]

Ooh, I've so much to catch up on! The badger is exciting! Good to hear that things went well at the special needs club, and those ballet photos... ah! Brought back so many memories of dancing around at home in costume.

[charlie p]

Oh no. I think I might NEED a badger, s/he looks great :) Congratulations on your hedgehog rescue too!
I'm lad to hear that Toby seemed happy at the club, I'm sure he'll have a whale of a time there come September.

[littlejennywren]

I'm so pleased everything went well with Toby's club, that will be wonderful for all of you. I adore that badger, it actually looks quite real , I thought your knitting basket had been invaded by badgers as well as your garden being taken over by hedgehogs. Good on you for finding such great care for the hoggie babies.

[Maddy]

Oh Julie he looks lovely, another gorgeous addition to the Little Cotton Family!

[Rachael]

Oh I have images of hedgehogs running round your garden wearing colourcoded socks.

[Susan]

Oh great news all around. I hope the little hedgies just thrive and return home soon. I loved your posts about Herbert having no such animals around here. Although I always think of Mrs. Tiggywinkle.

And yay for Toby's club! Here's hoping he continues to enjoy it. Will be good for him and for the rest of you. And I know Amy will enjoy her special times with y'all.

Is badgerific a word? It should be! What an adorable baby. I so admire your ability to bring such wonderful ideas to life. This is the best yet!

[Lorraine]

Wow, you'd be better off being called Doris Day with everything you do. The toys, the cakes etc & an immaculate house into the bargain. How do you manage it all. Your creations are absolutely gorgeous...

Lorraine x

[Michelle W.]

I have never seen a hedgehog in person before. They are absolutely adorable creatures though. Its so nice that you can help them as you have.

Glad that Toby's club worked out. It will be great for him to explore a new place and people in a place that is understanding and safe.

I think your new creations will be a hit! You'll have to change your name to Little Lovely Cotton Creatures!!

[Christina]

Omigod, that is going to be so cute! Can't wait to see it finished!

[alison]

We have a soft spot for Hedgehogs having our own hibernating away in an old dog carrier. Glad yours are all being well looked after.

[dottycookie]

Happy Toby-ness, knitted badgers and hedgehog rescue - how much cuter could this post have been? I thought of you the other day when we found a hedgehog visiting our garden. I've long suspected we have one, but it was wonderful to see him/her!

[Joanne]

Methinks I see a little badger!