Why do hedgehogs feature so often in quiet books?

If you have an interest in quiet books, I'm sure you will have seen some of the many pages featuring hedgehogs.

In The Hoop With Lee sells this machine
embroidery design

I've been thinking about making a hedgehog page lately, but not because I like them. I don't!

I remember a post from a quiet book group on Facebook - Quiet Book hints, tips & ideas by one of the moderators, Cheri Chiles. She blogs over at Fabric and Memories and was wondering why hedgehogs always seem to get things stuck to them and if that was something that real hedgehogs got up to in their spare time. What is the point of doing that as a quiet book activity?! I totally hear you Cheri!! Hedgehogs in a quiet book - I'm just not a fan.

Ok... so why am I thinking of making a hedgehog page then? Good question. Someone I know keeps spoiling me and buying craft goodies online. And she adores hedgehogs. What better way to say thank you than create a quiet book featuring that somewhat-cute creature.

So what is the deal with hedgehogs and quiet books?

You Tube sensation Irina Sorokina of My Craft Quiet Books fame has the answer.  Both hedgehogs and quiet books abound in eastern Europe. Hedgehogs inhabit the forests and the fairy tales, and they are very popular with children. I'll leave a couple of folk tale examples below and then carry on with why they get to get stuff stuck to them.

Hungarian Folk Tales: The Hedgehog

Must Hedgehog Be Prickly? [1990]

Soviet cartoon with English subtitles

Irina also says that hedgehogs are predators and whilst they don't eat veggies, mushrooms or fruit, they do use them to repel insects. I found it a rather strange idea so I looked it up, and yes, it exists and is termed "self-anointing". The process often involves chewing things up with their saliva and coating themselves in the mix. It may also serve as a scent camouflage or type of chemical weapon! Ok, so maybe these pages are not so bad after all, but still, hedgehogs are just not part of my culture. I'd take a joey in a pouch over a bio-sludged hedgehog any day of the week.

If you think you might like to make your own hedgehog page, check out this helpful tutorial and free pattern from Irina below. Then you can self anoint the hedgehog to your heart's content.

My Craft - Quiet book tutorial:

"the hedgehog" page + template

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What do you think - do you love a good hedgehog quiet book page? Or are you with me?

My Sister's Fairy Tale Book

This book was made by my sister for a friend's child.  She has some great ideas.  I hope you like it!

Front Cover:

The letter "O" pattern came from here. Happily, my sister's sewing machine does letters, so "upon a time" was written with that.


First and Second Page Spread:

The castle pieces are removable and rearrange-able.  The castle wall is a pocket.  She made her own Disney castle pattern, which she has generously allowed me to make available for you to download. She used one side of a gold zip to represent Tinkerbell. If she could have found a Tinkerbell trinket to add to the zipper head, that would have been awesome. It had to be one sided so that it would sew down around a curve easily. The cloud and moon page is a pocket to store the castle pieces.

Image Source

I have it in mind to modify the castle pattern and make a St Basil's type Russian/Eastern Orthodox Church for a Churches of the World Quiet Book. The problem is I can't think of many other ideas for the book... Please post any ideas you come up with below!


Third Page:

The Frog Prince's jewels are velcro-ed on, an idea she got from a page made for my neice, which I'll share with you later. His tongue has elastic sewn on the back so it can be stretched.  Although this version has been altered a little, you can buy the original frog pattern here.


Fourth Page:

Rapunzel's hair can be plaited and you can practice tying a bow with the ribbon.


Fifth Page:

Wardrobe for dress up princesses! Three outfits for a sewn down doll on the next page.


Sixth Page:

I think the dress up princesses look terrific, and the lace down the sides gives a boring page a luxury touch.


As you can see from the photos, the book has been bound with album rings and grommets.


Hope you enjoyed it!

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What do you enjoy most about this book?