Rats are the stuff of nightmares to many people. Ours is a cuddly knitted farm rat and therefore not at all scary – more Beatrix Potter’s Samuel Whiskers than George Orwell’s 1984. Rats have a bad reputation and some fairly disgusting habits, but we kept rats for several years – Max, Mica, Micky, Audrey and Lulu – and they were delightful, particularly Audrey, who was very clever and affectionate and would chirp lovingly in your ear.
A quick knit, the rat is knitted in two halves and then sewn together.
Length: 11cm (4½in)
Height to top of head: 6cm (2½in)
• Pair of 2¾mm (US 2) knitting needles
• Double-pointed 2¾mm (US 2) knitting needles (for tail and for holding stitches)
• 20g (¾oz) of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Shale 402 (sh)
• 10g (¼oz) of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Shell 468 (sl)
• Tiny amount of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply in Black 404 (bl) for eyes and nose
• 2 tiny black beads for eyes and sewing needle and black thread for sewing on
• Black thread for whiskers
See here.
See for I-cord Technique.
With sh, cast on 12 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 4 rows st st.
Row 5: K10, inc, k1. (13 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K11, inc, k1. (14 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K12, inc, k1. (15 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: Inc, k12, inc, k1. (17 sts)
Tail and Feet
The rat has a long pink tail and feet, which help him to balance.
Row 13: K15, inc, k1. (18 sts)
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: K16, inc, k1. (19 sts)
Row 16: P19, cast on 9 sts. (28 sts)
Row 17: Knit.
Row 18: Purl.
Row 19: K2tog, k26. (27 sts)
Row 20: Purl.
Row 21: K2tog, k25. (26 sts)
Row 22: Purl.
Row 23: K2tog, k24. (25 sts)
Row 24: P2tog, p15, turn and work on these 16 sts only to shape back.
Row 25: K2tog, k12, k2tog. (14 sts)
Row 26: Purl.
Row 27: K2tog, k10, k2tog. (12 sts)
Row 28: Purl.
Cast (bind) off 12 sts.
Rejoin yarn to rem 8 sts to shape head.
Row 24: P2tog, p4, p2tog. (6 sts)
Row 25: K2tog, k4. (5 sts)
Cast (bind) off.
With sh, cast on 12 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 4 rows st st.
Row 5: K1, inc, k10. (13 sts)
Row 6: Purl.
Row 7: K1, inc, k11. (14 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Row 9: K1, inc, k12. (15 sts)
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K1, inc, k12, inc. (17 sts)
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: K1, inc, k15. (18 sts)
Row 14: Purl.
Row 15: K1, inc, k16. (19 sts)
Row 16: Cast on 9 sts, p to end. (28 sts)
Row 17: Knit.
Row 18: Purl.
Row 19: K26, k2tog. (27 sts)
Row 20: Purl.
Row 21: K25, k2tog. (26 sts)
Row 23: K24, k2tog. (25 sts)
Row 24: P2tog, p4, p2tog, turn and work on these 6 sts only to shape back.
Row 25: K4, k2tog. (5 sts)
Cast (bind) off 5 sts.
Rejoin yarn to rem 17 sts to shape head.
Row 24: P15, p2tog. (16 sts)
Row 25: K2tog, k12, k2tog. (14 sts)
Row 26: Purl.
Row 27: K2tog, k10, k2tog. (12 sts)
Row 28: Purl.
Cast (bind) off 12 sts.
Head
The rat has a sweet and benign expression.
Body
The rat is sitting on his haunches with his front paws raised.
(make 2 the same)
With sl, cast on 4 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 4 rows st st.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With sl, cast on 5 sts.
Beg with a k row, work 6 rows st st.
Row 7: K1, k2tog, k2. (4 sts)
Row 8: Purl.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With sl, cast on 2 sts.
Beg with a k row, cont in st st.
Row 1: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Knit.
Cast (bind) off.
(make 2 the same)
With sl, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1: Inc, k1, inc. (5 sts)
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: Knit.
Row 4: Purl.
Cast (bind) off.
With double-pointed needles and sl, cast on 4 sts.
Work i-cord as folls:
Knit 12 rows.
Row 13: K1, k2tog, k1. (3 sts)
Knit 28 rows.
Row 42: K2tog, k1. (2 sts)
Knit 4 rows.
Row 47: K2tog and fasten off.
SEWING IN ENDS Sew in ends, leaving ends from cast on and cast (bound) off rows for sewing up.
BODY With WS together and using whip stitch, sew two sides of rat together, leaving a 2.5cm (1in) gap.
STUFFING Starting at the head, stuff the rat firmly, then sew up the gap. Mould body into shape.
BACK PAWS Sew along lower edge of body, parallel with each other and with 2 rows between paws.
FRONT PAWS Sew at front of body, 8 rows above lower edge and with 2 sts between paws.
TAIL Attach cast on row of tail to bottom just behind back paws.
EARS Sew ear fronts to backs with WS of front facing RS of back. Attach ears to top of head, with 4 rows between ears.
EYES With bl, sew 2-loop French knots positioned as in photograph. Sew black beads on top of knots.
NOSE With bl, sew 3 satin stitches horizontally across tip of nose.
WHISKERS Cut four 8cm (3in) lengths of black thread. Thread these through cheeks, then trim.
