toy mouse

Have fun choosing the colour for your toy mouse from your stash.

RATING

yarn

Lightweight (DK) yarn

Oddment in yellow (MC)

Oddment in shale grey (A)

needles

4 × size 2 (2.5mm) double-pointed knitting needles

notions

2 × ¼in- (6mm) diameter toy safety eyes in plain black (or black yarn)

gauge

15 sts and 19 rows to 2in (5cm) of st st, using MC and size 1 (2.25mm) needles

Don't worry if the gauge is not exact – it doesn't matter if the mouse is a little bigger or smaller than shown.

finished size

Approx. 3in (7cm) long

Speckle the kitten loves playing with her toy mouse, so thank goodness it's easy to knit.

MOUSE PATTERN

knitting notes

Even safety eyes can present a choking hazard for a very young child. So, instead of using toy eyes, embroider the eyes with thread.

The main body is worked in one piece.

The kitten is worked on double-pointed knitting needles sometimes in the round.

Cast on 3sts using MC and size 2 (2.5mm) needles.
Row 1 (RS) *Kfb, rep from * to end. 6 sts.
Row 2 Divide sts: k2 sts onto n1, 2 sts onto n2, 2 sts onto n3.
With RS facing, keeping gauge fairly tight on first rnd, work in the rnd as follows:
Rnd 3 K.
Rnd 4 *Kfb, rep from * to end. 12 sts.
Rnd 5 K.
Rnd 6 *K1, kfb, rep from * to end. 18 sts.
Rnd 7 K.
Rnd 8 *K2, kfb, rep from * to end. 24 sts.
Rnd 9 K.
Rnd 10 *K3, kfb, rep from * to end. 30 sts.
Place marker.
Rnd 11 K.
Rnd 12 K3, M1, k to last 3 sts, M1, k3. 32 sts.
Rnd 13 K.
Rep last 2 rnds twice more. 36 sts.
Place marker at beg of next rnd.
Rnd 18 K.
Rnd 19 K2, skpo, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2. 34 sts.
Rnd 20 K.
Rep last 2 rnds twice more. 30 sts.
Rnd 25 *K4, k2tog, rep from * to end. 25 sts.
Rnd 26 K.
Rnd 27 *K3, k2tog, rep from * to end. 20 sts.
Rnd 28 K.
Rnd 29 *K2, k2tog, rep from * to end. 15 sts.
Rnd 30 K.
Stuff the mouse and cont to stuff it as you go.
Rnd 31 *K1, k2tog, rep from * to end. 10 sts.
Rnd 32 K.
Rnd 33 *K2tog, rep from * to end. 5 sts.
Cut yarn and thread end through rem sts. Pull up tight and secure.

WHEELS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 4 sts using A and size 2 (2.5mm) needles.
Row 1 (RS) Kfb, k to last st, kfb. 8 sts.
Row 2 P.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 16 sts.
Work st st for 5 rows.
Row 10 (RS) K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. 8 sts.
Row 11 P.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 4 sts.
Cut yarn and thread end through rem sts. Pull up tight, stuffing the wheel, and secure.
Following the manufacturer's instructions, snap one toy eye into centre of each wheel. Alternatively, embroider French knots with yarn.

EARS (MAKE 2)
Cast on 3 sts, using MC and size 2 (2.5mm) needles.
Row 1 (RS) Kfb, k to last st, kfb. 5 sts.
Row 2 P.
Rep last 2 rows once more. 7 sts.
Work st st for 4 rows.
Row 9 (RS) K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog. 5 sts.
Row 10 P2tog, p to last 2 sts, p2tog. 3 sts.
Cut yarn and thread end through rem sts. Pull up tight and secure.

MAKING UP
Sew the wheels to each side of the mouse.
Following the manufacturer's instructions, snap the eyes in the centre of the eye markings. Alternatively, embroider the eyes with yarn.
Sew on a length of kitten MC (or any spare yarn) as a simple tail.