Knitted Forest Friends by Sarah Keen©Create some cute knitted creatures with this free knitting project. This crafty mouse pattern makes the perfect treasured gift or just a delightful knitted doll for the wee ones.
Free knitting project: Mouse
Finished size of mouse stands 7½in (19cm) tall.
You will need (for each mouse):
- Any DK (US: light worsted) yarn
- * Yarn A silver grey (20g for each mouse)
- * Yarn B pink (5g)
- * Yarn C mint (10g)
- * Yarn D mauve (10g)
- Oddment of black for embroidery and silver grey for making up
- 1 pair of 3.25mm (UK10:US3) needles and a spare needle of same size for dungarees
- Knitters’ pins and a blunt-ended needle for sewing up
- Acrylic toy stuffing
- 2 small buttons for each mouse
*amounts of yarn given are approximate
How to work this free knitting project:
TENSION
26 sts x 34 rows measure 4in (10cm) square over st-st using 3.25mm needles and DK yarn before stuffing.
BODY
Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 36 sts.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: K1, (k8, m1, k1, m1, k8) twice, k1 (40 sts).
Rows 3 to 7: Work 5 rows in st-st.
Rows 8 and 9: Work 2 rows in g-st to mark waist.
Rows 10 to 17: Beg with a k row, work 8 rows in st-st.
Row 18: K1, (k8, k3tog, k8) twice, k1 (36 sts).
Row 19 and foll alt row: Purl.
Row 20: K1, (k7, k3tog, k7) twice, k1 (32 sts).
Row 22: K1, (k6, k3tog, k6) twice, k1 (28 sts).
Row 23: Purl.
Cast off.
HEAD AND NOSE
Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 8 sts.
Row 1 and foll 3 alt rows: Purl.
Row 2: (Kfb) to end (16 sts).
Row 4: (Kfb, k1) to end (24 sts).
Row 6: (Kfb, k2) to end (32 sts).
Row 8: (Kfb, k3) to end (40 sts).
Rows 9 to 19: Work 11 rows
in st-st.
Row 20: (K1, k2tog) 6 times, k4, (k2tog, k1) 6 times (28 sts).
Rows 21 to 23: Work 3 rows
in st-st.
Row 24: K7, (k2tog, k2) 4 times, k5 (24 sts).
Row 25 and foll 2 alt row: Purl.
Row 26: K5, (k2tog, k2) 4 times, k3 (20 sts).
Row 28: K3, (K2tog, k2) 4 times, k1 (16 sts).
Row 30: K4, (k2tog) 4 times, k4 (12 sts).
Row 31: Purl.
Rows 32 and 33: Change to yarn B and k 1 row then p 1 row.
Row 34: (K2tog, k1) to end (8 sts).
Break yarn and thread through sts on needle, pull tight and secure by threading yarn a second time through sts.
FEET AND LEGS (make 2)
Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 8 sts.
Row 1 and foll alt row: Purl.
Row 2: (Kfb) to end (16 sts).
Row 4: (Kfb, k1) to end (24 sts).
Rows 5 to 9: Work 5 rows in st-st.
Row 10: (K2tog, k1) to end
(16 sts).
Rows 11 to 21: Work 11 rows
in st-st.
Cast off.
Paws AND FOREARMS (make 2)
Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 9 sts.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: (Kfb) to end (18 sts).
Rows 3 to 7: Work 5 rows in st-st.
Row 8: (K2tog, k1) to end (12 sts).
Rows 9 to 21: Work 13 rows
in st-st.
Row 22: (K2tog, k1) to end (8 sts).
Break yarn, thread through sts on needle and leave loose.
DUNGAREES (make 2 pieces)
Note: foll individual instructions as given for 1 front and 1 back of dungarees.
First leg
Using the long tail method and yarn C, cast on 12 sts and beg
in g-st.
Rows 1 and 2: Work 2 rows
in g-st.
Break yarn and set aside.
Second leg
Work as for first leg but do not break yarn.
Join legs
Row 3: Beg with second leg and k10, k2tog, turn, using the knitting-on method, cast on 5 sts, turn, then with the same yarn continue across first leg and k2tog, k to end (27 sts).
Row 4 and foll 2 alt rows: Purl.
Row 5: K2, m1, k23, m1, k2
(29 sts).
Row 7: K12, k2tog, k1, k2tog, k12 (27 sts).
Row 9: K10, k2tog, k3, k2tog, k10 (25 sts).
Rows 10 to 12: Work 3 rows
in st-st.
Rows 13 to 15: Work 3 rows in g-st, ending with a RS row.
Cast off in g-st for back of dungarees or cont with bib for front of dungarees:
Divide for bib
Row 16: Cast off 7 sts kwise, k10 (11 sts now on RH needle), cast off rem 7 sts and fasten off.
Rejoin yarn to rem sts and patt:
**Row 17: K2, (k1 tbl) 7 times, k2 (11 sts).
Row 18: K2, p7, k2.
Row 19: Knit.
Rows 20 to 25: Rep rows 18 and 19, 3 times more, ending with a k row.
Rows 26 and 27: Work 2 rows in g-st, ending with a RS row.
Cast off in g-st.
STRAPS FOR DUNGAREES (make 2)
Using the long tail method and yarn C, cast on 25 sts.
Row 1: Knit.
Cast off kwise.
PINAFORE
Using the long tail method and yarn D, cast on 65 sts and beg
in g-st.
Rows 1 and 2: Work 2 rows in g-st.
Rows 3 to 12: Beg with a k row, work 10 rows in st-st.
Row 13: K1, (k2tog, k2) to end (49 sts).
Rows 14 and 15: Work 2 rows in g-st, ending with a RS row.
Divide for bib
Row 16: Cast off 19 sts kwise, k10 (11 sts now on RH needle), cast off rem 19 sts and fasten off.
Rejoin yarn to rem sts and work bib from **, as for dungarees.
STRAPS FOR PINAFORE (make 2)
Make straps for pinafore using yarn D, as for dungarees.
EARS (make 2)
Using the long tail method and yarn A, cast on 13 sts.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: (Kfb) to end (26 sts).
Rows 3 to 11: Beg with a p row, work 9 rows in st-st.
Row 12: K2tog, (k1, k2tog) to end (17 sts).
Row 13: Purl.
Row 14: K2tog, (k1, k2tog) to end (11 sts).
Row 15: Purl.
Break yarn and thread through sts on needle, pull tight and secure by threading yarn a second time through sts.
Making up
Note: Sew up all row-end seams on right side using mattress stitch one stitch in from the edge, unless otherwise stated; a one-stitch seam allowance has been allowed for this.
BODY AND TAIL
Make a twisted cord for tail using four strands of yarn beginning with each 36in (91cm) long
(see page 155). Tie a tight knot 7in (18cm) from folded end and trim ends. Sew up side edges of body and enclose knot of tail in seam just below waist, securing on wrong side. With this seam at centre back, oversew cast-on stitches. Stuff body leaving
neck open.
HEAD AND NOSE
Gather round cast-on stitches
of head and sew up side edges
of head leaving a gap, stuff head
and sew up gap. Pin and sew
head to body.
FEET AND LEGS
Gather round cast-on stitches of feet, pull tight and secure. Stuff feet and sew up side edges of legs and stuff legs. Pin legs to body leaving a ¾in (2cm) gap at crotch and sew in place.
PAWS AND FOREARMS
Gather round cast-on stitches of paws, pull tight and secure. Stuff paws and sew up side edges of arms and stuff arms. Pull stitches on a thread tight and secure, and sew arms to Mouse at each side.
DUNGARESS OR PINAFOR, STRAPS AND BUTTONS
Place two pieces of dungarees together matching all edges and sew up inside leg seams and across crotch, and sew up side seams. Or, sew up side edges of skirt of pinafore. Place tip of tail through dungarees or pinafore below waist band at back. Place dungarees or pinafore on Mouse. Sew cast-off stitches of waist of dungarees or pinafore to row above waist of Mouse using backstitch all the way round. Sew ends of straps to top edge of front of bib at each side, take straps over shoulders, cross over and sew to back of dungarees or pinafore. Add two buttons to bib.
EARS
Sew up side edges of ears and with seam at centre back, press flat. Position ears and pin and sew ears to head.
FEATURES
Mark position of eyes with two pins and embroider eyes in black making a vertical chain stitch for each eye, then a second chain stitch on top of first. Embroider eyebrows in black using straight stitches (see page 155 for how to begin and fasten off invisibly for the embroidery).
Knitted Forest Friends by Sarah Keen, GMC Publications, RRP £15.99, available online and from all good bookshops.
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