All proceeds from the pattern are donated to animal charities.

I have updated and refined my “Nose-Up” Catnip Mouse Toy from my “Projects for Leftover Sock Yarn” pattern and am offering it as a stand-alone pattern because I’ve gotten so many requests for just this pattern. I am charging a nominal fee so that I may add any money I make from the pattern to my regular donations to animal charities.

The beauty of this pattern is that it is seamless. Not only does that make it faster and (I think) easier to make, but it makes it stronger and more impervious to rough play from kitties: There is no weak spot where they can tear it open

You can use any weight of wool to knit a mouse, ranging from fingering to worsted. I’ve offered alternate numbers for fingering, sport or DK, and worsted weight yarn. They are not a hard and fast rule, but a guide. You can change the rate of increase, the number of stitches you increase to, and where you place the ears. Want a short plump mouse? Up the rate of increase (e.g., increase on every round) and knit a shorter body. Want a long skinny mouse? Reduce the rate of increase (e.g., increase on every third round) and knit a longer body. You can also add your own creative touches: stripes, perhaps?

I wrote the pattern for two circular needles, but you can use any in-the-round technique: magic loop, or double-pointed needles, for example. You will want to use a needle size that will create a tight firm fabric. My suggestions are a 2mm needle for fingering weight, 2.75mm for sport or DK weight, and 3.25mm for worsted weight.

To knit this pattern, you need to know a toe-up sock cast-on technique like the figure-eight cast-on, Turkish cast-on, or (my cast-on of choice) Judy’s Magic Cast-on. You can find many resources online that will show you how to execute these cast-ons.

You need to be able to work a “knit front and back” increase, work in the round, knit a bobble, and work an i-cord (instructions for bobble and i-cord are in the pattern.)

You will need stuffing for your mouse: yarn scraps or polyester fiberfil, plus catnip.