How to knit a simple mouse for SPCA cats (or any animal shelter/rescue)

This is a super simple pattern; even beginners can do it. (Though I do suggest just knitting only for beginners until you have it down, before purling; don’t progress too fast!  This is an intuitive process, and requires heaps of repetition before it becomes intuitive.  Don’t overthink it!  It’s a memorisation thing.)  For example, feel free to make this pattern just knitting both sides if you like, that fabric is called garter; I am sure the cat won’t mind!

The mouse is knitted as a flat shape, then sewn up after.  There are two ears that you sew on before sewing up the body.  

Here are links to great videos by Sheep & Stitch, if you are new to knitting!

Cast on:

  https://youtu.be/1vm6oaYzHyA

Knit:

  https://youtu.be/Egp4NRhlMDg

Purl:

  https://youtu.be/7ePhLqw6HDM

By the way, if you love making critters - try knitting in the round one day!  Takes a little getting used to, but no sewing up is required!  (Short wooden double pointed needles are great for small creatures.)

Here is a how-to video I have made for this pattern, written instructions still images below for your reference as well.

SPCA Knitted Mouse Pattern

Mouse body

Size 7 / 4 mm needles, 8 ply wool (any kind) or thicker

Cast on 12 stitches, and knit 12 rows in stocking stitch (1 row knit stitch, 1 row purl, repeat until you have 12 rows).  Then you start shaping mouse head by reducing at start and end of each row until there are 4 stitches left: knit two stitches together at the beginning of row (k2tog), knit to last 2 stitches, then knit two together at the end of the row (K2tog).  When you turn your work to purl, purl the first two togetherJ (p2tog), then purl to last 2 stitches, and purl these last 2 together (p2tog).  Break off wool, put on a wool needle and draw through remaining 4 stitches, cinch up.  Leave aside.

Cast on 12 sts

12 rows stocking stitch

K2tog (first 2 sts of row)

...then k to last 2 sts, K2tog

P2tog (first 2 sts of row)

...then p to last 2 sts, p2tog

Until 4 stitches left

Break off wool and draw through 4 sts

Ears, make 2

You can break off a 60 cm length of wool (or longer) and cast on from middle

Cast on 6 stitches, knit 1 row.  Then break off wool, put on wool needle, draw through 6 stitches, cinch up.  

Cast on 6 sts

Knit 1 row

Draw wool through 6 sts

Sew up mouse, finishing

Sew on ears guessing best location, for each ear leave 2 wool strands inside the mouse on underside and tie in a square knot, then trim.  Then sew up the mouse body using the strand left at the mouses’s nose, weaving from one side to the other; leave a gap at mouse bottom for stuffing.  Leave the needle on wool strand, stuff the mouse, then sew up bottom by drawing wool through bottom stitch of each cast on row...draw tight and secure with a knot (draw wool through a loop).  There will be two strand at bottom, do not cut off but use to plait (you can add another strand when you sew on eyes so you have three), or crochet chain stitch one strand and trim the other.  Whiskers: optional!

Sew on ears, tie on underside

Sew mouse up using nose wool strand, leave gap

Stuff mouse

Draw bottom closed

Sew on eyes

Plait tail

Add any other touches you like 

Deliver finished knitted mice to your local SPCA or animal shelter!

Thanks to Rutherford College, Auckland for hosting community learning workshops on how to knit mice for the SPCA, a practical use for art!  Also a great reason to learn a meditative craft; I enjoy it to the point now that I usually need to be knitting something!