Toe Up Socks Mouse by AJ Henry (modfied from Wendy D. Johnson's pattern)

Materials: small amount worsted weight wool, needles a couple of sizes smaller than you usually use for worsted wool, a cable needle, a tapestry needle, catnip for stuffing.

This uses a two-needle figure 8 cast on and is worked round.  The numbers in parenthesis are the needle numbers, counting (1) as the first needle cast on.

Abbr:  k1 = knit 1, p1 = purl 1, m1 = make 1, <cable> = slip the next two stitches onto cable needle (or equivalent) and hold behind work, knit next two stitches, then knit the two stitches on the cable needle.

Cast on 8 stitches, 4 per needle.

Knit round.

Row 1: k1, make 1, k4, m1, k1 (on Needle 1), k2 (Needle 2), k2 (Needle 3).

Row 2: p1, k4, p1 (1), k1, m1, k1 (2), k1, m1, k1 (3).

Row 3: p1, k4, p1 (1), p3 (2), p3 (3).

Row 4: p1, k4, p1 (1), k1, m1, k2 (2), k2, m1, k1 (3).

Row 5: p1, k4, p1 (1), p4 (2), p4 (3).

Row 6: p1, <cable>, p1 (1), k1, m1, k3 (2), k3, m1, k1 (3).

Row 7: p1, k4, p1 (1), p5 (2), p5 (3).

Row 8: p1, k4, p1 (1), k1, m1, k4 (2), k4, m1, k1 (3).

At this point, pause and divide the stitches on Needles 2 and 3 between three needles.  New Needle 2 has two stitches, new Needle 3 has 4 stitches and Needle 4 has two stitches.

Row 9: p1, k4, p1 (1), p2 (2), p4 (3), p2 (4).  {14 stitches}

Row 10: p1, k4, p1 (1), k1, m1, k (2), k (3), k till next to last stitch, k1 (4). {16 st}

Row 11: p1, k4, p1 (1), p (2), p (3), p (4)                                                                   {16 st}

Row 12: p1, <cable>, p1 (1), k1, m1, k (2), k (3), k till next to last stitch, k1 (4). {18 st}

Row 13: p1, k4, p1 (1), p (2), p (3), p (4)  {18 st}

Row 14: p1, k4, p1 (1), k1, m1, k (2), k (3), k till next to last stitch, k1 (4). {20 st}

Row 15: p1, k4, p1 (1), p (2), p (3), p (4)  {20 st}

Row 16: p1, k4, p1 (1), k1, m1, k (2), k (3), k till next to last stitch, k1 (4). {22 st}

Row 17: p1, k4, p1 (1), p (2), p (3), p (4) {22 st}

Row 18: p1, <cable>, p1 (1), k1, m1, k (2), k (3), k till next to last stitch, k1 (4). {24 st}

Row 19: p1, k4, p1 (1), p (2), p (3), p (4) {24 st}

Row 20: p1, k4, p1 (1), k1, m1, k (2), k (3), k till next to last stitch, k1 (4).  {26 st}

Row 21: p1, k4, p1 (1), p (2), p (3), p (4)                                                                   {26 st}

Row 22: p1, k4, p1 (1), k1, m1, k (2), k (3), k till next to last stitch, k1 (4).   {28 st}

Row 23: p1, k4, p1 (1), p (2), p (3), p (4)  {28 st}

Row 24: p1, <cable>, p1 (1), k1, m1, k (2), k (3), k till next to last stitch, k1 (4). {30 st}

Row 25: p1, k4, p1 (1), p (2), p (3), p (4) {30 st}

Row 26: p1, k4, p1 (1), k1, m1, k (2), k (3), k till next to last stitch, k1 (4).  {32 st}

Row 27: p1, k4, p1 (1), p (2), p (3), p (4)  {32 st}

Row 28:  Cast off.

At this point, I semi-felt the mouse by hand, by washing with hot water and soap, then rinsing with cold water.  If you do this, let dry before proceeding.

Stuff firmly with catnip (your cat will probably enjoy helping you with this).  From the right side, neatly sew the back cast-off edge together to close up the mouse.

Use the rest of the yarn, and a couple more strands of yarn if needed, and braid them to make a tail, or you could make an I-cord tail if you're feeling intrepid.

This pattern variation is a collaboration between Wendy D. Johnson & AJ Henry ©2003. Not to be reproduced in any form without written permission from Wendy D. Johnson & AJ Henry.