a surprise gift!

It's Christmas at the shop and here's a little surprise just waiting for someone to buy…
or free pattern below!

Use sock yarn or 4 ply yarn in white (MC) and pink for tail feet and tail

you will also need two tiny toy eyes, or tiny seed beads or just embroidery thread worked as french knots and small amount of toy filling or spare yarn for stuffing.

Head, front legs, body, back legs and tail make as one piece

Using 2.5 mm (US size 1) needles and yarn MC cast on 2 sts.

Next row (inc row) (RS) (Knit into front and back of st - called Kfb), twice. (4 sts)

Next row (inc row) (WS) *Purl into front, knit into back of st - called Pfkb, rep from * across. (8 sts)

Next row (inc row) (RS) (Kfb) twice, K4, (Kfb) twice. (12 sts)

Next row (inc row) (WS) Pfkb, P to last st, Pfkb. (14 sts)

Next row (inc row) (RS) Kfb, K to last st, Kfb. (16 sts)

Beg with a P row, cont in stocking st for 7 rows, so ending with a WS row.

Top of head shaping

Next row (RS) K11, turn.

Next row (WS) Sl1, P5, turn.

Next row (RS) Sl1, K4, turn.

Next row (WS) Sl1, P3, turn.

Next row (RS) K9 sts across to end.

Next row (inc row) (WS) (Pfkb) twice, P to last 2 sts, (Pfkb) twice. (20 sts)

Next row (inc row) (RS) Kfb, K to last st, Kfb. (22 sts)

Beg with a P row, cont in stocking st for 3 rows, so ending with a WS row.

Divide for front legs

Next row (RS) (Kfb) three times, slip next 5 sts off needle onto a small safety pin, (Kfb) 6 times, slip next 5 sts off needle onto a small safety pin, (Kfb) three times - keep tension tight to avoid large gaps as you knit beneath the sts held on the pins. (24 sts)

Beg with a P row, cont in stocking st for 3 rows, so ending with a WS row.

Next row (inc row) (RS) K12, M1, K12. (25 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Next row (inc row) (RS) K12, M1, K1, M1, K12. (27 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Next row (inc row) (RS) K13, M1, K1, M1, K13. (29 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Next row (inc row) (RS) K14, M1, K1, M1, K14. (31 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Next row (inc row) (RS) K15, M1, K1, M1, K15. (33 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Next row (inc row) (RS) K16, M1, K1, M1, K16. (35 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Next row (dec row) (RS) K16, K3 tog, K16. (33 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Next row (dec row) (RS) K15, K3 tog, K15. (31 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Next row (dec row) (RS) K14, K3 tog, K14. (29 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Next row (dec row) (RS) K13, K3 tog, K13. (27 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Next row (dec row) (RS) K12, K3 tog, K12. (25 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Divide for back legs

Next row (dec row) (RS) K3, slip next 6 sts off needle onto a small safety pin, K7, slip next 6 sts off needle onto a small safety pin, K3 - keep tension tight to avoid large gaps as you purl in front of the sts held on the pins. (13 sts)

Next row (WS) P.

Divide for tail

Next row (dec row) (RS) (K2 tog) twice, K1, slip next 3 sts off needle onto a small safety pin, K1, (K2 tog) twice - keep tension tight to avoid too large a gap as you knit beneath the sts held on the pin. (6 sts)

Break yarn, thread end through rem sts, pull up tightly and secure thread.

Front legs

Slip 5 sts held on safety pins for Front Legs onto 2 mm (US size 0) dpns. RS facing, rejoin pink yarn, K5 work as i cord for 6 rows or until leg measures 1 inch.

Cast off.

Back legs

Slip 6 sts held on safety pins for Back Legs onto 2 mm (US size 0) dpns. RS facing, rejoin pink yarn, K5 work as i cord for 6 rows or until leg measures 1 inch.

Cast off.

Tail

Slip 3 sts from safety pin onto 2mm (US size 0) dons  rejoin pink yarn cont with i cord until tail measures about 3 inches.

Break yarn, thread end through rem sts, pull up tightly and secure thread. Weave in the end to inside.

Ears make 2 alike

Using 2, 2 mm (US size 0) dpns and yarn MC (main body colour) cast on 5 sts, leaving a long tail with which to sew ear to head.

Next row (inc row) (RS) Kfb, K3, Kfb.  Turn. (7 sts)

Next row (WS) P. Turn.

Next row (dec row) (RS) K2, K3 tog, K2. Turn. (5 sts)

Next row (WS) P. Turn.

Next row (inc row) (RS) K1, K3 tog, K1. (3 sts)

Break yarn, thread end through rem sts, pull up tightly and secure thread.

To make up

Following the manufacturer’s guidelines snap eyes in place (if using) either side of the nose (or sew on beads or embroider french knots), stuff the mouse's head and body then sew backstitch, RS facing. Sew ears to top of the head.

Oversew to close any gaps left under the arms., Bend the fore legs un towards the body and sew in place as you can see in the photograph.