Click For Crochet Abbreviations List

A pair of sleepy mice created by Gwen Merrill, complete with sleeping bags!


The body and head (height 12 cm) are knitted in one piece with a seam at the centre back. Arms and ears are worked separately.

The sleeping bag is knitted from the bottom in a simple check pattern. The pillow is knitted after the centre back seam has been sewn.

You'll need

Small quantities Patons Bluebell 5-ply yarn in bright colours
1 pr 2.75 mm (No. 12) knitting needles
Tapestry needle
2.50 mm (No. 12) crochet hook
Polyester fibre for filling

Abbreviations

K - Knit; P - Purl; st(s) - stitch(es); cont - continue; tog together; st st - stocking stitch; inc increase; dec -decrease; sl st -slip stitch; do - double crochet; ch - chain; alt alternate.

Mouse

Cast on 16 sts for foot. Knit 6 rows.
Break off yarn and rep for other foot.
Change to body colour and knit across both feet.
Knit 27 rows.
Change to head colour, K16, inc 1 by knitting loop bet sts, K16 (33 sts).
Next and alt rows: Purl.
Next row: K16, K3 times in next st, K16, (35 sts).
Inc in this manner in central st in foll knit rows until 39 sts.
Next row: P17, P2 tog, P1"P2 tog, P17(37 sts).
Next row: K15, K2 tog, K3, K2 tog, K15 (35 sts).
Next row: P13, P2 tog, P5, P2 tog, P13 (33 sts).
Next row: K11, K2 tog, K7, K2 tog,K11 (31 sts).
Next row: P9, P2 tog, P9,P2 tog, P9 (29 sts).

Cap

Change colour and knit 6 rows.
Next row: Change colour, K1, K2 tog, K5, K2 tog, K4, K2 tog, K3, K2 tog, K5, K2 tog, K1 (24 sts).
Next and alt rows: Knit.
Next row: K3, K2 tog, K3, K2 tog, K4, K2 tog, K3, K2 tog, K3 (20 sts).
Next row: K3, (K2 tog, K2) 3 times, K2 tog, K3 (16 sts).
Next row: K1, (K2 tog, K2) 3 times, K2 tog, K1 (12 sts).
Next row: K2, (K2 tog) 4 times, K2 (8 sts). Knit 3 rows.
Next row: (K2 tog) 4 times (4 sts). Knit 3 rows.
Next row: K2 tog twice.
Next row: K2 tog. Fasten off.

Arm (work 2)

Cast on 12 sts.
Knit 8 rows.
Change colour knit 4 rows.
Next row: (K2 tog) 6 times. Cast off.

Ear (crochet 2)

Ch 2. Work 5 do in 2nd ch from hook, 1 ch, turn.
Next row: 2 do in each do (10 dc), 1 ch, turn.
Next row: 3 dc, work 2 do in next dc, 2 dc, work 2 do in next dc, 3 do (12 dc), turn.
Next row: Sl st in next 2 dc, 2 dc, work 2 do in next dc, 2 dc, work 2 do in next dc, 2 dc, sl st in next 2 do (14 dc), fasten off.

Sleeping bag

Cast on 27 sts in navy. Purl one row.
2nd row: Knit, inc in each st (54 sts). St st 3 rows.
6th row: K1 red, * sl 1 navy, K2 red rep 16 times, sl 1 navy, K1 red.
7th row: P1 red, * sl 1 navy, P2 red rep 16 times, sl 1 navy, P 1 red.
8th row: Knit, navy.
9th row: Purl, navy. Rep previous 4 rows 6 times, then 6th and 7th rows once.
Next row: (Navy) K8, K2 tog, K7, K2 tog, K16, K2 tog, K7, K2 tog, K8 (50 sts). Knit 4 rows. Cast off.

Pillow

Pick up 18 sts (9 either side of back seam) at top of bag on the inside. Knit 56 rows. Cast off. Fold in half and sew one side and cast-off edge to conceal frost row of pillow. Insert small pieces of filling, sew remaining side.

To make up

Using tapestry needle and matching thread sew sides of feet and gather up cast-on edges. Sew back seam to neck. Weave a matching thread across first row of face on wrong side, leave ends on right side. Sew back head to beg of cap.

Fill feet and body with small pieces of fibre, defining fat tummies and pointed nose. Do not fill cap.

Pull in neck and secure threads. Sew back seam of cap. Sew arm seam, fill softly and sew to body at sides. Gather straight edge of ears and sew to sides of head below cap.

Embroider nose, mouth and eyes in black following photograph. Make a pompon the size of a machine bobbin. Sew to end of cap.

Source: Treasury of Dolls and Cuddly Toys (Murdoch Books)