Free Catnip Mouse Crochet Pattern

These catnip mice have never failed to get a joyful response from every fun-loving cat they’ve ever met…When I make these mice for friends kitties; I have to hide the work in progress because MY cat will steal them (unfinished!?!) and hide them!

Cats Like Christmas Presents, Too!

You Will Need
​YARN: 4 ply worsted yarn. 
CROCHET HOOK: C/2 (2.5mm).
TAIL: 8” (203mm) cord, rawhide or yarn
POLYFIL: Small quantity for body.
CATNIP: 2-3 tablespoons of premium organic catnip.
Cats are LOVING this stuff! 
DETAIL: Black and pink embroidery floss or yarn for eyes and nose.

I used Hobbi's 8/4 Crochet Cotton (shown) which reduced pilling vs. #4 acrylic

Body
​This mouse is made in rounds. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round to mark the beginning of the round.

❍ RND 1: Make a magic ring, SC 4 ST. (4 SC).
❍ RND 2: Work 2 SC in each SC around. (8 SC).
❍ RND 3: SC in first SC, 2 SC in next SC 4 times around. (12 SC). 
❍ RND 4: SC evenly around. (12 SC).
❍ RND 5: SC in next 3 SC, 2 SC in next SC 3 times around. (15 SC) 
❍ RND 6 AND 7: SC in each ST around. (15 SC).
❍ RND 8: SC in next 4 SC, 2 SC in next SC 3 times around. (18 SC).
❍ RND 9: Work 2 SC in each of the next 6 SC (12 SC) to form a tiny hump on the body. Then SC in each of the next 12 ST (12 SC). (24 SC).

❍ INSERT TAIL: Make a big bulky knot in one end of your tail. I love rawhide tails –you can buy scrap bags of rawhide at craft stores, and I find lots of uses for it around the house. Or get creative, use some cord, twine or SC a tail, weaving in one end, making a knot at the other end.

❍ Thread tail through center of the magic ring and pull as tight as possible. 

❍ FIRMLY STUFF a bit of Polyfill with a big pinch of catnip on top of the tail. Stuff more polyfill over the catnip. Crochet a couple rows and REPEAT AT LEAST 3 TIMES before finishing. The more catnip the better, right?

❍ RNDS 10 THROUGH 18: SC in each ST around. (24 SC).
❍ RND 19: Decrease (SC in the next SC, SC2TOG) 8 times around. (16 SC).
❍ RND 20 & 21: SC in each ST around. (16 SC).
❍ RND 22: SC2TOG 8 times around. (8 SC).
❍ RND 23: SC2TOG 4 times around, pull to close the hole, finish off.
Work your mouse into shape. Tug the nose pointy, hump faces up, flatten the bottom, mark the center back, eyes, nose with pins. Moving the eyes a tiny bit closer or wider makes a big difference in your mouse’s personality! Set aside.

Ears (make 2)
❍ ROW 1: CH2, Work 3 SC in 2nd CH from hook; in next ST, SC CH 1, turn.
❍ ROW 2: SC in first SC, 2 sc in next SC, SC in last SC (4 SC) CH 1, turn.
❍ ROW 3: SC in first SC, 2 SC in each of the next SC, SC in last SC. (6SC)

❍ FASTEN OFF, leaving approx. 9” (228mm) yarn to sew each ear into the body.
❍ MARK PLACEMENT of the ears with pins (around rows 6-8).
❍ SEW EARS IN PLACE nice and tight using the yarn tails. Adjust eye pins for placement, then embroider in black for each eye, and pink for the nose and inside ears with yarn or embroidery floss. ​

Update! The Christmas Mice shown in pic above have felt ears... the crochet version shown here are much easier to make and attach. If you prefer felt ears, cut a small felt square, fold on a diagonal, trim to half circle, cut in half. With matching thread, place small running stitches on straight edge, pull to gather into ear shape, and sew in place.

Your Catnip Mouse is Ready to Play!

If you prefer to work with printed patterns; this easy-to-follow instant download will have you starting this fun project within minutes! Pattern download includes all directions and photos on this blog post PLUS, my FREE MOUSE BLANKET PATTERN (scroll down)! This handy 2 page pdf is ready to travel or read without a screen or wasting ink and paper. 

Enjoy this FREE PATTERN!
​Or, follow this link to download a handy 2 page pdf with all the details for printing  for $1.95!