Row 19: K 20 with both yarns, then CO 15 with both yarns for the tail. All remaining rows of the mouse body are knit holding the wool yarn and the Fun Fur yarn together, as indicated in the chart. You now have completed a square "bare face" for the mouse using the wool alone, measuring 5 stitches wide by 5 rows deep. Row 3: K 5 using the worsted alone, then pick up and join the Fun Fur to knit the remaining stitches (K 15). Then drop the Fun Fur yarn, and K 5 using the worsted alone. Row 2: K 15 continuing to hold the worsted & Fun Fur yarns together. When finished, you should have 20 stitches on your needle. Join the Fun Fur yarn by twisting it around the worsted yarn, leaving a short tail to be woven in later, and continue to CO 15 more stitches. Row 1: Using your favorite cast-on method and leaving an 8-inch tail for later seaming, CO 5 stitches with the worsted wool yarn. Please note that I count the cast-on row as Row 1. Knitting the Mouse If you like, refer to my chart shown in SLIDE 3 while following these simple instructions. PATTERN STITCH: Garter (knit all rows) GAUGE: Doesn't matter! Isn't that great? Bigger yarn & needles will give you a bigger mouse, smaller yarn & needles will give you a smaller mouse. > Darning needle for sewing up seams & stitching face. I like washable polyfill, but you can use cotton balls or nylon stockings or whatever you have on hand. > Scrap yarn, black or brown, to embroider nose & eyes, about 12 - 14 inches. > Straight knitting needles, US size 8 or whatever size works best with your yarn. In my project, I used Violet (Color #191). > Scrap Lion Brand in complementary color, about 2 yards. In my project, I used an anonymous bit of lavender wool, shown in SLIDE 2. When you've finished felting & measuring for your project, recycle the gauge swatch into an instant catnip mouse toy! KNITTING A BETTER MOUSE TOY MATERIALS -> Scrap 100% wool or other feltable yarn, worsted weight, about 2 yards. But here's the really brilliant part: next time you have to knit a gauge swatch for felting, just knit a tail onto it as I describe here. and to save time & energy, you can felt it with other, bigger projects you have on hand. And, voila! A re-designed catnip mouse, complete with sturdy tail! My variation on the Lion Brand Catnip Mouse pattern is as easy and quick to knit as the original, a good little stash-buster. And I decided that I'd combine worsted wool yarn with the Fun Fur, then felt the mouse to make sure the Fun Fur strands stayed put. In my modified mouse design, the tail is knit as part of the body, rather than tied on like a string. Believing my cats would enjoy the mouse toy more with a tail than without, I took a different approach. "yarn is not good for a cat's tummy." That's certainly true, and valuable advice. The pattern clearly warns that you should omit the tail if you can't supervise the play period. While I particularly liked the free downloadable Lion Brand Catnip Mouse pattern knit with Lion Brand, I am pathologically incapable of knitting a pattern exactly as written! In this case, the Lion Brand mouse has a skinny yarn tail that could be pulled off and swallowed by a feckless cat. So I decided to knit a catnip mouse toy for my darling cats. I needed something quick & easy to whip up, preferably from my existing stash. Last week I found myself dangling between major knitting projects, and not yet in the mood to start a new one.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |