A Kitties Yuletide Chris-mouse

City-Mouse Toy
Basic knitting skills are all you need to create this 9-inch mouse. It's part of a collection of knitted and crocheted creatures called amigurumi, after the Japanese art of crocheting small animals.

1 skein Vanna's Choice yarn, in Taupe (No. 860-125) or another color (A), 49 per skein  
1 skein Vanna's Choice Baby, in Goldfish (No. 840-132) or another color (B)
Double-pointed knitting needles, (No. 0008-05), size 5,

Stitch markers (No. 400-3002),
Large-eye blunt needles (No. 400-5002),
Fiberfill stuffing
Lion Brand Yarn,
Small amounts of black and white yarn
Gauge
Exact gauge is not essential for this project.


Abbreviations
Beg = begin(ning)( s)
Inc = increase
K = knit
K2tog = knit 2 together
P = purl
Rep = repeat
Rnd(s) = round(s)
RS = right side
St(s) = stitch(es)
St St = Stockinette stitch
Tog = together
WS = wrong side


Mouse Body How-To
With A, cast on 54 sts. Divide sts onto 3 needles and join, being careful
not to twist. Place marker for beg of rnd.
Rnd 1: Knit.
Rnd 2: K into front and then back of next St (Inc made), k25, Inc in next St
place marker, Inc in next St, k25, Inc in next St - 58 sts.
Rnd 3: Inc in first St, k to 1 St before marker, Inc in next St, slip marker
Inc in next St, k to 1 St before end of rnd marker, Inc in this St - 62 sts

Rnd 4: Rep Rnd 3 - 66 sts.
Rnds 5-9: Knit.
Rnd 10: *K2tog, k to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, slip marker, k2tog, k to 2
sts before end of rnd marker, k2tog - 62 sts.
Rnds 11-13: Knit.
Rnd 14: Rep Rnd 10 - 58 sts.
Rnds 15-17: Knit.
Rnd 18: Rep Rnd 10 - 54 sts.
Rnds 19-20: Knit.
Rnds 21-32: Rep Rnds 18-20 - 38 sts at end of Rnd 32.
Rnd 33: Rep Rnd 10-34 sts.
Rnd 34: Knit.
Rnds 35-42: Rep Rnds 33-34 - 18 sts at end of Rnd 42.
Rnd 43: * K2tog, k5, k2tog, rep from * around - 14 sts.
Rnd 44: * K2tog, k3, k2tog, rep from * around - 10 sts.
Rnd 45: * K2tog, k1, k2tog, rep from * around - 6 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long end. Pull end through remaining sts, gather tightly
tog, and end off.



Base
With A, cast on 3 sts. Work back and forth in rows on 2 needles.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: Inc in first St, k to last St, Inc in last St - 5 sts.
Work in St St (k 1 row, p 1 row) until piece measures 5 1/2 inches from beg,
end with a purl row.
Next Row: K2tog, k1, k2tog.
Next Row: Purl.
Bind off.
Ears (Make 2)
With B, cast on 7 sts.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: K, Inc 1 St at each end of row.
Rep last 2 rows 3 times - 15 sts.
Work even in St St (k on RS, p on WS) for 5 rows.
Next Row: K2tog, k to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Next Row: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 3 times. Bind off.
Border: With A, and RS facing, pick up and k about 34 sts along rounded edge
of ear. Work 4 rows in St st. Bind off. Fold border over edge of ear, and
sew in place.
I-Cord Tails
With A, cast on 3 sts.
Knit 1 row; do not turn work. Slide stitches to other end of needle, pull
yarn gently, and knit all sts again. Continue in this manner until cord is 6
inches long. Cut yarn, leaving a tail. Thread tail into large-eyed blunt
needle, and sew tail to side base of mouse.
Finishing
Stuff body firmly, then sew base into place. Sew ears to top of body. With black yarn and catnip, embroider French knot eyes. With blunt needle, pull strands of white yarn through body just below eyes, for whiskers. Knot ends of whiskers and trim. Weave in ends.
Pattern courtesy of Lion Brand Yarn, lionbrand.com.