Monday 9 April 2012

Fair Isle Mice - pattern


Cute little knitted mice with a colourful Fair Isle band.  A great way to use up your oddments of yarn. 


PDF version here.

A Dutch translation of this pattern has kindly been made by Kim De Vry and can be downloaded from the Ravelry pattern page, here.

To make your own mice, you will need-
Oddments of double knitting weight yarn in main colour and 5 contrasting colours
A pair of 3.75 needles
Toy stuffing

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit
p = purl
sts = stitches
inc = increase
k2tog = knit 2 sts together
k2togtbl = knit 2 sts together through the back of the loops

Finished size – 3 inches long (excluding tail)

BODY
(Starting at tail end of mouse)
With main shade and 3.75mm needles cast on 9 sts, leaving a long end to make tail.
Row 1: k 1, inc knitwise in every st to end. (17 sts)
Row 2: p
Row 3: k 1, inc knitwise in every st to end. (33 sts)
Row 4: p
Row 5: k
Row 6: p
Rows  7 – 13: work Fair Isle pattern from chart.


Row 14: p
Row 15: K2tog, k 8, k2tog, k 9, k2togtbl, k 8, k2togtbl. (29 sts)
Row 16: p
Row 17: K2tog, k 7, k2tog, k 7, k2togtbl, k 7, k2togtbl. (25 sts)
Row 18: p
Row 19: K2tog, k 6, k2tog, k 5, k2togtbl, k 6, k2togtbl. (21 sts)
Row 20: p
Row 21: K2tog, k 4, k2tog, k 5, k2togtbl, k 4, k2togtbl. (17 sts)
Row 22: p
Row 23: K2tog, k 3, k2tog, k 3, k2togtbl, k 3, k2togtbl. (13 sts)
Row 24: p
Row 25: K2tog, k 2, k2tog, k 1, k2togtbl, k 2, k2togtbl. (9 sts)
Break off yarn and thread through remaining sts and pull up tight.  Fasten off.


EARS (make 2!)
With main shade and 3.75mm needles cast on  3 sts.
Row 1: inc knitwise in every st. (6 sts)
Row 2: k
Row 3: k
Row 4: k
Row 5: k2tog, k 2, k2togtbl. (4 sts)
Row 6: k2tog, k2togtbl. (2 sts)
Row 7: k2tog.
Fasten off. 


MAKING UP
Sew up seam on body and stuff. 
With the long tail from the cast on, make a twisted cord of about 5 inches in length to form the tail.
Attach the ears to the head and embroider eyes. 

40 comments:

  1. These might be the cutest mice I have ever seem. So sweet. Thanks for sharing the pattern.
    Meredith

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  2. Very cute! Pity I don't know how to knit.

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  3. So cute! :D I see the Fair isle book is being put to good use :P x

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  4. I just saw your mice on ravelry. They are really sweet. I really like little things!

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  5. I have been knitting your mouse pattern, and thought you might like to see the results on my blog. I have put links back to your pattern and blog, so hope that is Ok.

    My mice seem longer and thinner than yours, but I think that is because I used smaller needles. I also did a few with a different fairisle in an attempt to have less end to run in.

    Row 6 is missing from your pattern, but I thought it was just a purl row.

    Thank you for your lovely pattern. As you can see from my photos my cats thought all their birthdays had come at once.

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  6. Thank you for your comment Ginny. I've visited your blog and love your mice.

    Yes- row 6 was missing from the pattern - thanks for spotting this - I've put it right now - it was just a purl row.

    Best wishes.

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  7. I'm greatly anticipating making (at least) one! Thank you so much for posting the pattern!
    www.annalowery.blogspot.com

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  8. I've just made two of these for my nephews - one to go! They're lovely. In fact, they're the WIP on my blog - thank for the pattern. Happy knitting! x G

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  9. Hi
    Very nice. You inspired me to try to make a Fair isle Guinea pig, although I used crochet and an easier pattern. Thanks!

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  10. These are absolutely wonderful

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  11. These are wonderful! Supposed to be knitting (jumper for daughter/dishcloth for swap partner) boring stuff, feel a need to change NOW NOW NOW!!!!!

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  12. Too cute! I will be makeing one for my sweet little cat for christmas and for the tree too!

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  13. Those are the essence of cute. My cat will love one, but it might be too cute for him to play with.

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  14. I only have one pair of needles so mine look like rats and I've not learnt how to change colour so they are boring looking too.. But I'll get there :D

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  15. These are so adorable! Thank you for sharing the pattern :)

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  16. Hey I need some rats and mice for a panto in January 2013, down in the south of France, just the thing. Without the fairisle, that will be for my 4 cats.

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  17. Truly adorable!! Thank you for the pattern!

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  18. I've been making your mouse pattern again. Gone a bit mouse mad. You can see them on my blog Ginx Craft.

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  19. I pinned you on Pinterest! This is adorable!
    Lovely poem too.

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  20. I've got a different pattern i made mice from.
    Now these r soooo cute with the decorative stitches.
    I'M going to make some....ty!

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  21. Cool! I can knit, I will have to make some. Thanks for sharing!!!

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  22. Delightful small project so cute will have fun making thank you!

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  23. they are cute! I love the mat they are sitting on. Did you make that too?

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    1. Hi Jane,
      Thank you for your message. Yes I did make the mat the mice are sitting on. The pattern is one of my freebies called Pansy Doily.

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  24. These are so cute janet! ive been looking for a harvest mouse pattern for my autumn garland i am knitting at the moment, and this will be just great! x

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  25. This is so cute! I don't know if I'll ever try it, but thanks for posting it. I'll show the kitties.

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  26. Those mice are so adorable! How will I be able to make one that adorable. Such a wonderful piece.

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  27. HI Thanks so much for the lovely pattern, a good friend collects mice and having a rough time, your little cuties will help cheer her up no end. Look forward to seeing other projects youve made :)

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  28. Oh goodness your tiny mice are the cutest!! Thank you for the pattern, i can't wait to get started :))

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  29. Not sure how to do the tail?!

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    1. Hi Anne,
      If you go to YouTube and search "tutorial for twisted cord" you will explanations that should help. Alternatively, you could make the tail by crocheting a chain to the desired length.

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  30. Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed the pattern and I hope you will enjoy knitting more Fair Isle in the future.

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  31. Thank you for your mouse pattern. I'm knitting one to add to my knitted autumn wreath. I'm quite a beginner but the pattern looks easy to follow.

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    1. Thank you Suzanne, I hope you enjoy knitting it.

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  32. Awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing your mouse pattern!! Can't wait to make several!!Put catnip on my grocery list already.BTW..am a machine knitter-hope you don't mind if I convert your pattern for machine knitting? Would be delighted to share with others...Sandra in Colorado, US

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    1. Thank you Sandra. I'm glad you like the pattern. Feel free to convert it for machine knitting.

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  33. Love this tiny mouse thanks for sharing,love knitting ,Im from Guatemala.Muchas Gracias.

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