It's almost Christmas again - woohoo! - that wonderful season of goodwill, good cheer and a wee dram of ...human kindness (ahem)! We've a very kind neighbour who I suspect is the real Santa. No beard, but he does sport bright twinkling eyes beneath a mop of shiny white curls and regularly delivers fragrant homemade cupcakes to our doorstep.
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| Christmas Mouse - free crochet pattern |
The end of the year can sometimes be bittersweet, tinged with nostalgia. It pays to lean towards gratitude for what is, rather than lament what is not. For me, this year has brought quite a few changes. In Spring we laid yellow roses on the water in memory of my dad who passed away this March. By Autumn I had signed up for an Art course and have renewed my passion for painting. Painting is a way of processing my feelings the only way I know how - through creativity. Dad was a painter and so I think I'm trying to communicate with him somehow. I'm sure he'd be pleased, although probably not all that impressed! If you're curious you can visit my Instagram page ninacouserart.
I've been buoyed by your company and companionship online throughout the year. Thanks for being there throughout the highs and lows. I appreciate you!
So this time it's my turn to deliver a little gift to you - this Christmas Gift Mouse crochet pattern! It was a lovely challenge to write it - there are so many amigurumi patterns for Christmas critters out there but I knew I wanted to give them a warm character. (My Nancy sees me in the white one but I think I should've swapped the teeth...!)
The Christmas Mouse is easy to make (double crochets throughout) with minimal sewing. I stuffed the body with grain at the bottom so that they stand up. They're holding a Christmas cracker, but you could easily have them hold a star, a box or some chocolate.
I hope you enjoy a safe and Happy Christmas with those you hold dear.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
See you in 2022!
Love Nina x
Christmas Mouse - crochet pattern
Materials:
• Approx 30g (50m/55yds) Alpaca yarn (Main Colour) – pictured here in yarn by Amberly Alpacas
• small amount of red, pink, black, brown, silver, grey
• 3mm crochet hook (or size to obtain a firm fabric)
• darning needle
• stitch marker (preferably lockable)
• Toy Stuffing
• Small amount of bean bag filling (or rice, lentils etc) to weight the base of the MOUSE
Special Stitches:
• Magic Ring (link to video Tutorial: https://youtu.be/ag2qkyzaNAE
• Inc (increase): work 2dc in the same stitch
• Dec (decrease over 2 separate stitches): *[insert hook in next stitch and draw up a loop]; rep from * once more, then yarn round hook and draw through all three loops
Notes to this Pattern:
1. Pattern is written in UK terms
2. Work snugly throughout
BEGIN – read all Notes
BODY – worked in a continuous spiral
Using Main Colour, make a Magic Ring (see Special Stitches Video Tutorial) (or else ch4 and join with a ss to form a ring, working over the tail as you go)
Round 1: Work 6dc in the ring, place marker in the front loop of the last stitch (keep moving the marker up at the end of each round)
Round 2: 2dc (=Increase - see Special Stitches) into each stitch around [12dc]
Round 3: *Inc in next st, 1dc in next st; rep from * around [18dc]
Round 4: *Inc in next st, 1dc in each of the next 2sts; rep from * around [24dc]
Round 5: *Inc in next st, 1dc in each of the next 3sts; rep from * around [30dc]
Round 6: *Inc in next st, 1dc in each of the next 4sts; rep from * around [36dc]
Round 7: *Inc in next st, 1dc in each of the next 5sts; rep from * around [42dc]
Rounds 8 to 26: Work 1dc into each stitch around [42dc]
Round 27: *1Dec (see Special Stitches), 1dc in each of the next 5sts; rep from * around [36dc]
Round 28: 1dc in each dc around
Round 29: *1Dec, 1dc in each of the next 4sts; rep from * around [30dc]
Round 30: 1dc in each dc around [30dc]
Round 31: *1Dec, 1dc in each of the next 3sts; rep from * around [24dc]
Round 32: 1dc in each dc around [24dc]
Fill a small bag with bean bag filling (or filling of your choice. I used dried barley). Place it in the bottom of your MOUSE. Stuff the rest of the MOUSE with soft toy stuffing, quite firmly.
Round 33: *1Dec, 1dc in each of the next 2sts; rep from * around [18dc]
Rounds 34 - 36: 1dc in each dc around [18dc]
Round 37: *1Dec, 1dc next st; rep from * around [12dc]
Add a little more stuffing if necessary.
Rounds 38 & 39: 1dc in each dc around [12dc]
Round 40: Dec around [6dc]
Fasten off with a long tail and sew the tip closed
NOSE Using White, make a Magic Ring: Work 6dc into the ring. Fasten off with a tail for sewing. Using a darning needle, pick up every loop of each stitch around and pull tightly to make the round ‘pop’. Stitch onto the tip of the nose.
EARS (make 2) – Using Main Colour, work as Rounds 1 – 5 of the BODY [30dc]. Fasten off with a long tail. Stitch EARS in place between Rounds 25 & 26 of the BODY (secure about 5sts per EAR), leaving 4sts between each EAR.
HAT - Using Red, make a Magic Ring
Rounds 1 - 3: Work Rounds 1 – 4 of BODY [18dc]
Rounds 4 - 6: Work 1dc into each stitch around, drawing up WHITE on last st.
Rounds 7 & 8 (White): 1dc in each dc
Slip stitch into next st, fasten off with a long tail for sewing. Tie ends together inside the Hat (you can use them as part of the stuffing)
Pompom for HAT – work as for NOSE.
Stitch Pompom top of HAT through the centre.
Stuff HAT lightly with Toy Stuffing. Stitch to the head between the EARS using White, making sure the EARS are in front.
TAIL – Using Main Colour, ch47, slip st in 2nd ch from hook, *[skip next ch, slip st into next ch] 5 times, 1slip st into each of the next 5ch; repeat from * to end. Fasten off with a long tail for sewing.
Attach the tail to Round 1 of the body and stitch in place along the centre back (as far as Round 18), leaving the remainder of the TAIL free. Encourage TAIL to curl around into a spiral.
ARMS – Using Main Colour, ch19, starting in 2nd ch from hook, slip st into each ch to end. Fasten off with a long tail for sewing.
Using a crochet hook, pull one end of the ARMS through Rounds 25 & 26 , leaving 5sts between. Use the tails to sew the ends of the Arms together and also to attach the Cracker.
CRACKER – using Silver, ch7
Row 1: 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, 1dc in each chain across [6dc]
Rows 2 – 6: Ch1, 1dc in each st across.
Fasten off with a longer tail. Sew into a tube. Tie a length of yarn tightly around each end, close to the edge.
EYES - Using Black held double, make a few straight stitches (3sts wide) between Rounds 28 & 29, leaving 9 sts between.
MOUTH – using Pink held double, make two straight stitches (5sts wide) between Rounds 34 & 35
WHISKERS - Using Grey, stitch 3x Whiskers at each side of the Nose between Rounds 35 and 36
I hope you have enjoyed this pattern. May it bring comfort and joy to you and your family.
Merry Christmas!
Nina x
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| Merry Christmas everyone! Stay safe! |
For the complete range of crochet patterns by Nancy Said visit https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/nancysaid
