Introduction
Meet the Garden Forager Mouse—a sweet, curious little knitter’s companion dressed in an olive pinafore, textured green cardigan with patch pockets, cream scalloped collar, lace-tied shoes, and a sunny straw hat. She stands on a bench by the window, holding a tiny watering can and a basket filled with knitted carrots and radishes.
Please note: I strive for accuracy in every pattern, but occasional errors can happen. Thank you for understanding and for enjoying my designs.
Materials & Tools
- Yarn (DK/Light Worsted, non-fuzzy wool/acrylic blend preferred):
Mouse body: oatmeal/stone (≈50 g)
Inner ear/muzzle: pale blush or cream (small amount)
Dress (pinafore): olive (≈35 g)
Cardigan: deeper leaf green (≈35 g)
Collar: cream (small amount)
Shoes: warm brown (≈25 g)
Hat: straw/beige (≈25 g)
Accessories:
– Watering can: light gray (small amount)
– Basket: wheat/beige (≈10 g)
– Vegetables: carrot orange, radish pink, greens for leaves (scraps) - Needles:
2.75 mm (US 2) DPNs or 32–40 cm circular for small circumferences;
3.25 mm (US 3) DPNs/circular (garments & hat);
2.25 mm (US 1) for collar/trim and tiny accessories. - Notions: fiberfill, tapestry needle, stitch markers, scrap yarn, safety eyes 8 mm, black pearl cotton for smile, brown/black yarn for nose, 2 small wooden-look buttons for cardigan, 2 tiny buttons for dress straps, optional pipe cleaner/wire for tail, small cardboard circle for hat brim support (optional).
Gauge & Finished Size
- Gauge (stockinette in the round, lightly stuffed): 28 sts × 36 rnds = 10 cm/4″ on 2.75 mm.
- Finished size: ~23–24 cm (9–9.5″) tall standing; head ≈7.2 cm high; body (neck to hem) ≈9.5 cm; ear length ≈4.2 cm; tail ≈10 cm.
If your gauge differs, adjust needle size so the fabric is dense (no stuffing visible).
Abbreviations (US terms, in-the-round)
- CO – cast on
- BO – bind off
- k – knit
- p – purl
- kfb – knit front and back (increase 1)
- m1L/m1R – make one left/right
- k2tog – knit 2 together (right-leaning dec)
- ssk – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning dec)
- pm/sm – place/slip marker
- rnd(s) – round(s)
- sts – stitches
- tbl – through back loop
- yo – yarn over
- RS/WS – right/wrong side
- i-cord – knit i-cord (2 or 3 sts)
Construction Notes
- Direction: Bottom-up body with shoes and legs worked separately, joined at the hips; arms picked up and worked top-down; head worked separately and sewn on for clean neck line.
- Look-critical details: round head, tall ears, oval muzzle, narrow shoulders, slightly bell-shaped dress with ribbed hem, cardigan with pocket flaps, straw-hat texture, and handheld accessories.
- Work tightly; stuff as you go. Use markers for the front center and side seams to keep placements exact.
Proportion & Placement Map (match the photo)
- Eyes: insert safety eyes 11 rnds up from head CO edge and 12 sts apart center-to-center.
- Nose: embroidered triangle centered 2 rnds below the eye line; gentle smile curve 1 rnd below nose corners.
- Ears: attach with the lower ear edge starting 2 rnds above eye line; spacing ≈10 sts apart at bases.
- Arms: pick up at the body’s side “seam” 4 rnds below neck.
- Tail: centered back, 6 rnds above neckline to hip midpoint, length ≈10 cm with soft curve.
- Dress straps buttons: aligned with eye centers.
- Cardigan hem: meets dress hem at the same level front; pockets sit 6 rnds above cardigan hem.
The Mouse
Shoes (make 2, brown, 2.75 mm)
- CO 8 sts, knit i-cord for 6 rows (this will be the front strap bow tie later). Break yarn, leave on hold.
- Sole: CO 6 sts, work flat in st st 2 rows. Inc row: kfb, k4, kfb (8). Next row p.
- Shape oval: (RS) kfb, k to last 1, kfb. Repeat every RS row 3 more times → 14 sts; maintain 3 garter sts at each end for firmness.
- Pick up around edge to work in the round: 36 sts.
- Foot: k 5 rnds. Toe decs: (k7, k2tog) ×4 (32). Next rnd (k6, k2tog) ×4 (28). Next (k5, k2tog) ×4 (24).
- Stuff lightly; continue: (k2, k2tog) ×6 (18). Next rnd (k1, k2tog) ×6 (12). Cut yarn, draw through 12 sts to close.
- Strap: From instep center pick up 3 sts, work i-cord 10 rows; thread the held i-cord (Step 1) into a bow; tack ends neatly to resemble lace ties.
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Legs (make 2, oatmeal, 2.75 mm)
CO 10 sts, join.
Rnds 1–6: k.
Rnd 7: kfb around (20).
Rnds 8–22: k.
Knee decs: (k3, k2tog) ×4 (16).
Rnds 24–28: k; stuff firmly. Break yarn, leave on hold.
Join Legs & Hips (oatmeal)
Arrange legs side by side; CO 4 sts between them at front and 4 sts at back while joining in the round → 40 sts.
Rnds 1–6: k.
Shape tummy: Rnd 7 (k8, k2tog) ×4 (36). Rnd 11 (k7, k2tog) ×4 (32).
Rnds 12–18: k.
Waist decs: Rnd 19 (k6, k2tog) ×4 (28). Rnd 21 (k5, k2tog) ×4 (24).
Rnds 22–24: k. Install safety tail anchor or wire end now.
Neck & Shoulders
Rnd 25 (k2, k2tog) ×6 (18).
Rnd 26 k.
Rnd 27 (k1, k2tog) ×6 (12).
Rnd 28 k. Bind off loosely leaving tail for later seaming to head (hidden under collar).
Arms (pick up & knit, 2.75 mm, oatmeal)
At each side seam, PU 12 sts centered 4 rnds below neck; join in the round.
Rnds 1–12: k.
Paw decs: (k2, k2tog) ×3 (9). Next rnd (k1, k2tog) ×3 (6). Stuff; draw through to close.
Optional palm shaping: before closing, place a pinch of stuffing in the front.
Tail (oatmeal, 2.25 mm)
CO 3 sts, work 18–22 cm of i-cord. Thread a thin pipe cleaner inside if desired. Sew to lower back at the map position.
Head (worked bottom-up, 2.75 mm, oatmeal)
CO 8 sts, join.
Rnd 1: kfb around (16).
Rnd 2: (k1, kfb) ×8 (24).
Rnd 3: (k2, kfb) ×8 (32).
Rnd 4: (k3, kfb) ×8 (40).
Rnd 5: (k4, kfb) ×8 (48).
Rnd 6: (k5, kfb) ×8 (56).
Rnds 7–20: k straight for height; begin stuffing.
Eye line is after Rnd 15—insert 8 mm eyes 12 sts apart.
Shaping to crown:
Rnd 21 (k5, k2tog) ×8 (48).
Rnd 23 (k4, k2tog) ×8 (40).
Rnd 25 (k3, k2tog) ×8 (32).
Rnd 27 (k2, k2tog) ×8 (24).
Rnd 29 (k1, k2tog) ×8 (16).
Rnd 30 k2tog around (8). Finish stuffing; draw through to close.
Muzzle (cream or blush, 2.75 mm)
CO 6 sts.
Rnd 1: kfb around (12).
Rnd 2: (k1, kfb) ×6 (18).
Rnd 3: (k2, kfb) ×6 (24).
Rnd 4: k.
Rnd 5: (k2, k2tog) ×6 (18).
Rnd 6: k. Stuff softly; sew centered 2 rnds below eye line. Embroider brown nose triangle and black smile.
Ears (make 2, oatmeal, 2.75 mm)
CO 6 sts.
Rnd 1: kfb around (12).
Rnd 2: (k1, kfb) ×6 (18).
Rnd 3: (k2, kfb) ×6 (24).
Rnds 4–10: k.
Rnd 11: (k2, k2tog) ×6 (18).
Rnd 12: (k1, k2tog) ×6 (12).
Flat-finish: BO, press lower edge flat; fold a gentle curve and stitch to head at the map positions.
Join Head to Body
Ladder stitch the head’s CO edge neatly to the body neckline; keep the seam slightly forward of center so the chin tucks into the collar later.
Dress – Olive Pinafore (3.25 mm)
Worked in the round; subtle A-line with rib hem and buttoned straps.
Skirt
CO 84 sts, join, pm.
Rnds 1–8: k2, p1 rib for the firm hem seen in the photo.
Switch to st st.
Inc Rnd: (k6, m1L) ×12 (96).
Work straight 16 rnds.
Waist shaping: (k7, k2tog) ×12 (84).
Work 2 more rnds. BO knitwise.
Bodice (front & back)
Place sts evenly: 42 front/42 back.
Back: Re-attach yarn to back 42 sts, work 8 rows flat in st st; BO.
Front: Re-attach to front 42 sts, work 10 rows flat; on last row, k2tog at each edge (40) to softly curve the armholes. BO.
Straps (make 2)
PU 7 sts from top front edge each side; work i-cord for 12 cm. Add a 3-st buttonhole near the end (yo, k2tog, k1); BO.
Sew two tiny buttons on the back to match the photo; cross the straps over the back if you prefer the snug look.
Pocket Panel (optional match to photo’s apron-like look)
PU 14 sts centered on front skirt; work 6 rows k1,p1 rib; BO and tack only sides/bottom.
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Cardigan – Textured Green with Patch Pockets (3.25 mm)
Knit bottom-up flat; sleeves picked up and worked in the round.
Back
CO 42 sts in leaf green.
Rows 1–6: k2, p2 rib.
Switch to texture: (RS) k, p across in 4×2 seed variant → [Row A: k2, p2…; Row B: p2, k2…].
Work 26 rows straight. BO.
Left Front
CO 22 sts.
Rows 1–6: k2, p2 rib, keeping 2 sts at edge in garter for button band.
Work texture for 24 rows, keeping front edge 2 sts garter. BO.
Right Front
As Left Front but mirror.
Shoulder Join & Neck
Sew shoulder seams (3 sts each).
PU around neckline with 2.25 mm: work 4 rows garter; BO.
Sew side seams leaving 8.5–9 cm armhole depth.
Sleeves (pick up, in the round, 3.25 mm)
PU 32 sts around armhole.
Rnds 1–4: k2, p2 rib.
Rnds 5–22: work texture.
Cuff: k1, p1 rib 4 rnds; BO.
Patch Pockets (make 2)
CO 10 sts, work k2, p2 rib 4 rows, then 6 rows stockinette. BO.
Attach with top edges open; add tiny garter flap (CO 8 sts, 2 rows garter, BO) and tack the flap edge only—this creates the neat pocket look from the photo.
Button Band & Buttons
PU up the right front 2 sts in from edge: work 4 rows garter; BO. On left front, repeat but add 2 buttonholes (yo, k2tog) spaced to align with chest center. Sew on wooden-look buttons.
Cream Collar (2.25 mm)
CO 60 sts; work [k1, (yo, k2tog), k1] across for a gentle picot-scallop.
Next 3 rows: st st.
BO loosely. Steam lightly and sew around neckline, overlapping slightly at front center to mimic the photo’s petite collar.
Straw Hat (3.25 mm straw beige)
Crown
CO 8 sts; kfb around (16). (k1, kfb) ×8 (24). (k2, kfb) ×8 (32). (k3, kfb) ×8 (40).
Work 8 rnds even.
Brim
Rnd (k4, kfb) ×8 (48). Next (k5, kfb) ×8 (56). Next (k6, kfb) ×8 (64).
Work 4 rnds even in garter (k 1 rnd, p 1 rnd) to emulate straw ridges.
Optional: Slip a thin cardboard ring inside before final rnd. BO.
Tack brim slightly up on one side if desired.
Accessories
Watering Can (light gray, 2.25–2.75 mm)
Body: CO 24 sts, join, k 6 rnds; (k2, k2tog) ×6 (18), k 2 rnds; (k1, k2tog) ×6 (12); draw tight.
Base: PU 24 sts from CO edge; k1, p1 2 rnds for rim.
Spout: CO 3 sts, i-cord 10–12 rows; sew at angle, add a 6-st flat circle to tip (kfb around once, BO).
Handle: CO 3 sts, i-cord 14 rows; attach opposite spout.
Basket (wheat)
CO 36 sts, join. Rnds 1–3: k.
Rnds 4–7: k1, p1 to imitate woven texture.
Rnd 8: p around for sharp turning ridge.
Rnds 9–14: k.
BO.
Handles: i-cords (3 sts × 10 rows) sewn at sides.
Carrots (orange): CO 6, k 2 rnds; (k2tog, k1, k1) irregularly until 3 sts; pull tight. Add green 3-st i-cord leaves.
Radishes (pink/white): small sphere (CO 6, inc to 12, 2 rnds even, dec to 6), add green thread leaves.
Assembly & Finishing
- Weave in all ends. Dress the mouse in the pinafore first, crossing straps at back if preferred; stitch lightly to hold.
- Put on the cardigan; sew buttons aligned with band holes.
- Sew shoes to leg bottoms if you want non-removable footwear; tie the bow-laces neatly.
- Place hat on head; add a few hidden tack stitches to keep the tilt.
- Position the tail with a soft curve.
- Seat the watering can in one paw and the basket in the other; add a few invisible stitches so they stay put exactly as in the photo.
Blocking, Styling & Photo Tips
- Steam-block the dress hem and cardigan bands to lay flat.
- Pinch the ear bases while steaming to lock their gentle curve.
- For the cozy UK window-sill look, style with two terracotta pots (rosemary/basil), a pale wood bench, and soft afternoon light. Keep the palette pastel-earthy so the olive outfit reads true.
Care
Spot-clean only. Keep accessories detached for storage. If gifting to a child, secure buttons and consider embroidering eyes instead of safety eyes.
