Marisol the Knitted Mouse – Free Pattern
There is something quietly magical about making a tiny creature from yarn and a pair of needles. The mouse has long been one of knitting’s most beloved animal archetypes — small enough to tuck into a pocket, charming enough to become a cherished keepsake, and straightforward enough that even an intermediate knitter can finish one in a weekend. Marisol is my answer to that tradition. She is a sweet, soft, slightly whimsical mouse with a rounded belly, a long tapered tail, and the kind of face that makes people smile when they see her sitting on a shelf. Whether you are making her for a child, a friend, a baby shower gift, or just for the pure pleasure of the project, I hope you fall in love with the process.
This post contains the complete free pattern for Marisol the Knitted Mouse, along with notes on yarn substitution, sizing, and finishing. Read all the way through before casting on — there are a few construction tips that will make your life much easier.
About the Pattern
Marisol is knitted almost entirely in the round, starting from the nose and working toward the tail end. Her ears are picked up and worked flat, and her limbs are knitted as small tubes that are stuffed and sewn on afterward. This construction method keeps seaming to a minimum, which means she has a smooth, professional finish even if you are not particularly confident with a tapestry needle.
She stands approximately 14 cm (5.5 inches) tall when sitting, or about 18 cm (7 inches) when her tail is included. With lighter-weight yarn and smaller needles, you can make a miniature version that is closer to 9 or 10 cm. The pattern notes include tips for scaling.
Materials
Yarn: Approximately 60–80 meters of DK weight yarn (yarn weight 3) in your main color. A small amount — 10 meters or so — in a contrasting color for the inner ears and optional belly patch. Marisol is shown in a warm dove gray main color with a dusty rose contrast, but she looks equally lovely in caramel, cream, soft brown, or any color you like for a mouse.
Needles: 3.25 mm (US 3) double-pointed needles, or a short circular needle if you prefer magic loop. The gauge should be fairly tight to prevent the stuffing from showing through.
Other supplies:
Two 6 mm black safety eyes (or embroider eyes if the toy is for a baby under three years old), polyester toy stuffing, a tapestry needle, stitch markers, waste yarn or small stitch holders, and a small amount of black or dark brown yarn for the nose embroidery. Optional: a length of thin wire (such as jewelry wire or pipe cleaner) inserted inside the tail to make it poseable.
Gauge: 24 stitches and 32 rounds over 10 cm in stockinette stitch. Because this is a stuffed toy, gauge does not need to be precise, but a tighter fabric will give a neater result.
Abbreviations
CO – cast on
BO – bind off
k – knit
p – purl
k2tog – knit two stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
ssk – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
m1L – make one left (lift the bar between stitches and knit through the back loop)
m1R – make one right (lift the bar between stitches and knit through the front loop)
pm – place marker
sm – slip marker
kfb – knit into the front and back of the same stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
MC – main color
CC – contrasting color
Pattern Notes
The body is worked from the tip of the nose toward the rump. Increases shape the head, and then decreases taper the neck before the body is worked straight and then shaped again at the base. The nose-first method allows you to stuff the head firmly before closing it off from the body, which gives Marisol’s face a satisfying plumpness.
Her ears are picked up directly from the head, which eliminates the need to sew them on separately and ensures they sit at exactly the right angle. If you prefer, you can knit them separately and sew them on — the instructions include both options.
The tail is worked as a simple I-cord that tapers naturally as you decrease the stitch count. For a poseable tail, slip a pipe cleaner through the finished I-cord before attaching it.
The Pattern
Part One: Head
Using MC and your preferred cast-on method, CO 6 sts. Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist, and place a marker at the beginning of the round.
Round 1: Knit all stitches.
Round 2: (kfb) repeat to end of round. — 12 sts
Round 3: Knit all stitches.
Round 4: (k1, kfb) repeat to end of round. — 18 sts
Round 5: Knit all stitches.
Round 6: (k2, kfb) repeat to end of round. — 24 sts
Round 7: Knit all stitches.
Round 8: (k3, kfb) repeat to end of round. — 30 sts
Rounds 9–14: Knit all stitches (6 rounds even).
Round 15: (k3, k2tog) repeat to end of round. — 24 sts
Round 16: Knit all stitches.
Round 17: (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of round. — 18 sts
At this point, insert the safety eyes between rounds 11 and 12, approximately 6 stitches apart. If you are making this toy for a very young child, skip the safety eyes now and embroider the eyes at the finishing stage instead.
Round 18: Knit all stitches.
Stuff the head firmly with polyester filling. The nose end (your cast-on) should be round and firm. It will look very spherical at this stage — that is correct.
Round 19: (k1, k2tog) repeat to end of round. — 12 sts
Round 20: (k2tog) repeat to end of round. — 6 sts
Draw yarn through remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close. This closing point is where the neck meets the body, so do not cut the yarn. Instead, leave a long tail and keep these stitches live on your needle or transfer them to a holder.
Part Two: Neck and Body
With the working yarn from the end of the head, pick up and knit 6 stitches from around the closed base of the head to create the neck join. Join to work in the round.
Round 1: Knit all stitches. — 6 sts
Round 2: (kfb) repeat to end of round. — 12 sts
Round 3: Knit all stitches.
Round 4: (k1, kfb) repeat to end of round. — 18 sts
Round 5: Knit all stitches.
Round 6: (k2, kfb) repeat to end of round. — 24 sts
Round 7: Knit all stitches.
Round 8: (k3, kfb) repeat to end of round. — 30 sts
Rounds 9–22: Knit all stitches (14 rounds even). This forms the main body of Marisol’s torso.
Round 23: (k3, k2tog) repeat to end of round. — 24 sts
Round 24: Knit all stitches.
Round 25: (k2, k2tog) repeat to end of round. — 18 sts
Round 26: Knit all stitches.
Stuff the body very firmly before continuing. Marisol should feel dense and hold her sitting position without flopping.
Round 27: (k1, k2tog) repeat to end of round. — 12 sts
Round 28: (k2tog) repeat to end of round. — 6 sts
Draw yarn through remaining 6 stitches and pull tight to close. This is the base of the rump. Weave in the end securely on the inside.
Part Three: Ears (Picked-Up Method)
With the head facing you, identify the position for the first ear. It should sit approximately 4–5 stitches back from the eyes, slightly toward the top of the head. Mark this spot with a pin or spare piece of yarn.
Pick up 5 stitches along the surface of the head in an arc shape, using MC. Work back and forth flat (not in the round) for the outer ear.
Row 1 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Row 2 (RS): k1, m1L, k3, m1R, k1. — 7 sts
Row 3 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Row 4 (RS): k1, m1L, k5, m1R, k1. — 9 sts
Row 5 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Row 6 (RS): ssk, k5, k2tog. — 7 sts
Row 7 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Row 8 (RS): ssk, k3, k2tog. — 5 sts
Row 9 (WS): Purl all stitches.
Row 10 (RS): ssk, k1, k2tog. — 3 sts
BO remaining 3 stitches. Do not cut yarn yet; use the tail to tack down the edge of the ear to give it a cupped, natural shape.
Switch to CC and pick up 4 stitches along the inside curve of the ear to work the inner ear patch.
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: k1, m1L, k2, m1R, k1. — 6 sts
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: ssk, k2, k2tog. — 4 sts
Row 5: Purl.
BO and weave in ends on the WS of the ear. Repeat for the second ear on the opposite side of the head.
Part Four: Arms (Make Two)
Using MC, CO 6 sts. Join to work in the round.
Rounds 1–3: Knit all stitches.
Round 4: (kfb, k2) repeat twice. — 8 sts
Rounds 5–10: Knit all stitches.
Round 11: (k2tog, k2) repeat twice. — 6 sts
Round 12: Knit all stitches.
BO or draw yarn through remaining stitches and close. Stuff lightly — the arms should be soft and floppy rather than rigid. Leave a long tail for sewing. Attach to the upper sides of the body, positioning them roughly level with the middle of the chest.
Part Five: Legs (Make Two)
Using MC, CO 8 sts. Join to work in the round.
Rounds 1–4: Knit all stitches. (This forms the foot pad.)
Round 5: (k2tog, k2) repeat twice. — 6 sts
Rounds 6–14: Knit all stitches. (This is the leg.)
BO or draw yarn through stitches and close. Stuff firmly so the legs can support Marisol in a sitting position. Attach to the lower sides of the body so she sits naturally with her legs extending forward and slightly outward.
Part Six: Tail
Using MC and two double-pointed needles, CO 4 sts and work as an I-cord as follows.
Rows 1–6: k4, slide stitches to the other end of the needle without turning, pull yarn across the back.
Row 7: k2tog, k2. — 3 sts
Rows 8–20: k3, slide stitches.
Row 21: k2tog, k1. — 2 sts
Rows 22–30: k2, slide stitches.
Draw yarn through remaining 2 stitches and pull to a point. If you would like a poseable tail, thread a pipe cleaner through the I-cord from the open (body) end before attaching. Attach the wide end of the tail to the base of the rump, centered, using the yarn tail.
Finishing
With black yarn, embroider a small nose at the very tip of Marisol’s face. A simple satin stitch worked in a small triangular or oval shape gives the most realistic result. If you chose to embroider the eyes instead of using safety eyes, work two small circles of satin stitch in black at the eye positions, then add a single white straight stitch across each one to create a highlight.
Using MC, work a few small stitches at the corner of the mouth — a very slight downward curve on each side makes her look thoughtful and gentle rather than grinning.
If you would like to add Marisol’s optional belly patch, cut a small oval of felt or knit a small flat oval in CC and tack it to her front. A few stitches are enough to hold it in place.
Press Marisol very gently with a damp cloth and allow her to dry in a sitting position so she holds her shape.
Yarn Substitution Notes
Marisol is designed for DK weight yarn, but she adapts beautifully to other weights. For a slightly chunkier, quicker version, try Aran or worsted weight yarn with 4.0 mm needles — this produces a mouse that is a little larger and even squishier, perfect if you want something easier to handle for young children. For a miniature version, fingering weight yarn on 2.25 mm needles makes a tiny mouse that fits in the palm of your hand and would make a lovely ornament or gift tag.
Natural fibers like wool and alpaca give a lovely drape and a softness that is hard to beat. However, for toys that will be washed frequently, a cotton-acrylic blend or a superwash wool is more practical. Avoid anything too loosely spun or with a very open construction, as the stuffing will peek through.
Care Instructions
Hand wash in cool water with a gentle detergent. Reshape while damp and lay flat to dry. If you used safety eyes, do not put Marisol in a washing machine. If you need a fully machine-washable version, embroider the eyes instead, use polyester toy stuffing (which dries quickly), and choose a superwash yarn.
A Few Final Thoughts
Marisol has been a joy to design and an even greater joy to watch take shape in the hands of other knitters. There is something about the nose-first construction that feels almost like coaxing a creature into being stitch by stitch — and the moment you add the eyes and she suddenly looks back at you is one of those small knitting moments that never gets old.
If you make her, I would love to see your version. Feel free to play with her colorway, give her a little sewn-on dress or hat, or adjust her proportions to suit your taste. She is a very forgiving pattern, and because she is worked in such a small stitch count, mistakes are easy to spot and easy to fix. Even if your increases are slightly uneven or your tension varies a little, the finished mouse will still be full of character and charm.
Thank you for knitting with me. Happy making.
