Marisol the Knitted Mouse – Free Pattern
There is something quietly magical about a small knitted animal sitting in the palm of your hand. Its button eyes catch the light, its little ears stand at attention, and before you know it you have named it and given it a personality. Marisol the Knitted Mouse is exactly that kind of creature. She is charming, approachable for intermediate knitters, and completely free to make. Whether you are knitting her as a gift for a child, a decoration for your home, or simply because you cannot resist a good amigurumi-style project, this pattern will walk you through every step with clear instructions and plenty of encouragement along the way.
Below you will find the complete free pattern for Marisol, along with tips on yarn selection, a guide to the finishing techniques that give her that polished look, and some creative ideas for customizing her so that every Marisol you make feels one of a kind.
Who Is Marisol?
Marisol is a small stuffed mouse, approximately four inches tall when seated, with rounded ears, a long tail, a sweet embroidered nose, and limbs that are just plump enough to hug. Her name comes from the Spanish words for sea and sun — mar and sol — and there is something appropriately sunny and bright about her. She has the energy of a storybook character who has probably read every book in a tiny library and makes excellent tea.
She is worked primarily in the round on double-pointed needles or a short circular needle, so if you are comfortable with those techniques you will find her very straightforward. If you are newer to knitting in the round, she is also an excellent practice project because the individual pieces are small and quick to complete.
Materials You Will Need
Before you cast on, gather everything so the project flows without interruption.
Yarn: Approximately 50 grams of DK-weight yarn in your main color (body and head), plus a small amount of a contrasting color for the ears, belly, or clothing if you choose to dress her. A smooth, tightly spun yarn shows stitch definition best. Superwash merino or a merino-acrylic blend both work beautifully. Cotton yarn can be used but produces a slightly stiffer fabric.
Needles: US size 2 (2.75 mm) or US size 3 (3.25 mm) double-pointed needles, or a 9-inch circular needle. Go down a needle size from the yarn label’s recommendation to get a tight fabric that will hold the stuffing without gaps.
Notions: Polyester fiberfill stuffing, two 6 mm black safety eyes (or embroidered eyes if the toy is for a child under three), a yarn needle for seaming and embroidery, scissors, stitch markers, and a few yards of dark brown or black yarn or embroidery floss for the nose and whiskers.
Gauge: Approximately 28 stitches and 36 rounds over four inches in stockinette stitch in the round. Gauge is not critical for this project, but consistency matters — if your tension varies your mouse will have lumps and uneven seams.
Abbreviations
Throughout this pattern the following abbreviations are used:
CO — cast on | BO — bind off | k — knit | p — purl | k2tog — knit two stitches together | ssk — slip, slip, knit | kfb — knit into the front and back of a stitch | pm — place marker | sm — slip marker | st(s) — stitch(es) | rnd(s) — round(s) | MC — main color | CC — contrasting color
Pattern Notes
Marisol is knitted from the bottom up. The body and head are worked in one continuous piece, which eliminates a seam and gives her a smooth, professional silhouette. The ears, arms, and legs are worked separately and attached at the end. The tail is a simple three-stitch I-cord.
When decreasing for the head and body, use stitch markers to divide your work into sections — this makes it much easier to keep track of where your decrease rows fall.
If you are inserting safety eyes, do so before you close up the head entirely. Mark their placement with pins first and step back to look at her face from a distance before committing. A few stitches in either direction can dramatically change her expression.
The Pattern
Body and Head
Cast on: Using MC and leaving a six-inch tail, CO 6 stitches. Distribute evenly across three double-pointed needles (2 sts each), join to work in the round, and pm to mark the beginning of the rnd.
Rnd 1: Kfb in each stitch — 12 sts.
Rnd 2: Knit all stitches.
Rnd 3: Kfb, k1 — repeat to end — 18 sts.
Rnd 4: Knit.
Rnd 5: Kfb, k2 — repeat to end — 24 sts.
Rnd 6: Knit.
Rnd 7: Kfb, k3 — repeat to end — 30 sts.
Rnd 8: Knit.
Rnd 9: Kfb, k4 — repeat to end — 36 sts.
Rnd 10: Knit.
Rnd 11: Kfb, k5 — repeat to end — 42 sts.
Rnds 12–28: Knit all rounds (17 rounds even). This creates the belly of the body.
Rnd 29: K2tog, k5 — repeat to end — 36 sts.
Rnd 30: Knit.
Rnd 31: K2tog, k4 — repeat to end — 30 sts.
Rnd 32: Knit.
Rnd 33: K2tog, k3 — repeat to end — 24 sts.
At this point, stuff the body firmly with polyester fiberfill. Continue stuffing as you work the head.
Rnd 34 (begin head increases): Kfb, k3 — repeat to end — 30 sts.
Rnd 35: Knit.
Rnd 36: Kfb, k4 — repeat to end — 36 sts.
Rnd 37: Knit.
Rnd 38: Kfb, k5 — repeat to end — 42 sts.
Rnds 39–52: Knit all rounds (14 rounds even).
Insert safety eyes now if using them. Place them between rounds 45 and 46, approximately 6 stitches apart.
Rnd 53: K2tog, k5 — repeat to end — 36 sts.
Rnd 54: Knit.
Rnd 55: K2tog, k4 — repeat to end — 30 sts.
Rnd 56: Knit.
Rnd 57: K2tog, k3 — repeat to end — 24 sts.
Rnd 58: K2tog, k2 — repeat to end — 18 sts.
Stuff the head firmly.
Rnd 59: K2tog, k1 — repeat to end — 12 sts.
Rnd 60: K2tog — repeat to end — 6 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a six-inch tail. Thread tail through remaining 6 stitches, pull tight, and weave in the end.
Ears (Make Two)
Marisol’s ears are worked flat and then folded slightly before attaching.
Using MC, CO 14 sts.
Row 1 (WS): Purl.
Row 2: K1, kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 — 16 sts.
Row 3: Purl.
Row 4: K1, kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1 — 18 sts.
Rows 5–8: Work in stockinette (knit RS rows, purl WS rows).
Row 9: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 — 16 sts.
Row 10: Purl.
Row 11: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 — 14 sts.
Row 12: Purl.
Row 13: K1, ssk, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 — 12 sts.
BO all stitches purlwise.
For a two-toned ear, pick up stitches along the cast-on edge in CC and work a few rows of stockinette before binding off to create an inner ear panel. Alternatively, knit a second ear piece in CC and seam them together with wrong sides facing before attaching to the head.
Arms (Make Two)
CO 6 sts. Distribute across DPNs and join to work in the round.
Rnd 1: Kfb in each stitch — 12 sts.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: Kfb, k1 — repeat to end — 18 sts.
Rnds 4–8: Knit all rounds.
Rnd 9: K2tog, k1 — repeat to end — 12 sts.
Rnds 10–22: Knit all rounds.
Stuff lightly. Cut yarn and thread tail through remaining stitches to close.
Legs (Make Two)
CO 6 sts. Join to work in the round.
Rnd 1: Kfb in each stitch — 12 sts.
Rnd 2: Knit.
Rnd 3: Kfb, k1 — repeat to end — 18 sts.
Rnds 4–6: Knit all rounds.
Rnd 7: K2tog, k1 — repeat to end — 12 sts.
Rnds 8–20: Knit all rounds.
Stuff lightly. Cut yarn and close as for arms.
Tail
Using MC, CO 3 sts onto one double-pointed needle. Knit across, then without turning the work, slide the stitches back to the right end of the needle. Repeat this from to until the I-cord measures approximately 4 inches or your preferred length. BO and leave a tail for sewing.
Assembly
Lay all pieces out in front of you before you start sewing so you can visualize how Marisol will look assembled.
Ears: Pinch the base of each ear slightly so it curves inward, creating a gentle cup shape. Position them on top of the head, roughly aligned with rounds 38 to 42. Use the yarn tail and a yarn needle to stitch them firmly in place, sewing all the way around the base. The ears should feel secure when you give them a gentle tug.
Arms: Pin the arms to either side of the body at approximately round 18. They can point slightly forward or straight out to the sides. Sew them on using mattress stitch or a simple whipstitch around the entire circumference of the opening.
Legs: Attach the legs to the bottom front of the body so that Marisol can sit stably. Position them slightly forward-facing. Sew on firmly.
Tail: Thread the tail end through to the back lower center of the body and sew in place, making several stitches to secure it.
Face Embroidery
The face is where Marisol truly comes alive, so take your time here.
Nose: Using dark yarn or embroidery floss, work a small triangle of satin stitch just below the center of the face. Three to four straight stitches laid side by side create a neat little pink or brown nose. You can also work a single horizontal straight stitch with a vertical stitch dropped down from its center to create a simpler nose shape.
Whiskers: Thread a long strand of thin cotton or nylon thread through the snout area so that equal lengths extend from each side. Three whiskers per side is classic. A tiny knot or backstitch at the entry point keeps them from pulling through.
Eyes (if embroidered): Work small circles or crosses in black yarn, or use French knots for a sweet, slightly old-fashioned look. Embroider a small white highlight stitch in the upper corner of each eye to give Marisol a bright, lively expression.
Customization Ideas
One of the best things about a free pattern like this one is how easy it is to make each version uniquely your own.
Clothing: Knit Marisol a tiny dress or sweater using leftover scraps of DK yarn. A simple rectangle seamed up the back with holes for her arms works as a dress. Add a few rows of a contrasting color at the hem for a cheerful border.
Color: Mouse-colored yarn (grey, taupe, fawn) is classic, but there is no rule that says Marisol cannot be lavender or deep teal or a warm terracotta. A rainbow Marisol knitted in self-striping yarn is a delight.
Size: Knit her in fingering weight yarn on smaller needles and she becomes a tiny ornament. Work her in bulky yarn on larger needles and she becomes a huggable stuffed animal suitable for toddlers.
Accessories: A tiny scarf worked in seed stitch. A miniature basket made from a few rounds of single crochet. A hat shaped from a small circle. A book made from folded felt. Marisol appreciates a prop.
Tips for a Polished Finish
A few small habits make the difference between a toy that looks handmade in the best possible way and one that looks unfinished.
Weave in ends thoroughly, going in at least two different directions so they cannot work loose over time. This matters especially for toys that will be handled regularly.
When closing the top of the head, use the yarn tail to neaten any gap at the very tip before weaving it in. A small, careful stitch or two can close a space that would otherwise catch the eye.
If your safety eyes pop out slightly from the face rather than sitting flush, try going down another needle size for a tighter fabric, or use a slightly smaller eye size.
Steam blocking can help even out the stockinette fabric if it looks uneven after assembly. Hold a steam iron a few inches above the finished mouse — do not press directly — and let the steam relax the fibers.
Sharing Your Marisol
If you knit Marisol, please share her. Tag your photos and let other knitters find the pattern — it is deeply encouraging for makers to see how a pattern is interpreted across different hands, colors, and yarn choices. No two Marisos are exactly alike, and that is the whole point.
This pattern is free for personal use. You are welcome to sell finished items made from this pattern, though please credit the pattern and do not redistribute the pattern itself for sale.
A Few Last Thoughts
There is a particular kind of quiet satisfaction in finishing a small knitted creature. You cast on just six stitches — a tiny loop of yarn that could have been anything — and somewhere in the process of knitting and stuffing and sewing and embroidering, a personality appears. Marisol arrives with her round ears and her serious little nose and her tail curling behind her, and she is immediately, undeniably herself.
Knitting her takes an afternoon or two. Loving her takes considerably longer.
Happy knitting.
