December Amigurumi CAL Part One - Christmas Mouse

Posted by Kristi Tullus on December 15, 2016

Welcome to our December Amigurumi CAL. This month we are making this Christmas mouse in a cute elf outfit.

It's not a complicated pattern to crochet and only uses the most basic stitches – chain, slip, single and double crochet stitch. If you haven't made toys before, some of the techniques may be new to you, but don't worry, I have little video tutorials of all the amigurumi specific techniques used and it's a great opportunity to learn all the basics of crocheting toys.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at kristi@spire.ee, I am always happy to help. And if you haven't already, join us at our exclusive Facebook group, Fun with Furls.

WHAT DO WE NEED

Yarn. I used DROPS Nepal, a worsted weight alpaca and wool blend. You will need about 165 yards (150 m) or two skeins in 0500 light gray, 165 yards (150 m) or two skeins in 3620 red and 22 yards (20 m) or 1/4 skein in 1101 white.
But of course you can use any yarn you like, just keep in mind if you decide to go with something other than worsted weight, you will also need to adjust the size of your crochet hook and safety eyes.

Furls Odyssey size E / 3,50 mm crochet hook

Polyester fiberfill for stuffing

1/2" (12 mm) safety eyes

Dark brown and white cotton embroidery floss

Stitch marker (optional)

Embroidery needle

ABOUT THE PATTERN

SIZE: 14" (35,5 cm)

DIFFICULTY: Beginner

ABBREVIATIONS
ch = chain stitch
sl st = slip stitch
sc = single crochet stitch (double crochet stitch in UK and Australia)
sc n = crochet one sc in each of the next n stitches
inc = crochet two single crochet stitches in the same stitch
dec = crochet two single crochet stitches together using the invisible decrease method
sc2tog = crochet two single crochet stitches together using the regular method
(sc 3, inc) x n = repeat the pattern between parentheses n times
[n] = number of stitches in a round after completing the round

NOTES

Work in a continuous spiral, do not join rounds or turn your work, unless instructed otherwise in the pattern.

Use a stitch marker (or a piece of yarn) to mark the end or the beginning of a round.

All stitches are worked into both loops, unless instructed otherwise in the pattern.

LET'S GET STARTED

So, without further ado, let's get crocheting. This week we'll be making the head, muzzle, ear, body, arms, legs and tail.

HEAD

With gray yarn:

On round 14 place a stitch marker in the 25th stitch. This marks the center of the face, use it as a guide when placing the eyes.

Rounds 14-15: sc in each stitch [48]
Round 16: sc 16, inc, sc, inc, sc 11, inc, sc, inc, sc 15 [52]
Rounds 17-19: sc in each stitch [52]

Attach safety eyes to either side of the stitch marker, between rounds 14 and 15, leaving 10 stitches (count 9 holes) between them.

Round 20: sc 16, dec, sc, dec, sc 5, dec, sc 5, dec, sc, dec, sc 14 [47]
Round 21: sc 2, dec, sc 6, dec, sc 9, dec, sc 3, dec, sc 13, dec, sc 4 [42]

Start stuffing the head. Keep adding a bit of fiberfill after every few rounds, stuffing the head firmly.

Round 22: (sc 5, dec) x 6 [36]
Round 23: sc, dec, (sc 4, dec) x 5, sc 3 [30]
Round 24: (sc 3, dec) x 6 [24]
Round 25: (sc, dec) x 8 [16]

Sl st in next stitch. Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing, and fasten off. Stuff the head firmly.

MUZZLE

With gray yarn:

Round 1: start with a magic ring, sc 6 [6]
Round 2: (inc x 2, sc) x 2 [10]
Round 3: sc in each stitch [10]
Round 4: (inc, sc) x 5 [15]
Round 5: sc in each stitch [15]
Round 6: (sc 2, inc) x 5 [20]
Round 7: sc in each stitch [20]
Round 8: sc, inc, (sc 3, inc) x 4, sc 2 [25]

Sl st in next stitch. Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing, and fasten off.

EAR

With gray yarn:

Round 1: start with a magic ring, sc 6 [6]
Round 2: inc x 6 [12]
Round 3: (sc 2, inc) x 4 [16]
Rounds 4-6: sc in each stitch [16]
Round 7: dec x 8 [8]

Sl st in next stitch. Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing, and fasten off.

BODY

With gray yarn:

Round 1: start with a magic ring, sc 6 [6]
Round 2: inc x 6 [12]
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 [18]
Round 4: (inc, sc 2) x 6 [24]
Round 5: (sc 3, inc) x 6 [30]
Round 6: sc, inc, (sc 4, inc) x 5, sc 3 [36]
Rounds 7-10: sc in each stitch [36]
Round 11: sc 7, switch to red yarn, sc 29 [36]
Round 12: sc, dec, (sc 4, dec) x 5, sc 3 [30]
Round 13: sc in each stitch [30]
Round 14: sc 3, dec, (sc 8, dec) x 2, sc 5 [27]
Round 15: sc in each stitch [27]
Round 16: (sc 7, dec) x 3 [24]

Start stuffing the body. Keep adding a bit of fiberfill after every few rounds, stuffing the body firmly.

Round 17: sc in each stitch [24]
Round 18: sc 2, dec, (sc 6, dec) x 2, sc 4 [21]
Round 19: sc in each stitch [21]
Round 20: (sc 2, dec) x 4, sc, switch to gray yarn, sc, dec, sc [16]
Round 21-22: sc in each stitch [16]

Sl st in next stitch. Fasten off and hide the yarn tail. Finish stuffing the body.

ARMS (make 2)

With gray yarn:

Round 1: start with a magic ring, sc 6 [6]
Round 2: (inc, sc) x 3 [9]
Round 3: (sc 2, inc) x 3 [12]
Round 4: sc in each stitch [12]
Round 5: sc 10, dec [11]
Round 6: sc in each stitch [11]

With red yarn:

Round 7: sc in each stitch [11]

Sc in next seven stitches. Count the last sc as the end of the round from now on.

Stuff the hands firmly. Keep adding a bit of fiberfill after every few rounds, stuffing the arms lightly about half way up.

Round 8: sc 3, dec, sc 6 [10]
Round 9: sc in each stitch [10]
Round 10: sc 3, dec, sc 5 [9]
Round 11: sc in each stitch [9]
Round 12: sc 3, dec, sc 4 [8]
Round 13: sc in each stitch [8]
Round 14: sc 3, dec, sc 3 [7]
Rounds 15-16: sc in each stitch [7]
Round 17: sc 3, dec, sc 2 [6]
Round 18: flatten and sc through both layers

Flatten the top and insert the hook through both layers, skipping the last stitch.

Yarn over and draw up a loop. Yarn over and draw through both loops on the hook.

Crochet all across the opening. Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing, and fasten off.

If you need a little help with finishing the arms, take a look at a video here.

LEGS (make 2)

With gray yarn:

Round 1: start with a magic ring, sc 6 [6]
Round 2: inc x 6 [12]
Round 3: (sc, inc) x 6 [18]
Rounds 4-7: sc in each stitch [18]
Round 8: (sc 4, dec) x 3 [15]
Round 9: sc, dec, sc 8, dec, sc 2 [13]
Round 10: sc 5, dec, sc 6 [12]
Round 11: sc in each stitch [12]

Stuff the feet firmly. Keep adding a bit of fiberfill after every few rounds, stuffing the legs lightly.

Row 12: sc 5, leave the rest of the stitches unworked for now, turn

Row 13: ch, skip first two stitches, sc 7, turn [8]

Row 14: ch, skip first two stitches, sc 5, turn [6]
Row 15: ch, skip first two stitches, sc 3, turn [4]
Row 16: ch, skip the first stitch, sc2tog [2]

Count the last stitch as the end of the round from now on.

Round 17: pick up 12 stitches, working 4 sc down the row ends, 3 sc across the skipped stitches, 4 sc up the other side of row ends and 1 sc back across the top [12]

If you need a little help with rows 12 - 17, take a look at a video here.

Continue crocheting the legs in spiral.

Round 18: sc 10, dec [11]
Rounds 19-20: sc in each stitch [11]
Round 21: dec, sc 9 [10]
Rounds 22-23: sc in each stitch [10]
Round 24: dec, sc 8 [9]
Rounds 25-35: sc in each stitch [9]
Round 36: (sc 2, dec) x 2, sc [7]

Sl st in next stitch. Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing, and fasten off. Finish stuffing the legs.

TAIL

With gray yarn:

Round 1: start with a magic ring, sc 7 [7]
Rounds 2-4: sc in each st [7]

Start stuffing the tail. Keep adding a bit of fiberfill after every few rounds, stuffing the tail lightly.

Rounds 5-32: sc in each st [7]

Sl st in next stitch. Cut the yarn, leaving a long yarn tail for sewing, and fasten off. Finish stuffing the tail.

WHAT'S NEXT

Make sure to come back next Thursday, December 22nd, for part two, where we will be making the hat and scarf, adding some finishing touches to the body and arms, and assembling the mouse.

Meanwhile, join us at our exclusive Facebook group, Fun with Furls.

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