Make a Catnip Mouse With Wool Weaving Scraps

I made our cat Graycie a toy mouse several months ago with a scrap of wool fabric I had left over after making Teddy bears. She loves it and plays with it every day. She always seems to know exactly where it is, even when we can't seem to find it.









Here is the pattern and instructions, and below will be photos of the steps. Click on the words below for a PDF pattern to print.

Catnip Mouse Pattern

The pattern is traced on the interfacing and stitched around before cutting out.

Clips are made at B.

Press under 1/4" and stitch down between B1 and B2.

Mark stitch line

 Mark slit positions.

Cut slits 1/4" to 3/8" for ears.

Cut out ears from thin leather scrap.

Fold ear and insert in slit.

Fold fabric so raw slit edges are even.

Zigzag through the ear and the cut fabric edges to secure ear.

It should look like this on the right side.

Cut a 1" strip crosswise from an old t-shirt. About 8" is enough unless you are making more than one mouse.

Stretch the strip until it rolls into a narrow cord.

Stitch the tail at A. I didn't like the red with this mouse, so I found another color.

 Fold body in half and stitch to where seam starts to curve.

 Fold the body like this, keeping tail centered.

 Turn over and stitch on the previously marked line.

It should have a point with a bit of tail poking out.

Turned right side out, it should look like this.

Sew the remainder of the seam, backstitching at B. Keep the tail clear of the seam.

Poke the sewn rear triangle inside and use the tail to help pull the body right side out.

At this point, it looks like a fish with its mouth open.

 Stitch catnip bag. I used a piece of old sheet from my stash of rag rug strips.

 Stuff the empty bag inside the mouse body.

 Use a funnel in the mouth to add the catnip. Poke it in with the eraser end of a pencil.

When full, gather the end and stitch closed. trim the excess fabric from the bag.

Add a couple pieces of cellophane on both sides. I use cracker wrappers because they crackle. Cats like the crunchy sound.

Poke them in with a pencil.

Hand stitch closed with waxed thread, using a ladder stitch.

Done! Now to call my favorite kitty.

I'm not sure if the video will work. I hope so. Graycie liked it.

Some Hand Sewing Stitches for Teddy

T1 (Teddy #1) is getting closer to being done, but what is left is the time consuming hand sewing.  Here is the body, head and one leg stuffed.  The head has been sewn on, and the back of the body closed.
I found some stuffing at Joann Fabrics that I am pleased with.  It's called Silky Soft and is marketed by Fairfield.  T1 doesn't feel lumpy at all, and I was a little worried about that happening, with it being fabric rather than fur.

Here is how I hand-sew the openings closed.  I knot my thread (this is a heavy top-stitching thread, waxed and doubled), start at one end of the opening, hide the knot inside, and start a ladder stitch.  Click on the photo to make it bigger.  I do quite a few stitches before taking the eye of a heavy needle and pulling the ladders tight.  I take my stitches just outside the stay-stitching at the opening.  The ladder stitch is like doing a running stitch, but alternating back and forth between both sides of the opening.  If the stitches are kept straight across the opening, they cinch up invisibly, without puckers.

When I get to the end of the opening, I use a nifty sewers knot that won't come undone, and is tiny, even with this thick thread.  The first step is to make a loop with the thread and then bring the needle up through the loop.

Another loop forms from the tail of the thread.  Take the needle down through the second loop. (Up through the first loop, down through the second loop.)

Pull on the thread to tighten the knot down to the surface of the fabric.

Can you see the knot?  I can't either, or just barely.  Even with this thick thread, it is a pretty small knot.  Now, just run the needle inside along the seam to hide the tail and exit an inch or so away and snip the thread. 

This is the best knot I have ever learned for sewing, and can be used any time you need to anchor the thread.  I use it for sewing on buttons, hemming, embroidery, smocking, tacking, etc.  The tail can be nipped off quite short, because the knot will NOT come undone!  With a single strand of regular sewing thread, the knot is very small.  Try it--you will never go back to anchoring thread your old way.