A mouse bookmark

Who is not addicted to Pinterest?  Raise your hand...yes I see that not a single hand is raised.  A dear friend got me started and now I am hooked!  So appropriately I have a crochet project.  Get it?  Hooked.  Crochet.  See what I did there??

Anyway, follow this rabbit hole...I saw something on Pinterest that led me to Ravelry.  A lovely site to get lost in with tons of free patterns.  Which led me to this pattern of a bookworm bookmark.  Which led me to my stash of yarn.  Which led me to realize I couldn't seem to get the same effect she did.  I mean I tried and tried, but I think I was using the wrong yarn.  Which led me to try something a little different.  I bunched it up and thought...hmm looks more like a mouse and less like a *tampon* now.  (See I told you I couldn't seem to get the same effect as her.)  Mouse?!?  That's cute.  I could  put some little ears on and ....

finished product

Kinda cute.  Here's the two yarns I used.

Boucle Traditions, Salt & Pepper

Caron Simply Soft, Grey Heather

So here's the pattern (to the best of my ability)::

Chain 62 with non-fuzzy yarn only.  Tie in fuzzy yarn and work the rest of the pattern using both threads.

2 SC in second chain from hook.

2 DC in each of next three chains.

2 Triple Crochet in each of next 5 chains.

2 DC in next chain.

2 SC in next chain.

Slip stitch in next.

Fasten off.  The long chain left will be the tail.  Weave the loose threads in, sewing the body together to resemble a little mouse.

Now I am not going to lie.  When you are working this pattern, the yarn bunches up and is a bit of a pain.  Don't worry too much that you are doing the exact stitch in the exact right chain.  At the end you can shape the little booger into a conical mouse-like shape.

To finish your mouse::

I used a mottled grey felt, google eyes, and tiny pink pompoms.  I traced a button onto the felt to get the ear shapes.  I used Aleen's Washable Fabric Glue to adhere the parts.  It took quite a while for them to dry, but I think they are fairly secure.

I had big plans to make one for each of my oldest daughter's first grade classmates, but the Great February Sick-In changed my plans.  (I'll spare you the details down to the last pink eye.  You're welcome.)  So here sits the first little mouse, waiting for his friends to fully arrive.

So there you have it.  My first ever crochet tutorial.  I hope you enjoyed it!  If you have any questions or find any problems, please let me know!

Hooks Away!
Meredith

PS.  I normally hate to have to register to look at webpages, but Ravelry is worth it.  :)