Knitted Little Mouse Tea Cosy

Ah, the Knitted Little Mouse Tea Cosy is simply adorable! This charming accessory adds a touch of whimsy and coziness to your teatime rituals. With its intricate knitted details and cute mouse design, it is sure to bring a smile to your face every time you use it. Imagine hosting a tea party with friends and unveiling this delightful tea cosy – it is bound to be a conversation starter! Not only does it keep your tea warm, but it also adds a cheerful and playful element to your kitchen decor. Whether you are a fan of knitting or simply appreciate cute and functional items, the Knitted Little Mouse Tea Cosy is a must-have for anyone looking to add a bit of charm to their everyday routine.

Materials –
100g grey 8ply/DK yarn.
Small amount white 8ply/DK yarn for tummy.
Small amount pink 8ply/DK yarn for ears & nose.
1 pair 4.00 mm knitting needles
1 pair 3.75 mm knitting needles
2 black 7mm round beads for eyes.
Stuffing
For tail – small amount dark grey 8ply/DK & 4mm crochet hook.

Tension – 21 stitches & 30 rows over 10 x 10cm square using 4mm needles & 8ply/DK.
Please check your tension

Back

Using 4mm needles & grey cast on 35sts.
Garter stitch 5 rows. *
Starting with a K row, st st until work measures 10cm from cast on edge ending with a purl row. #
Next Row (K3, K2tog) to end – 28sts.
St st 5 rows.
Next Row (K3, K2tog) to last 3 sts, K3 – 23sts.
St st 3 rows.
Next Row K2 tog to last st, K1 – 12sts.
Next Row P2 tog to end – 6sts.

Leaving a long thread for sewing up, thread yarn back through these 6 sts with a needle & draw tight.
Fasten off.

Front
Work same as Back up to *.
Starting with a K row work in Stocking st & complete graph in intarsia using a separate ball of yarn for each colour section, twisting colours at colour changes to prevent holes in work.
Graph

Continue until work measures 10cm from cast on edge ending with a purl row. Continue from # as for Back

Mouse Head
Using 3.75mm needles & grey starting at back of head cast on 12 sts.
Next Row Increase in every st – 24 sts.
St st 5 rows.
Next Row increase 4sts evenly across row – 28sts.
St st 11 rows.
Next Row K3, SKPO, K3, SKPO, K8, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K3 – 24sts
St st 3 rows.
Next Row K3, SKPO, K2, SKPO, K6, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K3 – 20sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next Row SKPO, K1, SKPO, K1, SKPO, K4, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog – 14sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next Row SKPO 3 times, K2, K2tog 3 times – 8sts.
Purl 1 Row.
Next Row K2tog to end – 4sts.
Thread yarn back through sts with needle & pull tightly.
Fasten Off leaving a long thread for sewing.

Front Legs - make 2
Starting at top of leg, using 3.75mm needles & grey cast on 6sts.
Next Row Increase in every stitch – 12sts.
St st 23 rows.
Next Row K2 tog to end – 6 sts.
Thread yarn back through sts & pull tight.
Fasten off.

Hind Legs - make 2

1st Hind Leg
Starting at top of leg, using 3.75mm needles & grey cast on 6sts.
Increase in every st – 12sts.
St st. 3 rows.
Next Row (K1,M1) to last st – increase in last st – 24sts.
St st 5 rows.
Next Row (K3, K2tog) to last 4 sts, K 4 – 20sts
Purl 1 row.
Next Row (K3, K2tog) to end - 16sts.
Purl 1 row.
Next Row (K2, K2tog) to end – 12sts. *
Purl 1 row.
Shape foot -
Next Row cast on 12sts at beginning of row, K to end – 24sts.
St st 5 rows.
Cast off.

2nd Hind Leg.
Work as for 1st hind leg to * .
Next row (purl row) cast on 12 sts at beginning of row. Purl across all sts – 24sts.
St st 6 rows.
Cast off.

Ears make 2
Using 3.75mm needles & grey cast on 5sts. Increase in every st – 10sts.
St st 7 rows grey then change to 4 rows pink.
Next row: K2tog to end – 5sts.
Cast off.

Making Up
Sew in ends not needed for assembly.
Place front & back of cosy together, right sides out, using a flat seam sew up
from bottom for 2cm.

Sew from cast off edge at top of cosy, down both sides aprox 6cm each side. Adjust this to fit your own teapot’s spout & handle positions.

At back of head, with right side out, run a gathering stitch at cast on edge, pulling tight to make back of head – secure.
Continue from here, sew head seam using a flat seam, from this point and also from the nose end, leaving a gap in the middle of head seam for stuffing. (head seam sits along the bottom of head).
Stuff firmly, but be careful not to overstuff the nose, or you’ll loose the “mousey look”.

Ears – I could have knitted the ears with more shaping, but because they are so small, I found the shaping & the sewn seam quite messy for my liking. I preferred to knit them fairly straight, then gather the edges down to give a seamless look around the edge of the ear. With right sides out, fold in half, and as you sew the side seams of each ear gather your stitches to bring the top edges down to make them more curved. Sew each ear in position (see photo for placement).

Sew beads on for eyes, (a long doll needle is ideal) bury your wool at the head seam (where head will be sewn onto body so it will be hidden). Sew one bead in position then go across to 2nd bead, this way you can give the head a little more shaping by pulling the face in a bit with the 2 beads. Take needle back down to head seam, fasten off & bury yarn.

Embroider nose with pink yarn.
Sew head to cosy, this is easier if you put the cosy on the teapot for placement.

Front legs – with right sides out join seam & stuff, stuffing very lightly near top of leg. Join to cosy at shoulder aprox halfway between head & opening for spout/handle.

Back legs – with right sides out fold leg in half & sew from top of leg down to beginning of foot. Fold foot section back on to itself so the wrong side is facing out - photo 1.
Sew along top of foot and turn right side out again, now continue sewing leg to foot. – photo 2, this is the inside of the leg & the seam will be hidden by the body.

You will still have the sole of the foot open. Stuff leg & foot lightly & sew up seam on sole. Sew to front of body in front of side seam.

Tail - to give him a tail, using dark grey 8ply/DK & 4mm crochet hook, ch 26, miss 1st ch, dc (sc – US) in each ch to end, fasten off. Sew tail curving up back of cosy.

Optional.
While I do line some of my cosies, this one is tiny, & a snug fit already for the pot mentioned, so I think it will be too bulky.
If you wish you can crochet (dc) (sc – US) around spout & handle openings to neaten.