How to make a catnip mouse

Summer is often a bad time to be a cat. Lots of kittens are ready to leave home, but no one wants to take on a new pet with the holidays approaching. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home cares for more than 200 cats on a typical summer's day, and those that would normally be rehomed in days can be stuck at the centre for months. Understandably, the cats get bored - which is why the cattery is asking crafters to get their knitting needles out and make a toy to keep them occupied. Lauren O'Farrell from Stitch London has created the pattern below exclusively for Battersea, or you can visit battersea.org.uk to find two alternative patterns. Send completed toys to The Cattery, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, 4 Battersea Park Road, London SW8 4AA. Or, even better, give an unwanted cat a home - and a nice homemade toy to play with. How to make Captain Cat-Battler 3.5mm knitting needles 15g white acrylic DK (body) 15g black acrylic DK (body, eye and eyepatch) 5g pink acrylic DK (ears, nose and tail) Stuffing (innards) Small squeaker (optional) Catnip pouch (optional) Fierce feline-fighting determination (essential) Size 10cm (4") approx from nosetip to start of tail Gauge: Not important. No one will be wearing him. Skills Knitting. Purling. Increasing (make one). Basic sewing up. Very basic embroidery. Mouse making. Abbreviations K = knit P = purl M1 = make one (make stitch from yarn between stitches) Body Cast on 2 stitches in white Row 1. K across Row 2. P across Row 3. K, m1, k (3sts) Row 4. P across Row 5. K, m1, k, m1, k (5 sts) Row 6. P across Row 7. K, m1, k3, m1, k (7 sts) Row 8. P across Row 9. K, m1, k5, m1, k (9 sts) Row 10. P across Row 11. K, m1, k7, m1, k (11 sts) Row 12. P across Row 13. K, m1, k9, m1, k (13 sts) Row 14. P across Row 15. K, m1, k11, m1, k (15 sts) Row 16. P across Row 17. K, m1, k13, m1, k (17 sts) Row 18. P across Change to black Row 19. K, m1, k15, m1, k (19 sts) Row 20. P across Change to bhite Row 21. K, m1, k17, m1, k (21 sts) Row 22. P across Change to black Row 23. K, m1, k19, m1, k (23 sts) Row 24. P across Change to white Row 25. K, m1, k21, m1, k (25 sts) Row 26. P across Change to black Row 27. K across Row 28. P across Change to white Row 29- 35. Repeat rows 27 and 28 changing from white to black every two rows ending in a white knit row Row 36. P across in white Cut about 15cm of yarn Thread yarn through remaining stitches and draw tight to make round 'tail end' of mouse. Ears x 2 Cast on 5 sts in pink Row 1. K across Row 2. P across Row 3. K across Row 4. P across Row 5 K across Cut about 10 cm of yarn Thread yarn through stitches and draw tight to make round part of ear. Darn in yarn end. Sew cast on yarn through bottom stitches and draw tight to make lower part of ear. Finishing 1. Sew two sides of mouse body together from 'tail end' to 'nose end' (making sure your stripes match up), leaving a hole for stuffing 2. Insert stuffing (and optional squeaker and catnip) into mouse body. 3. Finish sewing body right up to the tip of the nose. 4. Sew on ears using cast on yarn ends. 5. Embroider nose with pink yarn, running end of yarn through body and out of 'tail end' to form tail. 6. Tie knot at end of tail. 7. Embroider eye and square eyepatch with band. Eyepatch band should run from left ear, across his face to first black stripe under his chin. 8. Greet your new roguish rodent with a cheery "Yaaaaaaaaaarn, me hearty!" and then launch him at the nearest cat. Find more knit wit and free patterns at whodunnknit.com