Crocheted Mice Cat Toys

     Bits of left over yarn make cute cat toys, and cat toys are nice items to donate to Smithville Mansion for their fund raising sales.  Here are the super simple instructions for making mice that your kitty will love to swat.  The design uses a basic crochet technique for making curlicues.

Using a 4 mm, G, or Size 6 hook, make 29 chain stitches.  Leave about 12" of yarn dangling before you begin your chain.  Making your chain stitches tight forms a better curlicue.   

Locate the fourth chain from the hook.  The arrow is pointing to the fourth chain.  Yarn over and make 2 double crochet stitches in this chain.

I am beginning double crochet #1.  

I just finished double crochet #2.  What's that you say?  It looks like there are three double crochets?  It looks that way because the three chain stitches that you skipped act as a double crochet.  From this point, you are going to make three double crochets in the next 15 chains. 

I made three double crochets in the next chain.  Do this 14 more times.  Cut the yarn.  Secure it and weave in the end.  After you have done this, you should be looking at a spiral of double crochets with 11 chains remaining.  The spiral is the mouse and the chains are the tail.

I am stretching out the spiral.  Don't worry, it springs back.  

Here is my finished mouse.  I added a jingle bell and five extra chains for increased feline pleasure.  You don't have to add a bell.  I found thirty-three bells in a plastic bag and decided this was a great way to get rid of them.  Twelve mice down, twenty-one to go.

Call an exterminator!