Knitting pattern for a "cat and mouse" cushion

For some time now, I’ve taken great pleasure in designing soft and cuddly friends. We often wish we could cuddle a cat, and that’s how this cat cushion came about. Later, I imagined a little mouse that would be the perfect match for her. Is she the cat’s friend or her playful prey? Just like in real life, she can be both.

I really enjoy holding the two of them in my hands. They invite you to cuddle them and, at the same time, offer a wonderful opportunity to involve a child in an imaginative game of cat and mouse. This gives rise to little stories that are different every time – soft, loving and full of fun.

You will need the following materials to knitted:

– textured yarn 50 gr /100 m

– brown cotton yarn, 100 gr /450 m for the face

– spokes 3 (It is important that the size matches the yarn so that the stitches are even).

– needle, scissors, holofiber filling

Abbreviations:

CO – cast on

K – knit 

P – purl 

inc – increase  

dec – decrease 

When knitting, I only used two knitting needles and sewed the pieces together at the end. Therefore, my odd rows consist of knit stitches and my even rows consist of purl stitches. However, if you want to knit with three or four needles, then knit all pieces continuously with knit stitches.

Body (main color)

Cast on 8 stitches onto one knitting needle.

1. 8 K

2. 8 P

3. 8 inc = 16 K

4. 16 P

5. (1 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 24 K

6. 24 P

7. (2 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 32 K

8. 32 P

9. (3 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 40 K

10. 40 P

11. (4 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 48 K

12. 48 P

13. (5 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 56 K

14. 56 P

15. (6 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 64 K

16. 64 P

17. (7 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 72 K

18. 72 P

19. (8 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 80 K

20. 80 P

21. (9 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 88 K

22. 88 P

23. (10 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 96 K

24. 96 P

25. (11 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 104 K

26. 104 P

27. (12 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 112 K

28. 112 P

29. (13 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 120 K

30. 120 P

31. (14 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 128 K

32. 128 P

33. (15 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 136 K

34. 136 P

35. (16 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 144 K

36. 144 P

37. (17 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 152 K

38. 152 P

39. (18 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 160 K

40. 160 P

41. (19 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 168 K

42. 168 P

43. (20 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 176 K

44. 176 P

45. (21 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 184 K

46. 184 P

47. (22 K, 1 inc) х 8 = 192 K

48. 192 P

49. 192 K

50. 192 P

51. 192 K

52. 192 P

53. 192 K

54. 192 P

55. 192 K

56. 192 P

57. 192 K

58. 192 P

59. 192 K

60. 192 P

61. (22 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 184 K

62. 184 P

63. (21 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 176 K

64. 176 P

65. (20 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 168 K

66. 168 P

67. (19 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 160 K

68. 160 P

69. (18 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 152 K

70. 152 P

71. (17 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 144 K

72. 144 P

73. (16 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 136 K

74. 136 P

75. (15 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 128 K

76. 128 P

77. (14 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 120 K

78. 120 P

79. (13 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 112 K

80. 112 P

81. (12 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 104 K

82. 104 P

83. (11 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 96 K

84. 96 P

85. (10 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 88 K

86. 88 P

87. (9 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 80 K

88. 80 P

89. (8 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 72 K

90. 72 P

91. (7 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 64 K

92. 64 P

93. (6 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 56 K

94. 56 P

95. (5 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 48 K

96. 48 P

97. (4 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 40 K

98. 40 P

99. (3 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 32 K

100. 32 P

101. (2 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 24 K

102. 24 P

103. (1 K, 1 dec) х 8 = 16 K

104. 16 P

105. 8 dec= 8 P

Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut. Sew the piece together.

Add as much filling as you like – for a pillow that either springs back comfortably or is soft and plush, inviting you to snuggle up.

 

Stripes (additional color)

I’ve chosen colours in light, complementary shades. But there are black-and-white cats too.

Option 1 (short, 2 pcs)

Cast on 25 stitches onto one knitting needle.

1. 25 K

2. 25 P

3. 25 K

4. 25 P

Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut.

Option 2 (medium, 2 pcs)

Cast on 30 stitches onto one knitting needle.

1. 30 K

2. 30 P

3. 30 K

4. 30 P

Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut.

Option 3 (long, 2 pcs)

Cast on 35 stitches onto one knitting needle.

1. 35 K

2. 35 P

3. 35 K

4. 35 P

Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut.

Ears (2 pcs, optional color)

Cast on 30 stitches onto one knitting needle.

1. 30 K

2. 30 P

3. (13 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 28 K

4. 28 P

5. (12 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 26 K

6. 26 P

7. (11 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 24 K

8. 24 P

9. (10 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 22 K

10. 22 P

11. (9 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 20 K

12. 20 P

13. (8 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 18 K

14. 18 P

15. (7 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 16 K

16. 16 P

17. (6 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 14 K

18. 14 P

19. (5 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 12 K

20. 12 P

21. (4 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 10 K

22. 10 P

23. (3 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 8 K

24. 8 P

25. (2 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 6 K

26. 6 P

27. (1 K, 1 dec) х 2 = 4 K

28. 4 P

Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut. Sew the piece together.

Do not add holofiber filling.

Tail

Cast on 25 stitches onto one knitting needle.

Main color

1. 25 K

2. 25 P

3. 25 K

4. 25 P

5. 25 K

6. 25 P

7. 25 K

8. 25 P

Change to an additional color.

9. 25 K

10. 25 P

11. 25 K

12. 25 P

13. 25 K

14. 25 P

15. 25 K

16. 25 P

17. 25 K

18. 25 P

Change to the main color.

19. 25 K

20. 25 P

21. 25 K

22. 25 P

23. 25 K

24. 25 P

25. 25 K

26. 25 P

Change to an additional color.

27. 25 K

28. 25 P

29. 25 K

30. 25 P

31. 25 K

32. 25 P

33. 25 K

34. 25 P

Change to the main color.

35. 25 K

36. 25 P

37. 25 K

38. 25 P

39. 25 K

40. 25 P

41. 25 K

42. 25 P

Change to an additional color.

43. 25 K

44. 25 P

45. 25 K

46. 25 P

47. 25 K

48. 25 P

49. 25 K

50. 25 P

51. 25 K

52. 25 P

Change to the main color.

53. 25 K

54. 25 P

55. 25 K

56. 25 P

57. 25 K

58. 25 P

59. 25 K

60. 25 P

Change to an additional color.

61. 25 K

62. 25 P

63. 25 K

64. 25 P

65. 25 K

66. 25 P

67. 25 K

68. 25 P

69. 12 K, 1 dec, 11 K = 24 K

70. 24 P

71. (2 K,1 dec) х 6 = 18 K

72. 18 P

73. (1 K,1 dec) х 6 = 12 K

74. 12 P

75. 6 dec = 6 K

Transfer the stitches onto a needle and pull them tight. Cut the yarn, leaving a small tail for further work. Sew the piece together. Add just a little filling so that it’s easy to shape it into a curve later.

Paws (2 pcs, additional color)

Cast on 15 stitches onto one knitting needle.

1. 15 K

2. 15 P

3. 15 K

4. 15 P

5. 15 K

6. 15 P

7. 15 K

8. 15 P

9. 15 K

10. 15 P

11. 15 K

12. 15 P

13. 15 K

14. 15 P

15. 15 K

16. 15 P

17. 15 K

18. 15 P

19. 15 K

20. 15 P

21. 1 dec, 11 K, 1 dec = 13 K

22. 13 P

23. 1 dec, 9 K, 1 dec = 11 K

24. 11 P

25. 1 dec, 7 K, 1 dec = 9 K

26. 9 P

27. 1 dec, 5 K, 1 dec = 7 K

28. 7 P

Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut.

 

ASSEMBLY

Arrange the stripes along the sides. You may alternate them in size — from shorter to longer — or try a sequence of short, long, and then medium. Feel free to experiment with different combinations and choose the one that appeals to you most.

At the top of the pillow, mark the placement of the ears. Choose the distance between them as you prefer, then sew the ears in place.

At the bottom, position the tail. You may gently curve it, just as a cat would, and then sew it securely in place.

As I decided to add the paws a little later, they appear in the photo underneath the sewn tail. You may choose to position and sew the paws at the bottom first, and then attach the tail. Alternatively, you can find the preferred placement for the tail first and then sew the paws beneath it.

 

Using brown yarn, make a few stitches in the center of each paw to imitate claws. Brown yarn suited my color choice for the pillow particularly well.

Now we will embroider the cat’s face. I used brown yarn and chose to create a sleeping cat, gently outlining the closed eyes. If you prefer, you may sew on small buttons instead, giving your cat a more lively and expressive look.

Using pins, mark the placement of the nose and the outline of the mouth. Then add a few small stitches to suggest the whiskers.

  

The pillow itself is now complete. Later, I came up with a little mouse to accompany it — and I warmly invite you to knit one as well.

 

LITTLE MOUSE

You will need the following materials to knitted:

– Alize cotton gold 100 gr /330 m (gray)

– cotton yarn in black and pink colors, 100 gr /450 m

– spokes 3 (It is important that the size matches the yarn so that the stitches are even).

 

Body (gray color)

Cast on 6 stitches onto one knitting needle.

We begin knitting the mouse's nose with black yarn.

1. 6 K

2. 6 P

3. 6 K

4. 6 P

Change the yarn color to gray.

5. 3 K, 1 inc, 2 K = 7 K

6. 7 P

7. 3 K, 1 inc, 3 K = 8 K

8. 8 P

9. 2 K, 1 inc, 2 K, 1 inc, 2 K = 10 K

10. 10 P

11. 4 K, 2 inc, 4 K = 12 K

12. 12 P

13. 3 K, 1 inc, 1 K, 2 inc, 1 K, 1 inc, 3 K = 16 K

14. 16 P

15. 4 K, (1 inc, 1 K) х 4, 4 K = 20 K

16. 20 P

17. 5 K, (1 inc, 1 K) х 5, 5 K = 25 K

18. 25 P

19. 8 K, (1 inc, 1 K) х 5, 7 K = 30 K

20. 30 P

21. 10 K, 1 inc, 3 K, 1 inc, 3 K, 1 inc, 11 K = 33 K

22. 33 P

23. 33 K

24. 33 P

25. 11 K, 1 inc, 4 K, 1 inc, 4 K, 1 inc, 11 K = 36 K

26. 36 P

27 36 K

28. 36 P

29 36 K

30. 36 P

31. 12 K, 1 inc,5 K, 1 inc, 4 K, 1 inc, 12 K = 36 K

32. 39 P

33 39 K

34. 39 P

35 39 K

36. 39 P

37. 13 K, 1 inc, 5 K, 1 inc, 5 K, 1 inc, 13 K = 42 K

38. 42 P

39. 42 K

40. 42 P

41. 42 K

42. 42 P

43. (5 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 36 K

44. 36 P

45. (4 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 30 K

46. 30 P

47. (3 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 24 K

48. 24 P

49. (2 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 18 K

50. 18 P

51. (1 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 12 K

52. 12 P

53. 6 dec = 6 K

54. 6 P

Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut. Sew the piece together.

Stuff the piece occasionally while sewing.

 

Ears

Part 1 (2 pieces, gray)

Cast on 6 stitches onto one knitting needle.

1. 6 inc = 12 K

2. 12 P

3. (1 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 18 K

4. 18 P

5. (2 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 24 K

6. 24 P

7. (3 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 30 K

8. 30 P

9. (4 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 36 K

10. 36 P

11. 36 K

12. 36 P

13. 36 K

14. 36 P

15. (4 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 30 K

16. 30 P

17. (3 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 24 K

18. 24 P

19. (2 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 18 K

20. 18 P

21. (1 K, 1 dec) х 6 = 12 K

22. 12 P

23. 6 dec = 6 K

24. 6 P

Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut. Sew the piece together.

Do not add holofiber filling.

Part 2 (2 parts, in pink)

Cast on 6 stitches onto one knitting needle.

1. 6 inc = 12 K

2. 12 P

3. (1 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 18 K

4. 18 P

5. (2 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 24 K

6. 24 P

7. (3 K, 1 inc) х 6 = 30 K

8. 30 P

Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut. Sew the piece together.

  

Sew the pink inner part onto one side of the first ear piece. Fold it slightly, as shown in the photo, and secure it with a few stitches. Using pins, find the most suitable placement for the ears, then sew them onto the mouse.

 

Using black yarn, embroider the eyes. Wrap the yarn 4–5 times around the needle and secure it in place.

 

Tail (gray)

Cast on 60 stitches onto one knitting needle.

1. 60 K

2. 60 P

Carefully fasten off the remaining stitches, fasten the thread securely and then cut.

Sew the mouse’s tail in place — you may simply attach it by the edge of the tail piece. For a special little touch, I chose to fold the tail into a small bow and sew it that way.

 

Now you can find the perfect spot for the mouse on the pillow. Or perhaps it will playfully move around the cat, surprising your little one again and again.