A Day’s Work Done For Love

With 4 mm needles and main shade, cast on 2 sts.

1st row – Knit.

2nd and every foll alt row – Purl.

3rd row – K1, M1, K1 – 3 sts.

5th row – K1, M1, K1, M1, K1 – 5 sts.

7th row – K1, M1, K3, M1, K1 – 7 sts.

9th row – K1, M1, K5, M1, K1 – 9 sts.

11th row – K1, M1, K7, M1, K1 – 11 sts.

13th row – K1, M1, K9, M1, K1 – 13 sts.

15th row – K1, M1, K11, M1, K1 – 15 sts.

17th row – K1, M1, K13, M1, K1 – 17 sts.

18th row – Purl. Change to contrast shade.

19th row – K1, M1, K15, M1, K1 – 19 sts.

20th row – Purl. Change to main shade.

21st row – K1, M1, K17, M1, K1 – 21 sts.

22nd row – Purl. Change to contrast shade.

23rd row – K1, M1, K19, M1,

K1 – 23 sts.

24th row – Purl. Change to main shade.

25th row – K1, M1, K21, M1, K1 – 25 sts.

26th row – Purl. Change to contrast shade.

27th row – Knit.

28th row – Purl. Change to main shade. Keeping stripe sequence correct, repeat last 2 rows 4 times more.

Break off yarn leaving a tail of about 15 cm. Thread yarn through remaining sts and draw tight to form round tail- end of mouse. Fasten off.

EARS

With 4 mm needles and pink, cast on 5 sts. Beginning with a knit row, work 5 rows in st-st. Break off yarn leaving a tail of about 10 cm. Thread yarn through stitches and draw tight to make round part of ear. Darn in yarn end.

Sew cast-on yarn through bottom sts and draw tight to make lower part of ear.

Sew sides of mouse body together from tail end to nose end, matching stripes. Leave a hole for stuffing.

Insert stuffing and, if using, squeaker and catnip into the mouse body. Wrap squeaker and catnip in stuffing before inserting to make sure they are squidgy and don’t make the mouse lumpy. Finish sewing body. Sew on ears using cast-on yarn ends.

Embroider nose with pink yarn, securing end tightly in the body. Secure a length of yarn through body and out the tail end to form a tail. Tie a knot at the end of the tail. Make sure all ends are very tightly secured. Launch towards nearest cat. ■

Do not use stretchy yarn, yarns that split easily, very fluffy yarns or yarns with sequins or beads. Use stitches that create a firm fabric, avoid loose weave and drop stitches and don’t use very large needles.

Make sure all stitching is very secure, sewing in all ends, and don’t use plastic eyes. Cats Protection also suggests that cat owners regularly inspect their own cat toys for signs of wear or damage and recommends not leaving cats unattended with knitted toys. Do not use knitted toys or comforters with cats that have wool-chewing habits.

In May, a sixteen-yearold stray cat called Mary arrived at Cats Protection’s Cornwall Adoption Centre.

Eighty in human years,

Mary was suffering from arthritis and so severely underweight that she could barely stand.

Although she was microchipped, her owner’s details had not been updated and could not be traced.

Mary was in such a bad way that the initial prognosis was not good, but then it was discovered that she was suffering from a condition which caused her body to burn energy as quickly as she could eat.

After an operation, Mary quickly started to recover and everyone at the centre fell in love with her, especially with her amazing

gravelly purr which was reported as sounding like a mix between an aeroplane and an old car engine!

Not long after, Mary found a loving new home through Cats Protection’s hands-free homing scheme when new owner Nikki enquired about adopting a “golden oldie.”

Now renamed Summer, she has settled in brilliantly with her new family and is happily living out the rest of her days in peace.

For more information on cats in need of homes, visit www.cats.org.uk/ find-a-cat.