Macrame Mouse

• 6mm Gray Cord (or Yarn), Twisted type (Total: 40 yards)
• 6mm White Cord (6 yards)
• One 6-inch Styrofoam Ball
• One 4-inch Ring
• Two 25mm Animal Eyes
• One 15mm Pink Bead
• Craft Wire
• Black Thread
• Project Board and Pins

Knots Used: 

• Square Knot
• Double Half Hitch
• Alternating Square Knots
• Larks Head Knot
• Barrel Knot
• Spiral Design

Cut the cords as follows:

• 8 Gray cords, each 75 inches long
• 11 Gray cords, each 60 inches long
• 4 White Cords, each 40 inches long
• 1 White Cord, 60 inches long

Be sure to prepare all the cords with one of the methods described in Cord Preparation.

Body and Base

Step 1:  Lay 6 of the 75-inch Gray cords on your project board side by side.  Tie a Square Knot in the center of them.  There should be 4 filler cords.

Attach the knot to the foam ball with glue and allow it to dry before continuing. The net-like design you will be creating is for the body of the Macrame Mouse.

Step 2:  Tie 4 to 6 rows of Alternating Square Knots, with approximately 1 inch of space between the rows.  Tie enough knots to cover the ball.  The rows don’t need to be straight.  Each knot should have 1 filler cord.

Step 3:  Triple Half Hitch each cord to the ring (1 DHH + 1 extra HH).  It should rest right up against the ball, so pull the knots tight.  This forms a base so the mouse won’t topple over.

Creating the Ears

Step 5:  Take one 75-inch Gray cord, and secure it horizontally to your board. It will be used as a holding cord. Use a 60-inch Gray cord, and mount it to the holding cord, 25 inches from the left end.  Attach it with a reverse Larks Head knot. The “head” of the knot should face the back of the design.  The ends should orient downward.

For more information and to see images, go to the Spiral Design in Learn Macrame.

Step 6:  Mount a second 60-inch Gray strand to the same holding cord, making sure the ends are heading in the opposite direction of the first ones (upward). 

Step 7:  Direct the right end of the holding cord up, curving it across to the left.  Attach the upward strands to it with DHH.   There should be very little space between the two sets of knots.

Step 8:  Continue to curve the right end of the holding cord towards the left and down. Attach the right portion to the left with DHH.

Step 9:  Bring the holding cord towards the right again, attaching the downward strands to it with DHH.

Step 10:  Mount 1 more 60-inch Gray cord to the holding cord with a reverse Larks Head Knot. Then attach the upward cords to it with DHH. Add another 75-inch Gray cord, heading upward, with a reverse LH knot.

Attach the right end of the holding cord to the left end, as you did in step 8.

Step 11: Repeat this process 3 more times, until you have mounted a total of 10 cords. If necessary, add extra half hitches with any of the strands to cover the entire holding cord. The aim is to have a spiral-shaped design when you are finished.

Tie a Barrel knot in both ends of the holding cord, close to the DHH.

Step 12:  Trim the ends to 1½ inches, and unravel each strand. Brush until the ear of the Macrame Mouse is smooth and fluffy.

Designing the Nose

Step 14:  Use the 60-inch White cord as the holding cord for the nose design.  The other White strands will be the working cords. The nose of the Macrame Mouse is similar to the ears.

Slide the holding cord and 1 of the working cords through the bead.  Arrange them so the bead is 20 inches away from the left end of both strands.

Step 15:  Use the right portion of the holding cord (the longest end) and start the coiled design by attaching the right portion of the other cord to it with DHH.  Bring the right end up and around to the left, attaching both strands coming from the other end of the bead.  As you circle back to the right, add 2 white cords with reverse Larks Heads.  The ends should orient downwards.

Step 16:  As you continue the circular design, add the remaining 2 strands at the left and right ends, near the others. There should be a total of 5 coils when you are through.

Step 17:  Tie a Barrel Knot at both ends of the holding cord. Trim the ends to 1½ inches.  Attach the nose to the Macrame Mouse, at the lower front area of the body. Secure the design to the netting with any type of knot. You can apply glue and stick it to the ball if you feel the nose needs more support.

Completing the Body

Step 18:  Attach the eyes to the Macrame Mouse, either to the netting or to the ball itself.  This will depend on what type of animal eyes you use.  Use scrap cord, and pass it through the shanks, if they have them.

Step 19:  Cut the thread into several 7-inch pieces.  Slide them through the bead and add glue to the inside to secure them.

Step 20:  Use the last 60-inch Gray cord for the tail.  Tie a Barrel knot at one end.  Cut a piece of wire, approximately 20-inches long.  Slip one end into the knot you tied in the cord.  Use the strand to wrap the wire. 

Step 21:  Secure the cord by tying another Barrel knot at the opposite end.  Be sure the wire is through the knot.  Use what is left of the cord to secure the tail to the Macrame Mouse. It's best to attach it to the netting.

Step 22:  Cut several Gray cords into pieces that are approximately 7 inches long.  Add them to the netting over the ball with reverse Larks Head knots.  Unravel each of them and brush until smooth.  You can add as many as you like, depending on how fluffy you want the Macramé Mouse to be.

Running out of Macrame and Craft Supplies? Please visit my new online Store. I carry many unique items that can be used for Macrame. I feature FREE SHIPPING for most of the Craft supplies.

Just Click on any of the banners in this site, like the one below.