Make a Cute Knitted 'Squashed Rat' Bookmark — Free Easy Pattern
Bring a bit of whimsy to your reading with this Knitted Squashed Rat Bookmark. This small, quirky knitted bookmark is easy to make and adds personality to any book — perfect as a quick gift or a fun project for using up scraps of yarn.
The knitted squashed rat is both practical and decorative: tuck the flattened body between pages while the stitched-on nose and eyes peek out to mark your spot.
The finished Knitted Squashed Rat Bookmark, ready to mark your place in a book.
What you’ll need:
- Grey or brown wool
- Small amount of black wool
- Small amount of light pink/peach wool
- Small amount of stuffing
- 3 mm needles
Pattern (follow rows in order):
Using 3mm needles cast on 2 stitches in grey/brown.
Knit 1 row
Increase into each end stitch 2 times (6 stitches)
St-st 3 rows starting pearlwise
Increase at each end k wise
St-st 3 rows
Increase each end k wise
St-st 3 rows
Increase each end k wise
St-st 3 rows
Increase each end k wise
Pearl next row
Increase each end k wise
Pearl row
Increase each end k wise to 18 stitches
Pearl row
Cast off 6 stitches, knit 6, cast off 6
3 -stst rows starting p
Increase each end k wise
Pearl
Increase each end k wise
P
Increase each end k wise
P
Increase each end k wise
P
Repeat to 18st
P
Cast on 12 stitches, cast off then knit across original stitches
Cast on 12 p wise, cast off then p across original stitches
St-st 18 rows
Cast on 12 stitches, cast off then knit across original stitches
Cast on 12 p wise, cast off then p across original stitches
K2tog, knit to last 2 st then k2tog
Pearl row
Repeat last 2 rows until 2 stitches remain, attach pink/peach for tail
St-st 20rows
K2tog
Cast off.
Assembly and finishing:
Bring the two sides of the head together and stitch leaving the back open; lightly stuff before closing. Stitch on eyes using black wool, making small cross shapes. Stitch the nose using pink/peach wool. Make the ears by stitching a large stitch in grey on the top of the head and then blanket-stitching around this stitch about five times.
Tips: Use a blunt darning needle for sewing and a small amount of stuffing so the bookmark stays flat in the book. Adjust needle size or yarn weight if you want a larger or smaller bookmark.