Create a natural cat toy with a little bit of wool, catnip and some needlefelting knowhow.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Here's what you'll need to make the wooly mouse:

wool (from batt, roving, or source of your choice)
needlefelting needle
foam block
catnip

Step 2: Pull Wool

Pull a section of wool off of your source, and layer approximately 3 times. The larger the amount of wool you start with, the bigger your end result. Keep in mind that as you needlefelt your shape will gradually shrink up as the fibers intertwine.

Step 3: Needlefelt Away!

Roughly shape your wool into the shape of a teardrop on your foam block, then start needlefelting!

If you're new to needlefelting, it's the process of using a very sharp needle with tiny barbs to felt fiber. Needlefelting is accomplished by repeatedly stabbing the needle into fiber. The tiny barbs on the needle cause the fibers to tangle and interlock with one another, making a very sturdy fabric.

As you're needlefelting, don't forget to continually flip over your work to felt both sides evenly, and keep the general teardrop shape.

Step 4: Create Pocket

Once you're satisfied with the initial shape and felt tightness and thickness, fold your teardrop in half like a pierogi. Working from the small teardrop end - which will be the nose - down to the wider end, needlefelt closed.

Remember to continually flip over your project to felt from both sides.

You will ultimately create a hollow tube shape. Leave the far end open.

Step 5: Fill Your Mouse

Fill up your wooly mouse with catnip at the open end.

Step 6: Make Ears

Wooly mouse is really just a wooly pierogi until he has some ears! Pull two tiny bits of wool from your source, and roll into disks. Felt both sides tightly.