Dormice are tiny mammals that live in the south of England. Only 6 to 9 cm long, they can hibernate for upto 9 months of the year in a nest of leaves and grass on the ground. They often hibernate curled in to a ball with their tail wrapped around them. This pattern is to make a life size, curled up, knitted dormouse to use as a toy or decoration. If to be used as a decoration, a fillable glass bauble from Hobbycraft (in the UK) makes a good substitute nest.
The dormouse is made using 2.75 mm straight and double pointed needles. A body and head is knitted in one piece and the limbs and tail are joined on and knitted in i-cord. There is very little sewing involved. The work is in stocking stitch. The knitting and sewing skills required are not extensive but the shaping of the animal requires attention to detail. This means the pattern is more suitable for intermediate knitters. If you wish to substitute yarns, the dormouse may be made of any golden brown and cream 4 ply yarn oddments and the 2.75 mm needles, the size then is approximately 7 to 8 cm long. (Note that Rowan Alpaca Classic is described as a double knit yarn by Rowan, but at 120 m for a 25 g ball, the weight is more like a conventional 4 ply.)

Materials
1 x 25 g golden brown 4 ply, e.g. Rowan Alpaca Classic in Golden Girl (114)
1 x 25 g cream or pale brown, e.g. Rowan Alpaca Classic in Champagne (127)
Small oddment pink 4 ply e.g. Drops Alpaca 4 ply in Dusty Pink (3112)
2.75 mm straight needles
2.75 mm dpns
waste yarn/spare needle or stitch holder
toy stuffing
eyes, either 6 mm safety eyes or embroider them on using black stranded cotton embroidery thread
large and small tapestry needles
stitch markers or tiny scraps of waste yarn (optional)
glass bauble e.g. 8cm round flat fillable glass bauble from Hobbycraft (UK) (optional nest)
tiny oddments of mid and light brown or cream 4 ply wool for knitted hazelnuts (optional)