Curious Christmas Mice

For Christmas this year I decided to crochet for my friends and family tiny magical mice that mimic LA Burdick's Signature Chocolate Mice. If you haven’t seen this chocolate shop’s famous mice I highly encourage looking them up, they are adorable and delicious.

To make my Christmas gifts I scoured Ravelry for a mouse pattern and quickly found Lucy Collin's Little Kissing Mice Amigurumi. The mice were undeniably cute, but the proportions weren't right for this project. The face and body were too long to match LA Burdick’s mice and they were much larger than what I had in mind. In the end I had to make my own pattern through the process of trial and error to get the dimensions just right.

Overall, I’m happy with how my pattern turned out. My mice are small and short, with tiny faces that match LA Burdick’s chocolate mice pretty well. I added the signature colorful tail Burdick’s mice are known for and placed a flat glass marble inside to help the mice stay upright and keep that curious gazing up at you look. I’ve included my pattern below in case anyone else would like to make them.

Happy Christmas!

"Curious Chocolate Mice"

These magical mice are based off L.A. Burdick’s Signature Chocolate Mice. To create your own whimsical mice you’ll need white, light brown, and dark brown yarn.

Abbreviations (USA):

ch = chain stitch

st = stitch

ss = slipstitch

sc = single crochet

dc = double crochet

sc2tog = decrease by working two sc together

FO = fasten off

Required Supplies

  •       Yarn (I used Hobbii 8/4 Rainbow cotton)
  • Stuffing
  • 3 mm (D) hook
  • Tapestry needle
  • 4.5mm Craft eyes (I used suncatcher craft eyes). As an alternative you can embroider the eyes with black thread instead.
  • 1/8th inch thick rattail cord for the tail.
  • Black DMC/Anchor embroidery thread, and an embroidery needle for the nose.
  • (Optional)Flat glass marble or small stone under 1” to give weight to the mouse and help keep it upright.
  •  (Optional) A stitch marker can be very helpful to keep track of rounds or if you need to secure your working loop while embroidering the nose.
  • Note: If you are making a cat toy do not use craft eyes or marbles.

Instructions

  •      While following the pattern below: work in rounds (R) and stuff the mouse as you go along.
  •     Have the tail ready before you begin the pattern. I like the tail to be about 3.5” to 4” long so I cut a piece of cord a little bit longer and double knot one end. A dab of glue will keep the knot from coming undone.

Pattern

R1: Ch 2, work 3sc into the first ch (Note: the first ch is the one furthest from your hook)……(3)
R2: (work 2sc into the next st, then 1sc) x2, then 1sc……(5)

R3: (work 2sc into the next sc, then 1sc) x2, then 3sc……(7)

R4: 2 sc in next st, then 7sc  ……(8)

R5: Begin first ear: ss into front loop of next st, ch 2, 5 dc into the 1st ch stitch (the one furthest from your hook), ch 1, ss back into original front loop. then 1sc.

Begin second ear: ss into front loop of next st, ch 2, 5 dc, ch 2, ss back into the original front loop. then 5sc………(8)

R6: 8sc (Note: when you get to the ears, work the loops behind the ears)…(8)

R7: (work 2sc into the next st, then 2sc) 3x, then 2sc…..(11)

R8: (work 2sc into the next st, then 3sc) 3x then 2sc ……..(14)

R9: (work 2 sc into the next st, then 4sc) 3x then 2sc…..(17)

  •      If you haven’t already then this is a great time to embroider the nose and attach or embroider the eyes.

R10: sc 17……(17)

R11: (Sc2tog, then 4sc) 2x, sc2tog, then 3sc, …..(14)

  •       After you finish Round 11 add the tail. I do this by double knotting one end of the cord then pulling the cord through the bottom back of the mouse (the knot will be inside of the mouse). If your knot is large enough then the tail will be secure and stay firmly in place when the mouse is done.
  •        Add all additional stuffing needed.
  •     (Optional) Place a flat small stone or marble inside.

R12: (Sc2tog, then 1sc) 3x, sc2tog, then 3sc……(10)

R13: Sc2tog x4 …….

  •          FO leaving a length of yarn.
  •     Use the tapestry needle to weave the loose yarn into the mouse. 
 

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