Methods

• Choose your approach. You can knit, crochet, felt or sew your mouse doll. Each technique will yield a different result, so determine how you want your finished mouse doll to appear before choosing an approach.
  
  If you want a soft, textured mouse doll, consider knitting or crochet. Knitting will result in a smoother stitch surface, while the more sculptural single crochet stitch makes for a nubbly, highly textured surface. For knit and crochet mouse tutorials, visit the Knitted Toy Box and KristiesKids blogs.
  
  Choose felting if you want to create a finely detailed and sculptural mouse. Felted mouse dolls begin with tufts of wool roving in various colors. The process requires few tools, and it allows you to create roughly detailed mice, realistic sculptures or something in between.
  
  If you're most comfortable with sewing, make mouse dolls from fabric. Using different fabrics will yield different looks. If you're making mouse dolls for children, consider using plush fabric. Use wool felt for a rustic mouse doll, and patterned quilter's cotton for a patchwork mouse. Once you decide on a fabric, refer to plush toy designer Teresa Levy's stuffed mouse tutorial on Sewing Stars.
  
  

Materials

• Gather all the appropriate materials before you begin making your mouse doll.
  
  Knit and crochet mouse dolls require yarn and knitting needles or crochet hooks. Choose needles or hooks a few sizes smaller than suggested on the yarn ball band to create a dense fabric that prevents stuffing from showing through. Fill your mouse dolls with wool, cotton or polyester stuffing. You may also choose to weight their bottoms with rice or pebbles.
  
  Felted mice require wool roving in various colors, barbed felting needles and a 2-inch-thick foam work surface. For detailed sculptures, purchase fine-gauge wire to make armatures.
  
  Sewn mouse dolls require the fabric of your choice and corresponding needles and thread. You can stuff your sewn mice with wool, cotton or polyester stuffing.