Cubbington Dormouse by Nicola Jarvis

As our journey through the new book Life in Seasons Volume 2 continues, this week Nicola Jarvis and her faithful companion, Quince, lead us into the dappled calm of South Cubbington Woods on a particularly glorious summer day - a place of ancient trees, winding paths and quietly thriving wildlife.

It’s here that we encounter the hazel dormouse, one of Britain’s most elusive woodland creatures, and the inspiration behind our feature project for today, Cubbington Dormouse.

Small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, this tiny mammal is most often glimpsed curled up asleep among leaves and branches, and Nicola captures that peaceful stillness here beautifully in stitch.

In this piece, our dormouse appears nestled among flowers and berries, eyes gently closed, tail wrapped softly around its body. There’s an undeniable sense of calm, and it’s hard not to be charmed by how utterly content and safe the dormouse looks, tucked away in its leafy summer home.

In fact, as you stitch, you can almost imagine going about it quietly, so as not to wake our little fellow from his slumber!

For Nicola, the dormouse holds a long-standing affection, shaped by childhood memories and early encounters through literature - most notably Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, where the sleepy dormouse famously dozes through the Mad Hatter’s tea party.

That early fondness has stayed with her, alongside a deep respect for the rare woodland habitats these animals depend upon. South Cubbington Woods is one such place - an ancient landscape that provides the layered undergrowth and food sources the hazel dormouse needs to survive.

Nicola’s embroidery here is rich and rewarding from edge to edge, incorporating a perfect blend of form, softness and detail.

The collection of flowers and fruit surrounding our sleeping dormouse includes softly shaded roses and clusters of blackberries. The berries in particular are a standout - plump, glossy and stitched to look good enough to eat.

Delicate convolvulus winds its way through the design, helping to frame the dormouse without stealing the show.

Clever placement of Miyuki seed beads adds texture and shine, providing just a touch of sparkle.

One of the real talking points in this project is the wheat sheaf. Using raffia, Nicola quite literally reaches into nature and brings it into the embroidery, instantly giving our gorgeous dormouse an added sense of realism.

We love that this wonderful project was chosen to appear on the front cover of Life in Seasons Volume 2, as it perfectly reflects the very essence of what Nicola has set out to create - a collection of projects that are beautifully observed, full of character and a pleasure to stitch.

Ready-to-Stitch Kit

Kits for Cubbington Dormouse are now available to purchase using the link below and include everything you need to re-create this project, excluding the cushion, giving you the freedom to finish and display the piece in a way that suits you.

Instructions

Please note that instructions are not included in this kit. Complete, step-by-step instructions for stitching Cubbington Dormouse are provided in the book Life in Seasons 2, sold separately.