PUPPETS

Presented here is the basic body pattern and directions for body parts and features to individualize the puppets. Parts can be combined to form endless variations. Let your imagination be your guide. Materials: Small amounts of various colors of worsted or sport weight yarn. Patterns are designed for worsted weight yarn but you can use sport weight also. Sport weight used single strand will produce a slightly smaller puppet (as in the mouse); used double, it will approximate the worsted weight. Needles: US size 5 double pointed needles. I also use one size 7 needle just to cast-on as otherwise the stitches are too tight. One tapestry needle. Miscellaneous items: Cotton balls, red and black felt, 1/4" pom-poms, and 1/4" doll eyes (the goggly kind). Hot glue gun for gluing accessories in place. Abbreviations: St/sts =stitch/stitches Dpn = double pointed needle

K = knit P = purl K2tog = knit 2 together K2tog-b =knit 2 together in the back loop BI = bar increase, knit in front loop of st and knit in back loop of same st I-cord = a type of tubular knitting. Have base sts on dpn. Do not turn work. At the end of each row slip the sts to the other end of the dpn and knit pulling the yarn tightly from the opposite end. MB = make bauble. Knit in front and back and front and back of st. * Turn and p across 4 sts. Turn and k across 4 sts. Rep from * once. Pass 2nd st from end of right-hand needle over 1st st on right-hand needle 3 times. Sl = slip P2tog = purl 2 together P2tog-b = purl 2 together through the back loop. You do this by twisting the right hand needle so it enters the back loop from left to right. Beg = beginning Rnd/rnds = round/rounds Stst = stockinet stitch (k1 row, p1 row) YO = yarn over (yarn forward) Basic Puppet Body: (Use this for birds, cat, dog, mouse, bear, pig, and rabbit, etc. that are made all one color. See directions below for Santa, Santa's elf, frog and panda.) Cast on 12 sts, divide on 3 needles and join being careful not to twist. Rnds 1-3: * k1, p1, rep from * to end. Rnds 4-13: k. Rnd 14: * k1, k2tog, rep from * to end (8 sts). Rnd 15: k2tog to end (4 sts). Rnd 16: k working BI in each st (8 sts). Rnd 17: * k1, k1 working BI in this st, rep from * to end (12 sts). Rnds 18-23: k. Rnd 24: k2tog to end (6 sts). Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining sts. Stuff head with cotton ball, then pull sts tight, secure yarn and pull end of yarn to inside of head to conceal it. Santa's body: Work as for basic body, in main color (red), for rnds 1-15, change to contrasting color for face (off-white) and work rnds 16-22. Rnd 23 and 24: p to end. Change to main color. Rnds 25, 27, and 29: k1, k2tog, k to end. Rnd 26: k5, k2tog, k to end. Rnd 28: k4, k2tog, k to end. Rnd 30: k3, k2tog, k to end. (Stuff head with cotton ball.) Rnd 31: k2tog across. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining sts. Pull sts tight, secure yarn and pull end of yarn to inside of head to conceal it. Santa's elf body: Work as for Santa's body rnds 1-21. Rnd 22: p to end. Change to main color. Rnds 23, 25, and 27: k1, k2tog, k to end. Rnd 24: k5, k2tog, k to end. Rnd 26: k4, k2tog, k to end.

Rnd 28: k3, k2tog, k to end. (Stuff head with cotton ball.) Rnd 29: k2tog across. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining sts. Pull sts tight, secure yarn and pull end of yarn to inside of head to conceal it. Frog body: Work as for basic body for rnds 1-21. Rnd 22: k4, MB, k2, MB, k4. Rnd 23: k. Rnd 24: k2tog to end (6 sts). Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining sts. Stuff head with cotton ball, then pull sts tight, secure yarn and pull end of yarn to inside of head to conceal it. Lizard body: Cast on 2 sts. Work I-cord on these 2 sts for 3 rows. Row 4: slip sts to other end of needle, BI in 1st st, k to end (3 sts). Continue working in I-cord over 3 sts for 6 more rows. Next row: rep row 4 (4 sts). Continue working in I-cord over 4 sts for 6 more rows. Cast on 8 sts at end of last row (12 sts) and divide work on 3 needles with 4 tail sts on needle #1. Next 3 rnds: k4, *p1, k1, rep from * to end of rnd. Continue to work as for frog body rnds 4 to end. Panda body: Work as for basic body but change colors as indicated: rnds 1-3 use black, rnds 4-8 use white, rnds 9-15 use black, rnds 16-24 use white. Arms (make 2): Pick up and knit 4 sts on side of body in square shape. Make 4 st I-cord for 6 rows. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining sts, secure yarn and pull end of yarn back through arm to conceal it. Pull beginning end of yarn up through arm also to conceal it. Small arms (make 2): Pick up and k 3 sts, work I-cord on these 3 sts for 4 rows and end off as for arms. Tree Frog arm (make 2): Work as for arm through 5th row of I-cord. Next row: turn, p each st working BI in 1st and 3rd sts (p in front loop of st and k in back loop of same st). Turn, k2tog-b, k2, k2tog. Turn, p2tog, p2tog-b, pass the 2nd st from the end of the right hand needle over the 1st st. Pull end of yarn through remaining st, secure, and conceal in the arm. Lizard arm (make 2): Work as for arm through 3rd row of I-cord. Next row: turn, p each st working BI in 1st and 3rd sts (p in front loop of st and k in back loop of same st). Turn, k2tog-b, k2, k2tog. Turn, p2tog, p2tog-b, pass the 2nd st from the end of the right hand needle over the 1st st. Pull end of yarn through remaining st, secure, and conceal in the arm. Claw arm (make 2): Work as for arm through 5th row of I-cord. Next row: slip sts to other end of needle as for I-cord, BI in 1st st, k1. Place remaining 2 sts on holder. Working on 3 sts only, work I-

cord for 4 rows, pull end of yarn through sts, secure and conceal in claw. Pick up 2 sts from holder and work to correspond. Wing (make 2): With front of puppet facing you, pick up and k 5 sts (row 1), starting at the neck edge for right wing. Work in stst, decreasing 1 st beg every k row (using k2tog) until end of row 7 and 2 sts remain on right hand needle. Pass 2nd st from end of right-hand needle over 1st st. Pull end of yarn through remaining st. Work left wing to correspond, reversing the shaping (use k2tog-b to decrease). Lacy wing (make 2): In a line from neck down the back, pick up and knit 5 sts, this is row1. Row 2 and all even rows: k. Row 3: k1, * yo, k1, rep from * to end (9sts). Row 5: k1, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2tog-b, k1, yo, k1 (11 sts). Row 7: k1, yo, (k2tog, yo) x2, k1, yo, (k2tog-b, yo) x 2, k1 (13 sts). Row 9: k1, yo, k1, (k2tog, yo) x 2, k1, (yo, k2tog-b) x 2, k1, yo, k1 (15 sts). Row 11: : k1, yo, (k2tog, yo) x3, k1, yo, (k2tog-b, yo) x 3, k1 (17 sts). Row 13: bind off. Weave loose ends, secure and conceal. Santa's beard or broad tail: Pick up and k 5 sts across bottom of face for beard or across back just above ribbing for tail. Work sl1, p1, k1, p1, k1 for 6 rows. Next row: sl1, p1, k1, p2tog. Next row: sl1, k1, p2tog. Next row, bind off remaining 3 sts. Beak: Pick up and k 6 sts in triangle shape on lower part of face, divide on three needles. Knit 2 rounds even. Next rnd: k2tog to end (3 sts). Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining sts. Pull sts tight, secure yarn and pull end of yarn to inside of head to conceal it. Bill: Holding puppet upside-down, pick up and k 5 sts across bottom of face. Next row: p. Next row: k2tog-b, k1, k2tog. Next row: bind off in p. Snout: Pick up and knit 4 sts on front of face in square shape. Divide on 3 needles. Next rnd: BI in each st (8 sts). Next rnd: bind off in k. Cut yarn and put on tapestry needle. Secure last bound off st the first bound off st. Secure end of yarn and pull through center of ear to inside of head to conceal it. Pull beginning end of yarn through head also to conceal it. Large round ears (make 2): With front of puppet facing you, pick up and k 7 sts on one side of the top of head. Work in stst for 3 rows. Row 4: k2tog-b, k3, k2tog. Row 5: p. Row 6: k2tog-b, k1, k2tog. Next row: sl 2 sts. Pass 1st slipped st over 2nd slipped st. Return remaining st to left-hand needle and pass 2nd st from end of needle over 1st st. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining st and secure yarn. Work other ear to correspond.

Small round ears (make 2): With front of puppet facing you, pick up and k 5 sts on one side of the top of head. Work as for large round ears, omitting rows 4 and 5. Tiny round ears (make 2): With front of puppet facing you, pick up and k 3 sts on one side of the top of head. Next row p. Next row: sl 2 sts. Pass 1st slipped st over 2nd slipped st. Return remaining st to left-hand needle and pass 2nd st from end of needle over 1st st. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining st and secure yarn. Work other ear to correspond. Large pointed ears (make 2): With front of puppet facing you, pick up and k 4 sts on one side of the top of head. Row 1: sl1, p to end. Row 2: sl1, k to end. Row 3: sl1, p to end. Row 4: k2tog-b, k2tog. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining sts. Pull sts tight and secure yarn. Work other ear to correspond. Small pointed ears (make 2): Work as large pointed ears omitting rows 2 and 3. Tall ears (make 2): With front of puppet facing you, pick up and k 3 sts on one side of the top of head. Row 1: sl1, p to end. Row 2: sl1, k to end. Rep these 2 rows until desired length (about 1") ending row 1. Next row: left ear, k2tog-b, k1; right ear, k1, k2tog. Pass 2nd st from end of right-hand needle over 1st st. Pull end of yarn through remaining st. Narrow tail: Cast on 2 sts and work in I-cord for desired length. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining sts. Pull sts tight, secure yarn and thread back down tail. Tie tail in place at center back just above ribbing and cut remaining ends short. Round tail: Make as for arm but work 12 rows. Trunk: Pick up and k 3 sts in triangle shape on lower part of face. Work in I-cord for 5 rows. Using tapestry needle, pull end of yarn through remaining sts. Pull sts tight, secure yarn and pull end of yarn to inside of head to conceal it. Whiskers: Cut a piece of yarn about 3" long. Tie in place with square knot (right end over left and under, left end over right and under). Separate strands of yarn and cut ends to desired length. Finishing:

Finish all puppets by threading loose yarn ends for arms, wings, ears, and trunk inside of arms or head to conceal ends and trimming any excess. Glue eyes in place on face except for frog. Use pieces of black felt glued in place for noses and red felt for mouths. Puppet details and suggested colors: American Robin: (brown with yellow beak) use beak and wings, with red, duplicate stitch a red breast on front of body. Angel: (white) use lacy wings. Bear: (brown) use small round ears and arms. Beaver: (brown) use arms and tiny round ears, make 2 teeth with white and duplicate stitch to face, make broad tail. Blue bird: (blue with yellow beak) use beak and wings. Butterfly: (black or dark brown body, various colors for wings) following directions for narrow tail, make 1" long antennae on either side of head. Make lacy wings. I used 3 colors, color 1 for rows 1-6, color 2 for rows 7-10, and color 3 for rows 1113. Cardinal: (red with black beak) use beak and wings. Cat: (black with white whiskers) use small pointed ears, narrow tail, and whiskers. Crow: (black with yellow beak) use beak and wings. Dog: (any shade of brown or tan) use arms and large pointed ears. Duck: (yellow) use bill and wings. Elephant: (gray) use large round ears and trunk Frog: (green) use frog body and arms, glue eyes to baubles. Kangaroo: (medium brown) use small pointed ears and small arms. For pouch pick up and knit 6 sts just above ribbing on front of puppet. Work stst for 3 rows then bind off in k. Sew sides of pouch to front and weave in ends of yarn to conceal. Make tail in center back at top of ribbing using directions for beak but working 6 rounds before decreasing and ending. Koala: (light brown) use large round ears and embroider the nose with satin stitch using darker yarn and tapestry needle. Kookaburra: (light brown for body, wings and beak, white for head) use beak and wings. Lizard (iguana): (olive or light green) follow special directions for lizard body and use lizard arms. Glue eyes to baubles. Lobster: (red) make frog body and claw arms, glue eyes to baubles. Mouse: (gray with black whiskers) use small round ears, narrow tail, and whiskers. Panda: (black and white) use panda body, arms, and small round ears: Pig: (pink) use small pointed ears, snout, and narrow tail. Stitch or tie a curl in the tail. Platypus: (brown) use broad tail, lizard arms, and bill. Make bill with black. Rabbit: (white with brown whiskers) use tall ears, arms, and whiskers. Glue pom-pom to center back above ribbing for tail. Santa: (red with off-white for head) use Santa body, arms, and beard. Glue pom-pom at top of hat. Santa's elf: (primary colors with off-white or light brown for head) use elf body and arms. Skunk: (black) use small pointed ears and arms. Use white to duplicate stitch 2 stripes on back of body and head.

Squirrel: (light brown or gray) use tiny round ears, arms, and round tail. Make 2 teeth with white and duplicate stitch to face. Tree Frog: same as frog but use tree frog arms. Wombat: (brown) use tiny ears and small arms. Embroider the nose with satin stitch using black yarn and tapestry needle. Woodchuck: (brown) use tiny, round ears and arms. Make 2 teeth with white and duplicate stitch to face.