Spring Finger Puppets

 

Spring! The very word conjures images of flowers bursting from their winter sleep, warm sunshine, gusty days, and of course, baby animals. Get a jump on spring with this adorable trio of finger puppets! A chick, a sheep, and a bunny work up rapidly from tiny scraps of worsted weight yarn, and all three fit cozily inside their stripey egg-shaped bag. Instant gratification that’s an instant hit with the kids? Sounds like a winner to me.

Sizes and Materials List …
Size:

Bag is approximately 4.5″ high; puppets should fit up to adult-sized fingers.

Hook(s):

US H/8 (5.00 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver [100% Acrylic, 364 yds/195 g skein]
Colors &
Approx. Yardage:
Chick: Bright Yellow (A), 5 yds; Pumpkin, small amount; Black, small amount
Bunny: Cafe (B), 10 yds; Black, small amount
Sheep: Aran (C), 10 yds; Black, small amount
Bag: Light Blue (D), 25 yds; Rose Pink (E), 15 yds; Aran (C), 10 yds

Notions:

Yarn Needle

Gauge: 15 sts and 16 rows = 4″/10 cm in single crochet.
Precise gauge is less important in this project than a firm fabric.

 

Skill Level Easy Download pattern in PDF format

Notes …
Joining

Do not join rounds unless directed.

Stitches Used

Chain (ch)
Slip Stitch (sl st)
Single Crochet (sc)
Double Crochet (dc)

Special Stitches

Single Crochet Increase (sc inc)

Work two single crochet in the same stitch.

Single Crochet Decrease (sc dec)

Pull up a loop in each of the next two sts, yarn over, pull through both loops.

Instructions … (Note: To help keep track of rounds, place marker in the last stitch of round.)

Chick Body
Base Chain

With A, ch 2.

Round 1

Make 6 sc in second ch from hook. (6 sc)

Round 2

*Sc in next st, sc inc in next st, * repeat from * to * around. (9 sc)

Rounds 3-8 Sc in each st around. To finish, sl st in next 2 sts, fasten off.
Finishing …
With scrap of pumpkin, embroider beak. With scrap of black, embroider eyes. Weave in all ends.
Bunny
Body

With B, work body as for Chick.

Ears

*Ch 6, sk 1st ch, sl st, sc, hdc, sc, sl st;* repeat from * to * once. Fasten off.

Finishing …

Sew ears to head, weave in all ends. With scrap of black, embroider eyes and nose.

Sheep Body
Base Chain With B, ch 2.
Round 1 Make 5 sc in second ch from hook, join. (5 sts)
Round 2 Ch 1, *sc in next st, dc in same st.* Repeat from * to * around, join. (10 sts)
Round 3 *Ch 2, dc in same st, ch 2, sl st in same st as dc* to make ear. Sl st across next 5 sts. Repeat from * to * in same st as last sl st for second ear. Sl st across next 4 sts and in same st as first ear to join. (10 sl st)
Round 4 Ch 1 and, skipping and working behind ear, sc in next st. *Dc in next st, sc in next st.* Rep from * to * once more. Skipping and working behind next ear, sl st in next st. Dc in same st; **sc in next st, dc in next st.** Rep from ** to ** once more. Join round. (10 sts)
Round 5 Ch 2, *dc in next st, sc in next st.* Rep from * to * four more times. Join.
Round 6 Ch 1, *sc in next st, dc in next st.* Rep from * to * four more times. Join.
Round 7 Repeat round 5.
Round 8 Repeat round 6. Fasten off.
Sheep Face
Base Chain With black, ch 2
Round 1 Make 6 sc in second ch from hook. Join to first sc. Fasten off.
Finishing …
Sew face to body. With scrap of B, embroider eyes and nose. Weave in all ends.
Bag
Base Chain With D, ch 2.

Tip: When working with multiple colors, if you carry unused colors up the back of work you can minimize cut ends that must be woven in later.

Round 1 Make 6 sc in second chain from hook; join with sl st in first sc. (6 sts)
Round 2 Ch 1, sc inc around; join with sl st in first sc. (12 sts)
Round 3 Ch 1, *sc in next st, sc inc in next st,* repeat from * to * five times; join with sl st in first sc. Join E. (18 sts)
Round 4 With E, ch 1, *sc in each of next 2 sts, sc inc in next st,* repeat from * to * five times more; join with sl st in first sc. (24 sts)
Round 5 Ch 1, *sc in each of next 3 sts, sc inc in next st,* repeat from * to * five times; join with sl st in first sc. (30 sts)
Round 6 Ch 1, sc in each st around; join with sl st in first sc. Join C. (30 sts)
Rounds 7-8 With C, ch 1, sc in each st around; join with sl st in first sc. Join D. (30 sts)
Rounds 9-11 With D, ch 1, sc in each st around; join with sl st in first sc. Join E. (30 sts)
Rounds 12-14 With E, ch 1, sc in each st around; join with sl st in first sc. Join C. (30 sts)
Round 15 With C, ch 1, *sc in each of next 8 sts, sc dec,* repeat from * to * twice; join with sl st in first sc. (27 sts)
Round 16 Ch 1, *sc in each of next 7 sts, sc dec.* Repeat from * to * twice; join with sl st in first sc. Join D. (24 sts)
Round 17 With D, ch 1, sc around; join with sl st in first sc. (24 sts)
Round 18 Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and 1 ch), sk next st, *dc in next st, ch 1, skip 1 st.* Repeat from * to * around; join with sl st in beg dc. (12 sts, 12 ch-1 sp)
Round 19 Ch 1, sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp around; join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off. (24 sts)
Drawstring
Holding colors B, C, and D together, ch about 40, or approximately 13″ in length. Fasten off tightly and trim ends to about two inches for fringe.
Finishing …
Weave in all ends, weave drawstring through eyelets in bag. Wash and block as needed.
Pattern and photos © Melissa Mall, Inner Child Crochet