Thursday, December 15, 2005

RABBIT FINGER PUPPETS




I’ve used this pattern to make puppets for the Colorado House Rabbit Society shelter to sell in their gift shop.

MATERIALS:
Small amounts of fingering weight yarn in main color plus some orange and green for carrots, red for a heart, and a contrast color for eyes, nose, whiskers, and tail.
Size 0 (US) dpns
Tapestry needle


Gauge: 18 sts = 2” (5 cm)To save time, take time to check gauge.


Cast on 24 stitches and divide over 3 dpns. Join, being careful not to twist. P 2 rows. K across until finger puppet is the length you desire. For an adult, make the finger puppet about 3 inches long total.
Top decreases: K2TOG across row (12 stitches remain). K2TOG across row again (6 stitches remain). Cut yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail. Thread tapestry needle and draw through remaining stitches. Weave in ends.

Bunny ears: Make 2 in either main color or pink. With size 0 needles , CO 10 sts. Bind off. Attach to top of rabbit puppet and shape how you like.
Carrots: Do 4 stitch I-cord for 5 rows, decrease by doing K2TOG twice across row to 2 stitch I-cord for 2 rows. Cut yarn and attach to rabbit puppet. Add some green stitching for the carrot tops. (Note: If you find I-cord at this gauge too difficult, make the carrots the same way you made the ears.)
Heart: Thread a tapestry needle with red yarn. Follow chart and duplicate stitch on rabbit puppet near the center.


Tails: On opposite side of puppet attach either a French knot done with double thickness of yarn or a miniature pom pom.

Finishing: Use French knots for eyes and nose and with a tapestry needle, split the plies of the yarn and fray for the whiskers.


ABBREVIATIONS

K - knit
P - purl
St - stitch
Sl - slip
DPN - double-pointed needle
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
K2TOG - knit two stitches together
SSK - slip 1, slip 1, knit two together
PSSO - slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over
REP - repeat