Warrior Princess Finger Puppet

This is the warrior princess I spoke about in the post about the knight finger puppet. You can find the free pattern here

The princess and the dragon were really what drew me to this set. They were different from what I had seen in castle finger type puppets and I really wanted to make sure they made the journey with the castle tote.

Like the knight this puppet is primarily made with Omega Sinfonia cotton sport yarn. As I mentioned with the knight for some of the smaller details there are other brands of cotton sport yarn scraps I used to make details on the face, the hair, etc.

The pony tail was a creative addition to the hair and I had fun seeing how that came together. I liked the skirt addition to her armour but found getting it centered in the front was slightly more challenging than I thought it would be when I began as I'd done this before with some of the 18 inch doll princess dresses.

Her sword is felt and also sewn rather than glued on for the reasons I discussed regarding the knight finger puppet.

Now I need to finish the dragon and I can decide what other finger puppets will be living in the castle.

Knight Finger Puppet

Last August I completed the Castle Tote too late to use for the summer birthday I had intended it for so I put it aside after making a few puppets and left it for Christmas. You can see that project here.

The time has come to add more characters to the tote and before returning to the puppet pattern I had been working on I decided to try another free pattern I found here that features finger puppet patterns for a knight, a warrior princess, and another dragon. These puppets were different from others I'd made and I was excited to try them.

The main body of the puppet was made with Omega Sinfonia sport cotton. The details like the hair, etc. were made from scraps of various brands of cotton sport yarn so I can't be specific. I've been trying to use up what I have on hand from previous projects where I can.

The pattern glues felt on for the sword and the cross. I experimented with sewing them on because I haven't had the greatest experinece with yarn and glue and since little hands can be tough on toys I wanted to make sure they wouldn't fall off.

Another note for myself, I was able to use saftey eyes on this puppet and the warrior princess because the head is not open for the finger to manipulate as part of the puppet. Since it is almost completely closed and stuffed, this pattern calls for saftey eyes rather than sewing them as googly eyes wouldn't really work for these projects.

I liked the body of the puppet including the details. I was a little disappointed with the helmet and how it shaped the head. I've made several knight helmets over the years and something was just off about this one. If I make him again I'll have to work on the helmet to get it to fit the way I want. For now I move on as Christmas is coming.

St. Patrick's Day Finger Puppets

One of the hardest holiday boxes to put together each year is the St. Patrick's Day package because I have trouble finding a variety of new patterns to try each year. I suspect I'm getting close on the Valentine's front but I still have a couple of patterns I haven't used yet.

Over the years I've found myself turning non-holiday patterns into holiday patterns adding Leprechaun hats, Santa hats, Easter baskets, etc. to expand my ability to deliver holiday themed items. I also have found some holiday themed projects transfer to other holidays rather easily.

Puppets have always been a favorite if not challenging project for me to add to these packages. I think it's a great way for kids to tell stories and even interact with the books I always put in these packages. There are two challenges. One is finding patterns that fit the theme. The second applies more to the finger puppets. They are small tight projects. These can be challenging for my hands. However, I continue to make them because I do think they are fun for kids.

Now for those of you waiting for the pattern information there is no actual St. Patrick's Day finger puppet pattern. As I said it is a tough holiday for toy patterns. However there are two free Pilgrim patterns that adapt pretty well for this project. You can find the male pattern here and the female here.

For my notes I made these from peach yarn no longer available and Knit Picks cotton. The bodies were made with a g hook the accessories with an e. A reminder that you need to weave in ends before you finish off as it can be very hard to get into the inside to finish off once you get past the area you are working on if you fail to finish off the ends when you cut them.

Grandma's House Finger Puppet

I finished the second puppet from Red Riding Hood Fairytale Finger Puppet set. I still have the wolf dressed as Grandma and Little Red Riding Hood to go. For fun I think I am going to add the wolf from The Three Little Pigs Pattern to add more story telling options. If I use grey for both they will match. It also provides more options for the children to create their own stories later. There will be lots of extra wolves by the time I'm done making the puppets. Perhaps enough to retell the The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig if they want to try something different.

I've been working on items for swap packages so this project has taken a back seat. However the puppets work up quickly so I am sure I will have no problem finishing the project in time for my Easter deadline. Once my swap packages are received I can start posting more about those projects as well.


If you arrived here looking for free toy patterns please see the following pages:

Dinosaurs and Dragons

Knit and Crochet Food Patterns Great for Play Food

Hello Kitty

Crochet and Knit Puppets

Crochet Amigurumi Animals and Stuffed Animal Free Patterns

Knit Amigurumi and Stuffed Toys

Crochet and Knit Amigurumi and Other Dolls

Knit and Crochet Toys

Teddy Bear Patterns and Clothes

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Pictures may not be used without permission.

Tree Finger Puppets

I started on the Red Riding Hood Fairytale Finger Puppet set by making the trees.

I like finger making finger puppets as gifts for kids for a variety of reasons. One they are great for encouraging kids to retell stories when you make them in connection with a story like Red Riding Hood. However, they also can help get kids to start creating their own stories when you have puppets that can mix, match and inspire kids to create new stories. I love the way this designer has added backgrounds to her puppet sets. These set pieces encourage the retelling of this story, but also can be used for other stories, or as the basis for new stories, the child creates.

Another reason for finger puppets is they transport easily. They fit into a pocket or purse and are great when parents need something to keep kids entertained, but do not have a good deal of space to carry toys or for them to play with toys. I like to make finger puppets to donate to hospital charities because they are good for patients who often have long waits in the hospital or in doctor's offices or for their siblings who often are along for the trip.

Lastly, I like them because they are a good break from longer projects. They work up quickly and can be a great addition to a gift box or a last minute present or donation when you need something quick.

I hope to get started on Granny's house today.

If you arrived here looking for free toy patterns please see the following pages:

Dinosaurs and Dragons

Knit and Crochet Food Patterns Great for Play Food

Hello Kitty

Crochet and Knit Puppets

Crochet Amigurumi Animals and Stuffed Animal Free Patterns

Knit Amigurumi and Stuffed Toys

Crochet and Knit Amigurumi and Other Dolls

Knit and Crochet Toys

Teddy Bear Patterns and Clothes

Halloween Page

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Valentines

Easter

Graduation

Patriotic

Pictures may not be used without permission.

Knight Finger Puppet

I purchased the Little People Play and Go Castle at Kohls for a December birthday present. I decided I would try to add some characters using Bizzy Crochet's free finger puppet patterns. The holiday finger puppets were a huge hit, so I thought adding some characters to the set would be fun. I also suspect they are small enough and flat enough they can fit right in the carrying case.

The knight was made using small amounts of Red Heart Super Saver for the grey and Caron One Pound for the yellow and red.

These finger puppets make great stocking stuffers or additions to other toy sets even if you don't make the crochet castles she has on her site. I have made several sets now for gifts and donations and they are quick and fun gifts for children.