Final Stretch of Noro Matsuri Pullover.

When the front is done and you stitch up and finish the collar and start the sleeves from the shoulder down, well, it really starts to look and feel like a sweater, not just some knitted fabric. I am liking the look now that the pieces are together, and it feels so nice, all cottony and soft. This is my next free pattern to be posted within the week, so stay tuned....

Here are some of the finger puppets for the month of May. I package them as you can see in small bags of two. This month is one child puppet and one puppy. When I get tired of those, I may try some other pets....

More Maui........ snorkeling, and watching surfers (avoiding crashing into the black lava rocks!)

Puppy Puppets (aka: Finger Puppies!)

Here is the newest finger puppet from my Children's Hospital Poppets line. These are really easy and use scraps of worsted weight yarns and sock yarn for the embroidered details. Knit on 4mm needles (US 6), use light brown for body and dark brown for ears, and cream colour for muzzle. I used blue sock yarn for eyes and black sock yarn for nose and mouth line.

Cast on 10 in body colour... Knit 4 rows (garter stitch: Knit every row). Stocking Stitch next 8 rows (Knit right side, Purl wrong side). Last row: K2together-repeat across row. Cut 8 inch tail and gather these last 5 sts together. WAIT to sew up until all embroidery is done.

Muzzle: with cream colour, Cast on 3. Knit row one, purl row two, knit row 3. Break yarn with 8 inch tail and gather last 3 sts together. Use the tail to sew around the muzzle in position in the middle of face (see photo). Ears: With dark brown, cast on 3. Garter stitch for 6 rows, then Knit 3 together. Knit one stitch on next row. Increase 2 sts (3 total) and garter stitch 6 more rows for other ear. Knit 3 together and break yarn leaving 6 inch tail. pass tail through last st to secure. Using this tail, thread it on a large darning needle, and feed it through the top of head BETWEEN stitches (see photos). Pull firmly until one ear has passed through both sides of the head and only the single stitch center is left inside the dog. (see photo). Using eye colour, make french knot eyes above the muzzle. Using the black, place 2 horizonal lines for nose, and one vertical line from nose to bottom of muzzle, pulling slightly to separate muzzle into 2 halves (see photo). Securely fasten the ends of the embroidery on the inside of the dog. Now you can stitch up the back opening, and sew in all the ends of yarns.

Poppets - Finger puppets

Poppets
(Children’s Hospital Finger Puppets.)



My clown called me. Today he had been to the Children’s Ward of the Hospital. One little girl, hooked up to machines and covered with bandages and blankets, would not smile or even look at him. He gave his small gift to her mother. Later, as he did his clown show for a large group, he noticed the little girl, in a wheelchair, still hooked up and covered up, at the back of the room. Only one finger peaked out of the wrappings and on that finger was a new puppet. There was a smile on her face.
The clown is a friend who visits the hospital every month and asked our knitting group to create finger puppets to take to the kids. The pattern has been worked and reworked and I think it is easy and cute. Best of all you can use some of the odd balls in your stash. Knit a smile for a child, it’s contagious!


SIZE
One size: 2.5 inches tall.

MATERIALS
Worsted weight scraps, acrylics best for washability, but any yarn is fine, self striping colors for clothes, cream for face, browns and other “hair colors” for hair.

Fingering, sock yarn, or embroidery cotton for face details, rosy-beiges for smile, and brown, blue, green for eyes. Small amounts of each.

One pair of 4.5 mm needles, small double points are convenient, but full size will work too.

Darning needle to embroider face, crochet hook to attach long hair.

GAUGE
20 sts and 26 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch, but not that important as they are so small.

PATTERN

With 4.5 mm needles and clothing color, cast on 10 sts.
Work in garter stitch (Knit each row) for 4 rows.
Work stocking stitch (knit right side, purl wrong side) for 4 rows.
Break off clothes yarn, leaving 6 inches (to close seam later).
Using face yarn work 5 rows in stocking stitch (end with wrong side facing).
Break face yarn, and leave 6 inch tail.
Using hair yarn, PURL first row.
Next row Purl again (on right side)
Next row [K1, K2 together] repeat 2 more times, K1 (7 stitches left)
Last row, P1, [P2 together] repeat to end (4 stitches left)
Using darning needle gather remaining stitches on 8 inch tail, and secure but don’t close seam yet.




FINISHING
While the back is open, embroider face using sock yarn or similar fine yarn. Tie the ends securely inside the puppet (see photos) and trim close to knots.

Sew the back seam with the coordination color tail of yarn and secure all loose ends in the seam.

For pony tail hair, cut 6 strands about 8 inches long. Using 3 strands, fold in half and use crochet hook to pull through near bottom of hairline in the back right side, and either braid or knot to hold in place. Repeat on back left side. (see photos).