Free Crochet Pattern: Little C's Silly Hand Puppets

I am so excited to share this pattern! It's 100% inspired by my youngest son who recently approached me with a sock on his hand asking how we can make it have eyes. From there these fun puppets were born! These would be a great way to use up scrap yarn and you can customize them in many ways. 

If you give the pattern a try, we'd love to see how your puppets turn out! Feel free to share on Google+, Instagram (using either @byjennidesigns or #byjennidesigns), upload to Ravelry as a project or share on my Facebook wall. 

If you have any questions please do ask, thanks so much for stopping by!

-Jenni

Here's my Little C with his puppets!

(He's laying on my current WIP, the As We Go Stripey Blanket by Hannah Davis)

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Youth-Women's, as a guide my hand measures from the top of the middle finger to the bottom of my hand measures about 7" and my son's measures 5".

Supplies:
Size H (5.0mm) Crochet Hook
Worsted Weight Yarn in choice colors (I mixed & match many brands: Red Heart Super Saver, Red Heart With Love, I Love This Yarn!, Vanna's Choice & Caron United)
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Optional: buttons or safety eyes

Abbreviations (US Terms):
BLO - Back Loop Only
Ch - Chain
Dc - Double Crochet
Dc2tog - Double Crochet 2 Together
Fpdc - Front Post Double Crochet
Hdc - Half Double Crochet
Sc - Single Crochet
Sc2tog - Single Crochet 2 Together
Sk - Skip
Sl st - Slip Stitch
Slst2tog - Slip Stitch 2 Together (explanation below)
Sp - Space

Stitch explanation:
Slst2tog - Insert hook in first sp, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert hook into next sp, pull up a loop and pull loop through both loops on hook. Stitch complete.

Notes:
-Ch 2's do not count as a dc unless otherwise stated.
-Joins are made with a sl st to the first stitch, not the beginning ch.
-Be sure to always pull your beginning magic circles tight before sewing in the end.

Gauge:
4 dc & 2 rows = 1"

Puppet
With desired main color:

Row 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 11 dc in circle. Join. (11 dc)
Row 2: Ch 2, 2 dc in same and in each around. Join. (22 dc)
Row 3: Ch 2, 2 dc in same, dc in next. *2 dc in next, dc in next.* Repeat *to* around. Join. (33 dc)
Row 4-10: Ch 2, dc in same and in each around. Join. (33 dc)
Row 11: Ch 2, dc in same and in 22 more, place a stitch marker in the top of this last dc you made. You will be coming back to this space later. Now continue to to dc around to the end. Join. (33 dc)
Row 12: Ch 2, dc in same and in 21 more, ch 11, sk 11. Join to first dc. (22 dc, 11 ch)
Row 13: Ch 2, dc in same and in each around, work 11 dc over the ch 11 from previous row. Join. (33 dc)
Row 14-18: Ch 2, dc in same and in each around. Join. (33 dc)
Fasten off & sew in ends.

Now join with a new color for the cuff:

Row 19: In BLO: Ch 2, dc in same and in each around. Join. (33 dc)
Row 20-22: Ch 2 (counts as dc), Fpdc around next. *Dc in next, fpdc around next.* Repeat *to* around. Join. (17 dc, 17 fpdc)
Row 23: In BLO: Ch 1, sc in same and in each around. Join. (33 sc)
Fasten off.


Mouth
With main color:

Attach yarn with a sl st in the dc you placed a stitch marker in earlier and you can now remove the stitch marker.

Row 1: Ch 2, dc in same and next 10. Rotate piece so you can work 2 dc over the dc post that is the corner of the opening.

Now rotate your piece again and you will now need to work between the dc's.

and then work 2 dc over the other corner of the opening. Join. Please be sure you check your stitch count. (28 dc)
Row 2-3: Ch 2, dc in same and in each around. Join. (28 dc)
Row 4: Ch 2, dc in same and in 10 more, dc2tog, dc in 13, dc2tog. Join. (24 dc, 2 dc2tog)
Row 5: Ch 2, starting in the same sp as the ch 2; dc2tog, dc in 8, dc2tog, dc2tog, dc in 10, dc2tog. Join. (18 dc, 4 dc2tog)
Row 6: Ch 1, starting in the same sp as the ch 1; *sc2tog.* Repeat *to* around. Join. (11 sc2tog)
Row 7:  Ch 1, starting in the same sp as the ch 1; sc2tog, *sc in next, sc2tog.* Repeat *to* around. Join. (3 sc, 4 sc2tog)
Fasten off leaving a long end. Turn piece inside out and sew shut the hole, also sew in any other ends at this time too.


Spots
With desired contrast color for spots:

Large Spot
Row 1: Magic circle, ch 1, 8 hdc in circle. Join. (8 hdc)
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 hdc in same and in each around. Join. (16 hdc)
Fasten off leaving long end to sew on to puppet

Small Spot
Row 1: Magic circle, ch 1, 8 hdc in circle. Join. (8 hdc)
Fasten off leaving long end to sew on to puppet.

Sew any spots you've made on to desired area on puppet now, sew in ends.


Nose
With desired color for nose:

Row 1: Magic circle, ch 1, 6 sc in circle. Join. (6 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in same and in each around. Join. (12 sc)
Row 3-4: Ch 1, sc in same and in each around. Join. (12 sc)
Stuff the nose now with poly fil or small bits of yarn.
Row 5: Ch 1, starting in the same sp as the ch 1; *sc2tog.* Repeat *to* around. Join. (6 sc2tog)
Fasten off. You will have a small hole, just sew it shut and then sew on to the puppet. Sew in ends.


Eyes

Flat Eyes
With White (make 2):

Row 1: Magic circle, ch 2, 10 dc in circle. Join. (10 dc)
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in same and in each around. Join. (20 sc)
Fasten off leaving long end for sewing on to puppet.

Now you can add a button to each eye or crochet the rest of the eye:

With Black or any other desired color (make 2):
Row 1: Magic circle, ch 1, 8 hdc in circle. Join. (8 hdc)
Fasten off leaving long end for sewing on to white part of eye.

Sew eyes on to puppet and sew in ends.

Googly Eyes
With white and 15mm safety eyes (2) or buttons (make 2):

Important note: Insert your safety eyes before pulling your magic circle shut, I did this after row 2.

Row 1: Magic circle, ch 1, 8 sc in circle. Join. (8 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in same and in each around. Join. (16 sc)
Row 3-5: Ch 1, sc in same and in each around. Join. (16 sc)
Row 6: Ch 1, starting in the same sp as the ch 1; *sc2tog.* Repeat *to* around. Join. (8 sc2tog)
Row 7: Ch 1, starting in the same sp as the ch 1: *slst2tog.* Repeat *to* around. Join. (4 slst2tog)
Fasten off leaving long end for sewing on to puppet, after sewing on sew in ends.


Tongue
With Red or Pink

Big Tongue

Leave a long end in the beginning for sewing on to the puppet.
Row 1: Ch 7, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each across. Ch 1, turn. (6 hdc)
Row 2-3: Hdc in same and in each across. Ch 1, turn. (6 hdc)
Row 4: Sc2tog, sc in 2, sc2tog. Ch 1, turn. (2 sc, 2 sc2tog)
Row 5: Sc2tog, sc2tog. Ch 1, turn. (2 sc2tog)
Row 6: Sc2tog. Sl st around the entire edge of tongue, fasten off leaving long end for sewing on to puppet.
When sewing this tongue into the mouth you will need to sew down about half of it so it lays nicely.

Small Tongue

Leave a long end in the beginning for sewing on to the puppet.
Row 1: Ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in next 2. Turn. (3 sc)
Row 2-4: Sc across. Turn. (3 sc)
Row 5: Sl st, sc, sl st. Sl st around entire edge of tongue, fasten off leaving long end for sewing on to puppet.


Hair

Cut strands of yarn and double knot on to the top of the head of the puppet or add longer strands and braid them together, add multiple colors or keep your puppet bald.
You can also make cute curls (my favorite) by doing the following: Attach yarn with sl st where you would like the curl to start, chain as long as you would like (my chain is 15).

Work 3 sc into the 2nd ch from hook and in each chain down except the last. When you get to the end of the chain sl st to the head and either start another curl (I made 3 curls) or fasten off. Sew in ends.