Finger Puppets

Creating a finger puppet out of felt and embroidery floss is a fun and simple craft project. Here are step-by-step instructions to make a basic felt finger puppet:

Materials:

• Felt Sheets: Choose the color(s) of felt you want for your puppet. You'll need one main color for the body and additional colors for embellishments.

• Embroidery Floss: Select embroidery floss in colors that match your felt or provide contrast for stitching details.

• Embroidery Needle: Use a small, sharp embroidery needle with a large enough eye to accommodate the floss.

• Scissors: Sharp scissors are essential for cutting felt and thread.

• Pencil or Fabric Marker: You'll need this for drawing your puppet's design on the felt.

• Craft Glue (Optional): Craft glue can be used to secure certain parts of your puppet if desired.

Steps:

1. Design Your Puppet:

   • Begin by designing your finger puppet on a piece of paper. Keep the design simple, as finger puppets are usually small and require basic shapes.

   • Once you're satisfied with your design, trace or draw it onto the main felt color using a pencil or fabric marker. You'll need two identical shapes for the front and back of the puppet.

2. Cut Out the Puppet Shapes:

   • Carefully cut out the two puppet shapes from the felt. These will be the body of your finger puppet.

3. Decorate Your Puppet:

   • Use additional pieces of felt in different colors to create facial features, clothing, or any other embellishments for your puppet.

   • Attach these felt pieces to one of the main puppet shapes using craft glue or by stitching them in place with embroidery floss. Be creative with your design!

4. Stitch the Front and Back Together:

   • Place the two puppet shapes (the one with decorations and the plain one) together, aligning their edges.

   • Thread your embroidery needle with a length of embroidery floss, and tie a knot at the end.

   • Starting from the inside of the puppet (the side without decorations), begin stitching around the edges using a basic whipstitch or running stitch. Leave the bottom (where your finger will go) open.

   • Continue stitching around the puppet until you've sewn the front and back together securely.

5. Add Finger Hole:

   • Slip your finger inside the puppet to determine where the hole for your finger should go.

   • Carefully cut a small slit or hole in the bottom layer of felt, ensuring it's large enough to accommodate your finger comfortably.

6. Finishing Touches:

   • Check the puppet for any loose threads or areas that need reinforcing. Trim any excess thread.

   • Your finger puppet is now complete and ready for play!

Feel free to get creative with your finger puppet designs. You can make animals, people, fantasy creatures, or anything else you can imagine. Personalize your puppets with different felt colors, embroidery floss details, and even small fabric scraps for added texture. This is a great project for kids and adults alike, and it allows for endless possibilities for customization.