Here is a pattern that I wrote for Knit-for-Nowt.
Clare, who runs everything, likes to include a dog puppet when she sends families of puppets to the therapists. Children will often say things to their dogs that they won't say to adults.
PATTERN FOR A KNITTED DOG HAND PUPPET
You will need
dk yarn
4mm knitting needles
Felt or buttons for eyes
Wool or embroidery thread for nose and mouth
Body
Cast on 20 stitches
Rows 1 – 4 are garter stitch
Then work 24 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a Garter Stitch Row and ending with a purl row)
Arms
Cast on 10 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows (you will have 40 stitches on the needle)
Work 10 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Cast off 10 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows (you will have 20 stitches on the needle)
Head
Work 50 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Arms
Cast on 10 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows (you will have 40 stitches on the needle)
Work 10 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Cast off 10 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows (you will have 20 stitches on the needle)
Body
Work 24 rows – (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a purl row)
Work 4 rows garter stitch
Cast off
Ears (make 2)
Cast on 6 stitches
Rows 1 - 11 (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a garter stitch row)
You will increase one stitch at both ends of rows 3, 7, and 11 until you have 12 stitches on the needle
Rows 12 - 16 (stocking stitch, commencing with a purl row and ending with a purl row)
Row 17 Join new colour (garter stitch row)
Rows 18 - 20 (stocking stitch, commencing with a purl row and ending with a purl row)
Rows 21 - 29 (stocking stitch, commencing with a garter stitch row and ending with a garter stitch row)
You will decrease one stitch at both ends of rows 21, 25, and 29 until you have 6 stitches on the needle
Row 30 (purl row)
Row 31 (garter stitch row)
Cast off
Fold in half, right sides together, and sew the 2 long side seams
Turn right side out
Making up:
Embroider facial features as desired
Fold in half, right sides together, and sew the seam
Turn right side out and attach the ears, taking care to close the top seam of each ear
The inspiration for this pattern came from the BASIC PATTERN FOR A WORRY PUPPET by Diane Fenney
If you feel like knitting, crocheting or sewing some worry monsters or worry puppetsfor Knit-for-Nowt, there is currently a competition to win a wool voucher on their website HERE. There will be four winners and everyone has an equal chance as the winners will be selected at random by a senior social worker. The closing date is May 25th.
