Finger Puppets (In-the-Hoop)

In-the-hoop finger puppet designs each have one full embroidery file and one dieline.

Dieline files are marked with the letters DL. They're used to cut the fabric for the shape of the puppet, and any appendages like arms, wings, tails, faces, and stomaches.

Open the dieline file with embroidery software and print it.

If you do not have embroidery software, Wilcom's TrueSizer is
a free program to use.

Spray the back of the printed dieline with a small amount of temporary spray adhesive. 

Smooth the printed dieline on top of the felt. Cut out the shapes.

Use craft felt for the "finger" part of the puppet, and stiffened felt for the appendages. Stiffened felt helps pieces like these stand up and keep their shape.

The "finger" part of the puppet is shaped like a half-oval. Cut out two pieces of felt for this shape; one is for the front of the puppet, and one is for the back.

When the fabric pieces are cut and ready, it's time to start stitching.

Hoop a piece of tear-away stabilizer.

Use a size 11 sharp sewing needle in the machine rather than an embroidery needle.

A sharp sewing needle is the best choice when embroidering in-the-hoop designs.

Attach the hoop to the machine.

Load the full embroidery file (not the dieline) to the machine.

Embroider the design, and follow the color change sheet as you stitch.

The first thing to embroider is a dieline or outline stitch that traces a shape onto the stabilizer for the front body piece.

Spray the back side of one of the body pieces with a small amount of temporary adhesive.

Place it right inside of the stitched outline.

Continue embroidering the design.

A tack down stitch will sew next. This stitch holds the felt in place during the remainder of the design.

Next, more dielines will sew.

These dielines are for the face or stomach of the puppet.

Spray the back of the face and stomach pieces with a bit of temporary spray adhesive.

Place the pieces inside of the sewn outlines.

Continue embroidering the design. Tack down stitches for the face and stomach will sew next.

Next, the face and/or stomach detail will embroider.

Watch for a note on the color change sheet that says "finishing seam." 

Just before you reach this step stop the machine and remove the hoop. Don't remove the stabilizer from the hoop. 

Lay the appendages on top of the embroidery how you want them to look. Align the ends of the appendages with the tack down of the front body piece.

If you would like to add a tail, cut a 2" piece of yarn and place it where you would like it to go.  Make sure there is about 1/4" extending in past the tack down.

Flip the appendages and the tail to the inside of the front body piece so that the ends are aligned with the outer edges of the body piece. 

Lay the tail to the inside so that it will not be sewn over later on.

You can also add hair or braids (on the fairytale puppets for example). 

Braid yarn using as few as three strips or as many as you like (we used 9 strips of yarn which makes a nice, thick braid). 

First, tie one end of the strips together and tape it to a flat surface. Then, braid the strips together until it is about 2" long. 

Tie the opposite end in place with another small strip of yarn. Add the braid(s) to the puppet as instructed above.

Spray the sides and top edges of the back body piece with a little adhesive.

Align the back piece on top of the embroidered front piece and appendages and press in place.

Attach the hoop to the machine and continue embroidering the design. 

The final thing to embroider is a finishing seam. These stitches will sew all the pieces together

When the design has finished, unhoop the stabilizer and tear away the excess.

Trim the bottom corners by making diagonal cuts on each side of the puppet.

Turn the puppet right side out and use the end of a pen to get the shape to look nice.

To finish the tail, loop thread around the tip of the yarn about 1/4" from the end and tie it in a knot. 

Then, trim the excess thread.

Create female animals by leaving the antlers off the moose and the horns off the cow. 

You can add embellishments to the puppets too.

We added a small strip of yarn around the base of the puppet's hat to add dimension. 

To do this, wrap the yarn around the base and tie it in a knot on the back side of the hat. Then, add a drop of fabric glue to secure the yarn in place. 

Also, you can add bows by tying ribbon around hair and braids.

These fun felt puppets are a terrific way to embroider fun for kids of all ages and sizes.

Perfect for hours of telling stories and having fun for the entire family!

Customize the puppets to your child's liking by sewing them in colors of their choice!