Kids Craft Ideas: Horse Finger Puppets

Finger puppets open a world of possibilities for kids craft ideas. There are several ways to make finger puppets. This tutorial will walk through two of the methods for making horse finger puppets. In addition to the materials listed with each method, you will need at least one skein of brown embroidery thread and a plastic upholstery needle, black and brown craft paint with writing tips, a cotton ball and craft glue.

A really nice way for older children (8 years old and up) or adults to make a horse finger puppet is to first use a sock weight brown yarn (or 2-3 skeins embroidery thread) and a matching hook to crochet a 4 inch tube. For a starter video on how to crochet in the round, click here. From where the video stops, slide the hook under the "V" shaped stitch to the left of the hook, yarn over, draw the loop back through the V, but do not continue through the loop on the hook. Instead, yarn over again and pull through both loops you've created. Continue to the left in this way, until you have created a tube that is at least 3-4 inches long. Cut the yarn about 3 inches from your hook and pull it through the loop on the hook. Work the remainder into the work so that it is invisible.

Tear the cotton ball in half and stuff it into the end of the tube. Fold the stuffed end down over the rest of the tube, to make the shape of the horse's head. Glue into place. Once the glue is dry, thread the needle with 1 whole skein. Starting from inside the tube on the straight side, pass the needle through to the outside, pull the thread all the way out. Pass the needle toward the inside next, but when you pull the thread into the tube, leave about half an inch of thread outside. Repeat this until you have a good mane. Alternatively, you can cut the thread into 2-3 inch lengths and tie them. Use the black craft paint to apply eyes and, if desired, nostrils and a line for the mouth. Use the brown to create ears.

For younger children, crochet might be a bit hard to handle. Instead, you can head to your local thrift store to find a castoff pair of brown knit gloves. Cut off one of the fingers of the glove and proceed as above.