The Perfect Stitch...: Trolls - Branch Hand Puppet

With all the snow and ice here in North Carolina, I've stayed inside and keeping myself busy working on crochet projects. So, here is my second Trolls Hand Puppet - Branch!!! I used #4 worsted weight yarn. This pattern works up fairly quick.

Trolls - Branch Hand Puppet Pattern

Size: Approximately 14" tall from top of hair to bottom and 7 1/2" across from finger placement to finger placement

Gauge: I did not gauge this pattern

Materials:

--6.0mm hook (puppet)

--3.0mm (for ears and facial features)

--#4 worsted weight yarn in blue, purple, white and black

--a pinch of polyfil (for the nose)

--hair brush or comb for making the hair

--tapestry needle (for weaving)

U.S. Stitch Abbreviations:

Ch: chain

Sl st: slip stitch

St: stitch(es)

SC: single crochet

SC2tog: single crochet 2 stitches together

HDC: half double crochet

DC: double crochet

TC: triple crochet

Rep: repeat

Sk: skip

MR: magic ring

FO: fasten off

Directions:

Note: the front and back pieces are made exactly the same

Puppet (make 2):

1. With blue yarn, Ch16. SC in 2nd ch from hook and across. Ch1 and turn. (15)

2-10. 1 SC in each st across. Ch1 and turn. (15)

11. 2 SC in first st, 1 SC in each of the next 13 st and 2 SC in the last st. Ch1 and turn. (17)

12. 1 SC in each st across. Ch1 and turn. (17)

13. 2 SC in first st, 1 SC in each of the next 15 st and 2 SC in the last st. Ch1 and turn. (19)

14. 1 SC in each st across. Ch1 and turn. (19)

15. 2 SC in first st, 1 SC in each of the next 17 st and 2 SC in the last st. Ch1 and turn. (21)

16. 1 SC in each st across. Ch1 and turn. (21)

17. 2 SC in first st, 1 SC in each of the next 19 st and 2 SC in the last st. Ch1 and turn. (23)

18. 1 SC in each st across. Ch1 and turn. (23)

19. 2 SC in first st, 1 SC in each of the next 21 st and 2 SC in the last st. Ch1 and turn. (25)

20. 1 SC in each st across. Turn. (25)

21. Sl st in each of the first 6 st. Ch1. SC in each of the next 13 st. Leave the last 6 st unworked. Ch1 and turn. (13)

22-27. 1 SC in each st across. Ch1 and turn. (13)

28. SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 9 st, SC2tog. Ch1 and turn. (11)

29. 1 SC in each st across. Ch1 and turn. (11)

30. SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 7 st, SC2tog. Ch1 and turn. (9)

31. 1 SC in each st across. Ch1 and turn. (9)

32. SC2tog, 1 SC in each of the next 5 st, SC2tog. Ch1 and turn. (7)

33. 1 SC in each st across. FO and leave a long tail for attaching front and back pieces together.

Repeat for second piece.

Before you whipstitch the front and back together, make and attach the facial features to one piece.

Eyes (make 2):

--The eyes are made in 2 parts--

First part:

1. With white yarn and 3.0mm hook, 6 SC into MR. Sl st to join to first st and Ch1. Pull to tighten the center. (6)

2. 2 SC in each st around. Sl st to join and Ch1. (12)

3. 2 SC in the first st, 1 SC in the next 3 st. Rep around. FO and leave tail for attaching. (15)

Second part:

1. With black yarn and 3.0mm hook, 6 SC into MR. FO black yarn and join blue yarn. Sl st to join and Ch1. (6)

2. With blue yarn, 2 SC in the first st, 1 SC in the next st. Rep around. Sl st to join and FO. Leave a tail for attaching.

Repeat for second eye.

Eyelids (make 2):
1. With black yarn and 3.0mm hook, Ch7. SC in 2nd ch from hook and across. Ch1 and turn. (6)
2. 1 SC in each st across. FO and leave tail for attaching. (6)

Eyebrows (make 2):
1. With black yarn and 3.0mm hook, Ch8. SC in 2nd ch from hook, SC in next ch, HDC in each of the next 3 ch, and SC in each of the last 2 ch. FO and leave a tail for attaching. (7)

Assembly of eyes:

1. Attach second part to first part.

2. Then attach to the right side of one of the puppets. I attached mine at rows 25-27.
3. Attach eyelids above eyes.
4. Attach eyebrows above eyelids. (See pics for guidance)

Nose:

1. With purple yarn and 3.0mm hook, 6 SC into MR. Sl st to join to first st and Ch1. Pull to tighten the center. (6)

2. *2 DC in the 1st st, 2 DC in the next st, 2 SC in the following st,* rep around. Sl st to join to first st and Ch1.

3. *1 DC in the first 4 st, 1 SC in the next 2 st,* rep around. Sl st to join and FO. Leave a long enough tail for attaching the nose.

Assembly of nose:

1. Attach nose in the center, below the eyes, at rows 20-24.

2. Whipstitch to close. Before closing off, add a very small amount of polyfil (or you could use yarn) for the filling. Weave ends.
3. I also added a couple stitches on each side of the nose, about 1/2" inward on each side to create an indentation.

Mouth:

1. For the mouth, I used black yarn and embroidered it. However, you could make a chain of stitches, if so desired.

At this point, you will now, whipstitch the sides together, with right sides facing each other.

Whipstitch around the puppet, leaving the bottom open. Now, turn right side out.

Ears (make 2):

1. With blue yarn, 8 SC into MR. Pull to tighten but do not join. Ch1 and turn. (8)
2. 2 SC in the first st, 1 SC in the next 6 st and 2 SC in the last st. Ch1 and turn. (10)
3. 2 SC in the first st, 1 SC in the next 8 st and 2 SC in the last st. FO and leave a tail for attaching. (12)

Assembly:

1. First, I folded each ear inward.

2. Then, I attached to each side of the puppet. (See pics for placement)

Hair:

1. For the hair, I used purple yarn. I used my 6.0mm hook to attach the yarn in each st of the rows above the eyebrows all the way around. I also placed hair in the stitches on each side (from the top side to the ear). I worked the yarn into a stitch, pulled yarn through and tied into a knot (approximately 4 1/2 - 5" long). I continued to do this until I was satisfied with the amount of yarn used.

2. Now, I used a hair brush to continually brushing through the yarn until the "hair" was achieved. It takes a little time and patience to complete this, but it will happen.

And, that's it for my Branch Troll...