Showing posts with label Teddy Puppets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teddy Puppets. Show all posts

Thursday, 17 January 2019

Puppets and Monsters

Last year Knit for Nowt sent out an appeal for therapy puppets and monsters which are desperately needed for children who have suffered physical and  psychological trauma.  These puppets are used by Social workers throughout the UK  to help a traumatised child to communicate through a puppet or monster.

I think it's heartbreaking to think that there is always a desperate need for these and supply can't meet demand, you can read all about Knit for Nowt here

I have never really enjoyed making fiddly things but this cause really tugged at my heart and I knew that I had to try to help in anyway that I could. 

Out came the sewing machine I had to dust off a few cobwebs I can tell you but I was determined to give this a go and this was the result....

hand puppet, sewn, easy, kids toys, free pattern, therapy puppet
I know they aren't great but I was quite proud that I had actually managed to produce something that could be used, the worst part for me was sewing the faces. 

I then approached my U3A Patchwork and embroidery group and asked them if they would like to make some too, I even made a couple more and do you know what, apart from the faces I really enjoyed making them, this is what we made between us....


As you know crochet is my forte and although I did enjoy sewing some I was itching to make some crocheted ones too, apparently although all types of puppets are needed and used a MOJO  monster is the most useful as several facial flaps are used one for each facial expression. I found a knitted and sewn pattern on the website but none for crochet so I fiddled about a bit and came up with a very simple pattern of my own, made a few puppets then sent photo's to Clare from Knit for nowt to see if they were acceptable......

crochet monster, puppet, easy, free pattern crochet, kids, trauma monster

Here they are all sat on the windowsill in my conservatory which I had just had built, my next door neighbour was having an extension built at the same time which meant that her workmen spent a great deal of time working from my garden. When I took a photo of these little guys I was actually in my pyjamas and kept moving them around darting back and forth and yes talking to myself too as I do😳 I then turned and looked out of the windows at the side only to find next doors workmen sat on the new extension roof watching me and looking very amused indeed.  To say I felt embarrassed is an understatement.😆 

Anyway I'm very pleased to say that Clare was delighted with the puppets and asked me if I would share the pattern with diagrams so that it could be added to the website.

I do hope that this will inspire some of you to make some puppets, I know that I will continue to make them whenever I can. There is loads of information on the website and patterns of all types for you to try. I have added some links below for easy access.

CROCHET MOJO WORRY MONSTER 

CROCHET TEDDY HAND PUPPET PATTERN

WORRY PUPPET AND MONSTER PATTERNS (WEBSITE)

HAND AND FINGER PUPPETS ( WEBSITE)

SEWN PUPPETS AND MONSTERS (WEBSITE)




Saturday, 25 June 2016

Something For The Weekend

Just the thing for the warmer weather, these cute little puppets are light, quick and easy to make and all for a great cause too...



I have challenged myself to make at least two of these a month and these are my June puppets.  OCC Barton upon Humber  need lots more to meet their target, the latest total is 5413 bears.

Why don't you all join in and and make a bear or two you can read all about the appeal, find the patterns and the address to send them here.



I hope you all have a great sunshiny weekend. xxx




 photo e69a549e-0e33-465a-b88b-a6ebe916eaaa_zps34480328.jpg

Monday, 2 May 2016

I Just Love A Challenge or Two.

April went by without me realising it a month of frantic activity both on the home and crafting front.  I am dealing with a very tricky situation at the moment and it's very emotionally and physically draining but it has to be sorted because it's been hanging over me for ten years this time I have to see it through and draw a line under it and move on.

I hate anything that takes me away from my crafting activities and of course my blog and my visits to you lovely lot but in this case needs must, once it's all sorted I hope that I can tell you more about it. 

Even though I wasn't able to craft so much I still did manage to achieve most of my objectives  for April and busted a 900 grams of stash and better still I resisted the urge buy any yarn last month yay! Unfortunately I haven't been able to show you everything but I will when time allows.

So what have I got planned for May on the crafting front....

I am joining in with the Feel Good Charity Challenge hosted by the Crochet Crowd it started on the 10th April  and will finish at the end of May so I have my work cut out if I'm going to submit any of my projects. I'm hoping to have two entries one in the afghan category and one in the hat category which will tie in quite nicely with another challenge which has been set by a facebook group I'm part of  Knit Your Square To Give Your Share, they too have set a challenge Bash your Stash  Big Hat Little Hat which runs from the beginning of May to October.

I have already made a start on the afghan..




An easy granny stripe blanket made with stash Aran yarn so hopefully it will work up quite quickly, I have missed making a blanket and I'm so happy to be making this.  I'm also hopefully going to make a hat today and I'm looking forward to that too.

I know what you are saying yes but what about the sweater a month and the two Ted Puppets well I'm pleased to say I did manage to make my April Teds and here they are...


crochet toys free pattern easy charity makes
Pattern here
making a late appearance but I did complete them in April.  As you all know I did manage to make an April Sweater as for the May sweater I make no promises to actually finish it in May because of the challenges but I will try and if I don't manage then it will be two June sweaters instead.

So for May then we are looking for..

1 Afghan.
12 Hats.
2 Ted Puppets.
? 1 Sweater.

Will I do it?

What are your plans for May? why don't you join the challenges too it's fun. :) 

Read about the Teddy Puppet Appeal here




 photo e69a549e-0e33-465a-b88b-a6ebe916eaaa_zps34480328.jpg

Thursday, 31 March 2016

Teddy Puppet Appeal


As you know I am aiming to make at least Two Teddy Puppets each month to help OCC Barton upon Humber reach their target....

Teddy Bear Challenge 2016
By request we are running our Teddy Bear Challenge again this year! With your talent and help (and a little more time than last year!!!) we are hoping to break the World Record. We need more than 15534 teddy bear puppets to achieve our goal... a huge challenge, but not impossible.
Can you help us to spread the word and drum up support - we need your help to make this possible! 



Latest Count   22nd September........                                               

16,099!!



July Teds
Made by Maureen
June Teds
May Teds
April Teds
March Teds
February Teds

January Teds

These little puppets are so easy to make and are great for using up those little bits of stash yarn that you don't know what to do with.

if you would like to help here are the patterns..

Knitted...

and you can find the crochet pattern here


details of where to get the address to send your puppets on their Facebook page here

A great weekend project have Fun! :) 





 photo e69a549e-0e33-465a-b88b-a6ebe916eaaa_zps34480328.jpg