How to Make Felt Finger Puppets (Easy Craft with Kids)

These finger puppets are so quick and easy to make, and very popular with young kids. You can either make them by yourself or involve your children in this easy felt project.

Older kids could try making their own puppets if they know basic sewing skills.

👉How to Help Children Learn to Sew ~ Free Sewing Guide

You can carry a few of these puppets in your bag to always have some entertainment on hand for boring visits at the doctor or waiting in line somewhere. For small kids you might want to use them to act out stories and songs that they enjoy.

Want to make your own? Here’s how to do it in just a few simple steps.

Step 1: Choose Your Animals

First, decide which animals you want to make. Simple designs like ducks, cats and cows are great for beginners, but you can get creative with any animal your child loves.

To add facial features, you have two options:

• Quick and Easy: Use a black pen to draw the eyes and nostrils. Just be careful, some inks can bleed on felt.
• Extra Special: Take a little more time to embroider the features onto the puppet body pieces for a more durable and polished look.

Step 2: Create a Template for Your Felt Finger Puppets

To make sure your finger puppets fit perfectly, start by creating a simple template:

1. Place your finger (or your child’s finger for a smaller size) on a piece of paper.
2. Draw around it, leaving extra space around the edges for sewing.
3. Cut out the template.
4. Double your felt, place the template on top, and cut around it so you have two identical pieces.

For your first puppet, take your time shaping the template. Once you’re happy with it, you can use it to quickly cut out more puppets in different colours.

Step 3: Add Details

Now it’s time to bring your puppets to life. Cut out small felt shapes for beaks, ears, noses, feet, or horns – whatever suits your chosen animals.

• Arrange all the pieces before gluing to make sure they look right.
• Use fabric glue to attach the features, or stitch them on for extra durability.

At this stage, your puppets will really start to take shape.

Step 4: Sew the Puppet Together

Once your puppet pieces are decorated and dry (if using glue), it’s time to sew them together.

👉 Five Most Important Basic Hand Sewing Stitches for Beginners

1. Stack the two pieces of felt so that the front (decorated) side is facing up. Sewing clips can help you to hold the fabric pieces together but they are usually not necessary.
2. Use a simple running stitch, whip stitch or blanket stitch to sew along the edges, leaving the bottom open for your finger.
3. Take your time around curves and corners to keep the shape neat.

That’s it – your first finger puppet is complete.

Step 5: Make More Felt Finger Puppets

Now that you have one puppet, making more is easy. Just use your first one as a template to cut out additional shapes. You can:

• Stick to a theme (like farm animals, jungle animals, or sea creatures).
• Experiment with different expressions by changing the eyes, ears, or mouths.
• Let kids create their own characters or create characters from a favourite story.
• Make a bigger and a smaller version of the same character for yourself and your child.

These puppets are so quick to sew that you’ll have a whole set in no time.

If you’re making finger puppets with young children, this project is a great way to help them develop their fine motor skills. For 2 to 5 year olds, cutting out simple shapes and gluing on small details can be fun.

Older kids can try sewing the edges for the first time, practicing their hand-eye coordination as they stitch. These puppets also make nice surprises to tuck inside Easter eggs, perfect for a springtime treasure hunt or as a handmade gift.

Fun Ways to Use Your Finger Puppets

Not only are these finger puppets fun to make, but they’re also great for:

• Storytelling: Act out favourite books, fairy tales, poems, or make up your own stories.
• Sing-alongs: Use puppets for classic songs like Old MacDonald Had a Farm.
• Quiet entertainment: Keep a few in your bag for waiting rooms, long car rides, or restaurants.
• Easter Egg Cosies: You could make a bunny, chick or lamb design for a seasonal theme, or get creative with other animals. Just ensure the opening is slightly wider than a standard finger puppet so the eggs fit comfortably inside.

They make fantastic gifts, too – perfect for a handmade surprise in a gift bag or Easter basket.

If you try making these, I’d love to see what you create. Share which type of finger puppets you would like to make in the comments.

More Easy Sewing Projects:

• A Beginner Sewing Project: An Easy Pin Cushion
• How to Make Easy Felt Ornaments (Using Cookie Cutters)
• 39 Simple Hand-Sewing Projects You Can Make with Fabric Scraps

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