Jungle Finger Puppets Carrying Case

I put the patterns for the Jungle Finger Puppets on moogly a while ago - including the Lion, Monkey, Zebra, and Wild Man - and now it's time to share the pattern for the Jungle Finger Puppets Carrying Case!

The Jungle Finger Puppets Carrying Case is made to look like a jungle tree, complete with coconuts laying at the base. The top has a drawstring handle to keep it closed, and the whole thing is built around a plastic drink mix container, so it'll stand up to what the kids dish out. If you can't get a hold of the specified container, you'll need to change up the base a bit and the stitch count will be different, but the basic idea and rounds should translate pretty easily.

Jungle Finger Puppets Carrying Case

Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue

• US - G, 4.00 mm hook
• 151 yds Red Heart Super Saver recommended
  60 yds yellow or tan
  10 yds brown
  80 yds green
  1 yd black
• Crystal Light drink mix container, or similarly shaped container (shown below)
• NOTES: Be sure to check out the Jogless Stripes tutorial on Needle Noodles before starting so you get the best "tree truck" possible! Also try the cozy on the container as you go, to check your gauge and make sure you are getting a snug fit. Please note that the puppets are small and not tested for safety - in other words, do not make them for children under 3 years old.

Make Coconuts (1 or more, it's up to you!):

With brown yarn, make Magic Circle. Work 9 hdc in ring, break yarn and use seamless join to finish off, leaving a long tail to sew each on later. Add dots as shown by making french knots with black yarn.

Make Tree Trunk:

Remove the plastic label from the drink mix container and discard label and lid.

With green yarn:

Round 1: Ch 6. Working in BLO, sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch until one ch remains (4sc). Work 3 sc in last ch wrapping around (should resemble a hook), continue across in unused loops of foundation ch, sc across to last ch st (4 sc), 3 sc in ch, join with sl st to first sc. Join to first sc with sl st. (14 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in first 4 sc, 2 sc in each of next 3 sc, sc in ea of next 4 sc, 2 sc in each of last 3 sc st. Join to first sc with sl st. (20 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in first 4 sc, [2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc] 3 times, sc in next 4sc, (2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc) 3 times. Join to first sc with sl st. (26 sc)

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in first 4 sc [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc] 3 times, sc in next 4 sc, [2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc] 3 times. Join to first sc with sl st. (32 sc) At this point the oval should match the base of the container.

Round 5: Ch 1, working in BLO, sc evenly around. Join to first sc with sl st. (32 sc)

Round 6: Ch 1, sc evenly around. Join to first sc with sl st using yellow yarn and the jogless method linked above in the notes. (32 sc) Break green yarn and continue with yellow yarn.

Round 7: Ch 1, working in BLO, sc evenly around. Join to first sc with sl st.

Round 8 - 10: Ch 1, sc evenly around. Join to first sc with sl st. Stop and weave in the loose ends (2 green, 1 yellow) now.

Round 11: Ch 1, sc evenly around. Join to first sc with sl st, using jogless method to join with brown yarn.  Do not break yellow yarn.

Round 12: Ch 1, sc evenly around. Join to first sc with sl st using yellow yarn. Do not break brown yarn - carry it along inside for next stripe.

Add crochet "grass" with surface crochet, as seen below. Sew on coconuts. This is freehand - make yours unique!

Round 13 - 17: Ch 1, sc evenly around. Join to first sc with sl st. At end of Round 17, join using jogless method with brown yarn.

Round 18: Ch 1, sc evenly around. Join to first sc with sl st using yellow yarn.

Round 19 - 36: Repeat Rounds 13-18 3 times, until you have 5 brown stripes made with the yellow sections between.

Round 37 - 39: Repeat Round 13 3 times, or until the tree trunk is the same height as the plastic container, as shown below. Add or subtract rows as needed to get the correct height. Cut brown yarn and weave in end. Make sure all other ends are woven in and trimmed as desired.

Round 40: Insert container. Ch 1 and [sc in 2 sts, sc2tog] 8 times. (24 sc) This holds the container in the tree trunk permanently. Break yarn and use seamless join to finish off, weaving in end between plastic and trunk as much as possible.

Make Leaves:

Round 41: Join green yarn to last Round with a sl st (to any st). Ch 1 and sc in each st around. Join with a sl st. (24 sc)

Round 42: Ch 1 and sc in the FLO of the first st. [Ch 20, sc in FLO of next st] 23 times. Ch 20, sl st in first sc. (24 ch 20 loops made) Weave in green starting end.

Round 43: Ch 1 and sc in BLO of first st of Round 41. [Ch 20, sc in BLO of next st] 23 times. Ch 20, sl st in first sc of round. (24 ch 20 loops made)

Round 44: Ch 2 (does not count as st) and dc in the top of the first sc from the previous round. Dc in each sc to end, pushing the ch 20 loops forward or to the side as necessary. Join to top of first dc with a sl st. (24 dc)

Round 45: Ch 2, dc in each st around. Join with a sl st. (24 dc)

Round 46: Ch 1, hdc in each st around. (24 hdc) Break yarn and use seamless join to finish off. Weave in end.

Make drawstring:

Using green yarn, ch for 12 inches. Optionally, cut a 12" length of matching green ribbon. Weave chain (or ribbon) between stitches of Round 46. Tie or sew closed.

Add a set of the jungle finger puppets (all free patterns right here on moogly!), and you'll have a complete Jungle Finger Puppets set with case, ready for gift giving! These are great for holidays, birthdays, or just because.

 

 

Be sure to Like the moogly Facebook page for the latest updates and have some fun with us! Written pattern copyright Tamara Kelly 2012. Please do not reprint or repost this pattern, but please feel free to link to this page to share this pattern with others. You can contact me via Facebook messages or at TamaraKelly@mooglyblog.com.