Bricks Without Straw Enterprises: Finger Fun!

Dueling Dragon Finger Puppets

By Ruth H. Bennett

A pattern for daring intermediate or patient experienced knitters

These cuties were designed for a Swap on Ravelry. My “spoilee” is a young lady who loves dragons & Amigurumi.... So, here’s the fruit of my inspiration!
I had picked up a little ‘Kanga& Roo’ finger puppet for Sam at the Reggae Festival here in Louisville at the Water Tower. (It was more than worth the two dollars I paid for it! Sometimes I have to go “Un”Fair Trade... darn the Bad Karma... But, those 3rd World Knitters Rule!) I saw that this ingenious little piece was basically a mini-sock (NOT a ‘finger’) with clever embellishments & strategic stuffing. Once I had reverse engineered that, I now see the possibilities are endless. I’m sure that once you knit this up, your own mind will have already worked out how you would make your own favorite beastie puppet!

WARNING: Fudge Factor here is HIGH! I wrote exactly what I did for these puppets. You might have to go off book & ad lib what works for you in the gauge & yarn you choose. Don’t feel bound by what is written here. Just keep the concept of mini-sock & the power of picked-up stitch i-cord in mind & you will find this pretty easy & fun to make. If you have a favorite mini-sock pattern use that for the basis of the puppet. You might find it easier to follow what you know to be familiar rather than my crazy train...

Yarn: Patons Grace 100% cotton 136 yds per skein (1 skein each Viola & Black, pattern uses far less than a whole skein. Any sport/fingering weight stash will do. This is a fine sock yarn stash buster!)

Needles: US Size 3 Double Pointed Needles ( 5 “sock pin” style dpns are nice for this project)

Other Supplies:
~Yarn needle
~Stuffing fluff or extra roving
~Beads, etc. for eyes (optional)
~A Fun-Loving Imagination!

Gauge: Not very important, but I have sts & 6 rows = 1” in stockinette

Size: One Size Fits All...

Dragon Body: (use main color)

~CO 20 sts& distribute 6/8/6 on 3 dpns (I leave a tail to serve as my beg. of row marker...)
~Join & knit in the round for 3 rounds
~Begin garter ridges for belly ‘scales’: Alternate 1Knit row with 1 rowK6, P8, K6
Repeat those 2 rows until you have 10 garter bumps for the belly
~Then, “shape” neck by making K7, P6, K7 on next chance for the 11th garter bump.
~Knit 1 round
~K8, P4, K8

Back of Head: (This is really a heel flap!)
~Separate 1st & last 5 sts of round to work flat =10 sts (leave front 10 sts for later pickup)
~The Beg. of round should be in the middle of these 10 sts... just like a basic sock.
~Work in sl 1st stitch stockinette for 1 1/4” (8 rows) ending on a purl row.

Warning: The short rows for the “Heel Turn” are not standard here, but it works!
~P5, P2tog, Turn, Then start sequence:
1: sl1, K to 1 st before gap, K2 tog, Turn
2: sl 1, P to 1 st before gap. P2tog, Turn
~Repeat 1 & 2 until only 2 sts remain.
(This makes a sort of ‘saggital crest’ instead of a ‘heel cup’... So leave sockish thoughts aside here.)

Cheek Gusset: (Distribute on dpns as you see best... But, this will help you mark your place!)

Needle 1: K1, Pick up 6 sts along slipped stitch edge of “heel flap”.
Needle 2: K5 of your set aside sts
Needle 3: K5 of your set aside sts
Needle 4: Pick up 6 sts along other slipped stitch edge of “heel flap”, K1.
~Knit 1 round (be sure to maintain garter bumps on bottom of “chin” as you go...)=24 sts
~K5, PSSO, K10, K2tog, K5= 22
~K 1 round
~K4, PSSO, K10, K2tog, K4= 20
~K3 rounds
~Shape forehead: K2tog 3 times, K 8, PSSO 3 times= 14 sts
Knit 1 round
~Begin mouth decreases (very much like to decreases...)
K2, PSSO, K2 tog, K2, PSSO, K2tog, K2 = 10 sts
~K 1 round
~K1, PSSO, K2 tog, K1, PSSO, K2tog, K1 = 6 sts
~K 1 round
~Pull yarn through knit loops to close & weave in ends.

Dragon Ears: Make 2 (use main color, reverse shaping for 2nd ear)

~Pick up 4 sts along “heel” edge on top/side of head
~Do slip 1st stitch stockinette for 7 rows.
~Then decrease: sl1, P2tog, P1. Turn, sl1, K2 tog Turn, BO.
~Weave in ends.

Dragon Tail: (use main color)

Pick up 8 sts on either side of bottom/back= 16 sts
~Divide onto 3 dpns with 4 sts on the bottom to be your garter ‘scales’
~K 2 rounds
~Begin garter ridges on bottom 4 sts & K 8 more rounds
~Begin Decreases by alternating a PSSO & K2tog on either side of the top of the tail with a plain relief row.
~Continue until 4 sts remain.
~Pull yarn through knit loops to close & weave in ends.

Arms: Make 2 (Use main color)

~Pick up 5 sts on side of body (I used ridge 10 from the belly ‘scales as my guide for top of arm.)
~Knit as i-cord for 7 rows
~Pull yarn through knit loops to close & weave in ends.

Back Ridge: (use contrast color)

~Pick up 54 sts (Fudge Factor here is HIGH! Just PU a multiple of 4 + 2 extra...) Along spine, top of head to tip of tail.
~BO 1 stitch, Knit back along PU sts = 53
(From here on out, the concept is “Garterlac” triangles. If you are more comfortable with crochet, I’m sure you’ve already started doing a basic picot edge instead of this...)
~BO 1 st, K1
(Turn, K1, Turn, K2, Turn, K2, Turn, K3, Turn, K3, Turn BO5 sts)*
~Use last st to begin sequence. Repeat until all sts are used up & BO!
~Weave in ends.

Finishing:
Stuff the head lightly & use main color yarn to sew neck closed.

Use whatever you’ve got around to embellish at will!
Bead up the eyes! Bling up the scales & claws! En Garde!
(You have some littles? Worry (k)not! Embroidery basics like Bullion stitch & French Knots stand in nicely if you want to make these safe for young children.)