This is probably one of our favourite shoeboxes and for a boy 10-14
For this box I made the Dennis the Menace hand puppet, matching hat, Desparate Dan pencil case, beaded bracelet and a small lined drawstring pouch to store the marbles in. The majority of the items in the box have been bought at reduced prices as and when we've seen them ......... the Chelsea FC bag was free with items purchased from the megastore, football stickers free with the newspaper and the small magnifying glass from a Christmas cracker! Hidden is also a bar of soap, compass set, notebook and sheets of plain paper.
It will be much easier to do a bit of knitting or crochet in those spare moments now I've made myself a bag ............. no more hunting out needles/hooks and carrier bags full of yarn I'll have it all to hand. The handle's too long (I was worried about getting "into" the bag if it was too short but it will be ok) so I'll be unpicking that and then this will be nice enough to leave out and I'll know for next time. The machine (Juki Exceed) was playing up a bit with wonky stitching until I remembered that I'd altered a dial by mistake (instead of a lever) when setting up for free motion the last time it was out so it's fine now.
I've had this "Desparate Dan" fabric for a while (ebay bargain) without really knowing what to do with it so am pleased with the pencil case to go with the "Dennis the Menace" (or my interpretation of lol) puppet and other bits for a shoebox later on in the year.
Just a few more knitted puppets that I finished last year ........................
Thankyou
bois-fleurie and
Puppet Lady for your lovely comments about the lampshade, I'm really looking forward to seeing them all soon. Bois-Fleurie I'm so sorry that I can't comment on your blog ........... every time I fill the box in it reverts back to an empty box. The painting's you've been doing are beautiful ......... such pretty colours!
By far the most viewed post on my blog is that for the Free Puppet Knitting Pattern links. The main purpose for my making of little hand puppets is for the OCC Christmas Shoebox appeal but they were very popular at our recent charity event too. Here are a few more links to free patterns for puppets to knit, sew or crochet that I've bookmarked:
Sheep Puppets to Knit and Crochet. Click here and search for "puppet" in the free patterns
I hope you enjoy these free pattern links as much as I have but do remember that puppets for shoeboxes sent from the UK should not contain any stuffing due to customs regulations.
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At last, my version of the panda and zebra puppets by Itty Bitty Toys
I saw how Mary at Ravlery had used the pattern for a pig and soon realised how easy it was to knit a whole array of puppets to portray all manner of characters ..............
Before each one is finished there are already ideas for many more ..............
Oh yes, there's more too but I won't bore anybody with numerous photos of similar stuff all of which will eventually find their way into a Christmas shoebox .......... and can't promise when I'll be posting anything different as, even though I'm no great knitter, these things are somewhat addictive!!!!!
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Knitted items are very welcome in the shoeboxes sent abroad with Operation Christmas Child each November but they must be unstuffed. Hand puppets are ideal so long as any bits of filling are left out where applicable and they can make lovely "friends" for often traumatised and lonley children. I've listed some of my favourites from the free puppet knitting patterns online.
Susan B Anderson's panda and zebra puppets from Itty Bitty Toys
Mary at Ravelry has combined the panda and zebra patterns to make a pig puppet
Turtle from Mavis at Sheep and Shepherd with the pattern at Ravelry
Knitting in the round and quite complex but beautiful!
Clown, elephant and teddy at the OCC website
Janet from Musings of the Puppet Lady has been knitting 100 puppets a year for the Christmas Shoebox scheme for several years now and has shared patterns for her variation on the OCC clown and Mickey Mouse. Do have a look around her blog at ideas for other variations ie. snowman, duck, Father Christmas, Penguin etc.. Photos on Flicker too.
Twins at Melodiesplus
Girl at Creni (pdf)
Girl, fairy, prince and rabbit at Knitting and Crochet
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See also this post for more links to free patterns for puppets to knit, sew or crochet.
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