Hand Puppet

Instructions for ssk can be found at http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-glossary.

Yarn
worsted weight in different colors for body, eyes, tongue, nose, ears, etc.
Needles
size 8 dpn needles, size 8 straight needles
Notions
tapestery needle

Body
With dpn, CO 32 sts onto 3 needles, using knitted cast on.
Rnds 1-5: *K2, p2, rep from * around.
Change to St st and work until piece measures 4 inches from ribbing. Place 16 sts on straight needle; divide rem 16 sts between 2 needles (8 sts each on needles 1 and 2), on needle 3, cast on 16 sts for inside of mouth.

Head
Work 7 rnds in St st.
Rnd 1 (dec rnd): Beg with needle 1, k1, ssk, K to end of needle; on needle 2, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, k1; on needle 3, k1, ssk, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, k1. 28 sts rem.
Rnds 2-7: K around.
Rnd 8: Work dec rnd. 24 sts rem.
Rnds 9-12: K around.
Rnd 13: Work dec rnd. 20 sts rem.
Rnds 14 and 15: K around.
Rnd 16: Work dec rnd. 16 sts rem.
Rnd 17: K around.
Rnds 18 and 19: Work dec rnd. 8 sts rem. Cut yarn, pull end through all sts twice and fasten off securely.

Lower Mouth
Divide sts from straight needle between 2 needles (8 on each needle); on 3rd needle, pick up and K 16 sts across cast-on sts of inside of mouth. Work 5 rnds in St st.
Rnd 1: Work dec rnd. 28 sts rem.
Rnds 2-5: K around.
Rnd 6: Work dec rnd. 24 sts rem.
Rnds 7 and 8: K around.
Rnd 9: Work dec rnd. 20 sts rem.
Rnd 10: K around.
Rnds 11-13: Work dec rnd. 8 sts rem.
Rnd 14: K2tog through row. 4 sts rem. Fasten off.

Pointy, Cat-Style Ears
Use straight needles. CO 5 sts.
Row 1: K across.
Rows 2 and 3: inc 1, K across. 7 sts total.
Rows 4 and 5: K across.
Rows 6-9: K2tog at beg of row. 3 sts rem
BO rem sts.

Flat, Dog-Style Ears
Use straight needles. CO 12 sts. K first 8 r.
Rows 9-10: K1, ssk, K through row.
Row 11: K through row.
Rows 12-13: K1, ssk, K through row.
Row 14: K through row.
Rows 15-16: K1, ssk, K through row.
Row 17: K through row.
Rows 18-19: K1, ssk, K through row. 4 sts rem.
Row 20: K2tog, K2tog. 2 sts rem.
BO.

Tongue
CO 8 sts.
Rows 1-6: K through r.
Rows 6-7: K1, ssk, K through r.
Row 8: K through r.
Rows 9-10: K1, ssk, K through r.
Row 11: K through r.
Row 12: K1, ssk, K1.
Row 13: K through r.
BO.

Tail
Pick up 4 sts at ribbing. Work as I-cord for 3". K2tog at beg of each row until 1 st rem. BO.

Elephant Nose
On the "Head" portion of the puppet, continue knitting the last 6 sts as I-cord for an additional 2.5" Dec 2 sts at beginning of nose.

Finishing
Sew on ears and tongue. Embroider nose and eyes using different colored yarn. Add other details to different types of puppets (ex.: For lion, add eyelash yarn on mane and tail.)