P061 Sooty the Cat Hand Puppet

How to Knit Sooty the Cat Hand Puppet

Knit a soft cat hand puppet in the round using Makr Venture yarn. The puppet includes a ribbed cuff, shaped arms, head, ears and tail, with embroidered paws and facial features added during finishing.

The finished hand puppet measures approximately 13cm wide and 23cm long and is designed to fit both adult and children’s hands.

Measurements

Yarn Required

Needles and Equipment

• A 4.00mm circular knitting needle, 80cm.
• A set of 4.00mm double pointed needles.
• Pink yarn for embroidering paws.
• Black yarn for embroidering face.
• Stitch Holder.
• Wool needle for sewing in ends.
• OPTIONAL: Grey felt for stripes
• OPTIONAL: Fabric glue

Tension

21 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over stocking st, using 4.00mm needles.

Knitting Abbreviations

• K: Knit
• K2tog: Knit 2 Together
• Kfb: K1 into the fr of the next stitch on the needle but do not slide the stitch off, K1 into the bk of the same stitch on the needle and slide the stitch off the needle
• Sl1: Slip One Stitch purlwise
• SSK: Slip, Slip Knit (Left Slanting Decrease)

HAND PUPPET

Cuff and Hand:

Using 4.00mm circular needles and M (main colour), cast on 48 sts and join to begin working in the row. Take care not to twist as you join, place a marker at the beg of the round.

Row 1: *P2, K2, repeat from * to end.

Repeat round 1, slipping the marker as you come to it until piece measures 5cm from the beginning.

Next Row: Knit all stitches

Repeat the above row until piece measures 12cm from the beginning.

Dividing for Arms:

Round 1: Kfb, K23, Kfb, K23 ... 50 sts

Round 2: Sl Marker 1, K1, place Marker 2, K24, Place Marker 3, K1, Place Marker, K24 ... 50 sts

Round 3: (Kfb, 24) twice ... 52 sts

Round 4 & 5: Knit all sts.

Round 6: (Kfb, Kfb, K24) twice ... 56 sts

Round 7 & 8: Knit all

Round 9: (Sl Marker, Kfb, knit to 1 st before next marker, Kfb, Sl Marker, K24) twice ... 60 sts

Round 10-11: Knit all

Repeat Rounds 9-11 twice more ... 68 sts

Round 18: Repeat Round 9 once more ... 72 sts

Round 19: Knit all

Round 20: (Sl Marker, put next 10 sts on a stitch holder for arm. Using cable cast on 4 sts onto working needle, Sl Marker, K24) twice ... 60 sts

Round 21: (Sl Marker, K4, Sl Marker, SSK, K20, K2tog) twice ... 56 sts

Round 22: (Sl Marker, SSK, K2tog, Sl Marker, SSK, K18, K2tog) twice ... 48 sts

Round 23: (Remove Marker, K2tog, Remove Marker K20) twice ... 46 sts

Head:

Work even without further shaping until piece measures 4cm from the cast off edge for the arms.

Next Round: Place marker, K23, Place Marker, K23

Next Round: (Sl Marker, SSK, work to 2 sts before next marker, K2tog) twice

Repeat this round until there are 12 sts left

Reposition the stitches so that all the sts between the two markers are on two separate dpns, 6 sts each side.

Use a Kitchener stitch to bind off remaining 12 sts.

Arms:

With RS and 3.75mm dpns, join yarn to work at the beginning of the stitch holder and K10 from holder, pick up 1 at the intersection between the cast on edge and live sts, pick up 4 along the cast on edge and 1 more at the other instersection ... 16 sts.

Join to begin working in the round, taking care not to twist.

Work until piece measures 3cm from cast on edge.

Next Row: K3, SSK, K2tog, K2, SSK, K2tog, K3 ... 12 sts

Work 3 rounds without shaping.

Next Row: K2tog, 6 times ... 6 sts

Cut yarn leaving a long tail, pull through the remaining sts and pull tightly, fasten off.

Ears:

Using 3.75mm dpns, pick up 8 sts along the diagonal slant of the front top edge, pick up another 8 along the same slant of the back edge ... 16 sts

Join to begin working in the row.

Next Row: Place a marker, K8, place a marker, K8.

Work two rows normal.

Next Row: Sl Marker, SSK, K4, K2tog, Sl Marker, SSK, K4, K2tog ... 12 sts

Work two rows normal

Next Row: Sl Marker, SSK, K2, K2tog, Sl Marker, SSK, K2, K2tog ... 8 sts

Work one row normal

Next Row: Sl Marker, SSK, K2tog, Sl Marker, SSK, K2tog ... 4 sts

Next Row: Remove Marker, SSK, K2tog, Remove Marker, SSK, K2tog ... 2 sts

Knit last two sts together and fasten off.

Tail:

Using 3.75mm dpn, cast on 10 sts.

Work in the round until piece measures 13cm from the beginning.

Next Row: Sl Marker, K2, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K2 ... 8 sts

Work 2 rows normal.

Next Row: K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog ... 5 sts

Knit one round as normal, cut yarn leaving a long tail and pull through the remaining sts tightly and fasten off.

FINISHING

Weave in ends and embroider on paws and face. If creating for an older child where there is no choking risk, tabby stripes can be cut from felt and glued to the back.

ITEM A: Back of hand puppet

ITEM B: Flat lay of front of hand puppet

Alternative Yarns

The original pattern uses Makr Venture yarn. When choosing an alternative yarn, select a yarn that can achieve the original tension of 21 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over stocking stitch using 4.00mm needles.

Suitable Yarn Types

• Soft acrylic yarn – an easy-care choice suitable for a hand puppet.
• Machine-washable wool blend – provides warmth and softness with good resilience.
• Wool-acrylic blend – combines structure with a softer feel.
• Soft DK-weight yarn – may be suitable provided the required tension is achieved.
• Variegated yarn – can create natural-looking colour changes across the body.

Customisation Ideas

• Change the main colour to create black, ginger, white or multicoloured cat characters.
• Use contrasting embroidery for the paws and facial features.
• Add felt tabby stripes as described in the original pattern for an older child where there is no choking risk.
• Embroider stripes instead of using felt for an alternative decorative finish.
• Change the tail colour to create a striped or tipped tail effect.

To retain the original fit and proportions, keep all stitch counts, shaping rounds and measurements unchanged when making decorative customisations.

Care Instructions

Follow the washing and care instructions provided on the ball band of the yarn used.

1. Check the puppet regularly for signs of damage during use, as recommended in the original pattern.
2. Ensure embroidered paws and facial features remain securely attached.
3. Use gentle washing appropriate for the selected yarn.
4. Avoid soaking if felt pieces have been attached with fabric glue.
5. Gently reshape the puppet while damp.
6. Lay flat to dry completely before using again.