Dragon Hand Puppet Material: Knitting worsted 50 gr green scraps red and black Knitting needles US size 7 (4.5mm) White glue Abbreciations: K = knit P = purl Tog = together inc = increase by knitting in the front and back of the same stitch Gauge: Not crucial

Special Stitches: ssk = slip, slip, knit This is a method of decreasing. 1 Slip two stitches one at a time as if to knit from the left needle to the right 2 Insert the left needle through the two stitches and knit them off. Dragon: Cast on 48 stitches. Divide equally between 3 needles, 16 stitches on each needle. Join being careful stitches are not twisted. The tail left from cast on will indicate the start of round. Knit 4 rounds of garter stitch, that is knit 1 round, purl 1 round. Then knit round and round until cuff is at least 5 inches long or desired length. Divide for mouth as follows. Next round: Knit the 16 stitches of needle 1 With same needle go on and knit 8 stitches from needle 2. (24 sts) Put the remaining 24 stitches on a piece of yarn to hold. Divide the 24 working stitches onto 2 needles, needle 1 = 12 stitches, needle 2 = 12 stitches. Cast on 24 stitches on needle 3. (48 sts) I used the backward loop cast on. Twist yarn into a loop and put it on the needle backwards so it won’t unwind.. Pull the first couple of stitches tight so there will not be a gap. Upper jaw: Knit 12 rounds. Decrease round: Needle 1- K 1, ssk, knit to end of needle, Needle 2- knit to last 3 stitches, K 2 tog, K 1, Needle 3- K 1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, K 2 tog, K 1 Knit 3 rounds then repeat decrease round. Knit 3 rounds then repeat decrease round Knit 3 rounds then repeat decrease round. Knit 1 round. then repeat decrease round.

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Knit 1 round then repeat decrease round Knit 1 round then repeat decrease round. Knit 1 round. (20 sts) Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Thread tail through stitches remaining on needles. Pull tight to gather and close hole. If hole will not close completely, take a few stitches to sew it closed. Finish off on wrong side. Lower Jaw: Put 24 stitches from holder on needle. Divide . 12 stitches on needle 1- 12 stitches on needle 2. Attach yarn Knit across needle 1. Knit across needle 2. With needle 3 pick up and knit 24 cast on stitches from upper jaw. (48 sts) . Knit 2 more rounds Repeat decrease round as in upper jaw. Knit 3 rounds. Repeat decrease round. Knit 3 rounds. Repeat decrease round. Knit 3 rounds. Repeat decrease round. (32 sts) Knit 1 round . Repeat decrease round. Knit 1 round. Repeat decrease round. Knit 1 round. Repeat decrease round. Knit 1 round. Repeat decrease round. (16 sts) Knit 1 round. Thread tail through stitches remaining on needles. Pull tight to gather and close hole. Finish off on wrong side. Work in all yarn ends. (Note: Lower jaw will be both narrower and shorter than upper jaw.) If you have a little hole at each corner of the mouth you can close it with a needle and thread and a stitch or two. Eyes; With green cast on 5 stitches. Purl 1 row. Next row: Increase in every stitch. (10 sts) Starting with a purl row, stockinette 5 rows. Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Thread tail through stitches on needle. Draw up tight to gather. This will make a little cup with the right side on the inside and the reverse stockinette on the back or outside. The gathered stitches are the bottom of the eye. Secure yarn. Lay aside. With red cast on 3 stitches. Purl 1 row. Next row: Increase in every stitch. (6 sts) Starting with a purl row, stockinette 3 rows. Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Thread tail through stitches on needle. Pull up tight to gather. Secure yarn. This is the bottom of eye. With black take a stitch from top to bottom of the center of red piece. Take a second stitch over the first. Cut yarn. Secure and cut all the yarn ends on the red piece short, about ¼ of an inch. They will be secured when piece is glued. Cover the wrong side of red piece with glue. Press inside the green piece having both bottoms centered and even. Be sure all your yarn ends are tucked inside and your black stitches are running straight up and down. Pull the outside edge of green piece up to encircle the red piece. Set aside to dry. When dry sew eyes to top of head. Nose: Using black make 2 or 3 stitches one over the other. Repeat for other nostril. Ears Ears are garter stitch. Knit every row. With green cast on 10 stitches. Knit 3 rows. Next row: K 1, K 2 tog. Knit to last 3 stitches, K 2 tog, K 1. Knit 3 rows. Repeat these 4 rows until you have 4 stitches left on needle. Knit 3 rows. Next row: Knit 2 together 2 times. Now knit back and forth on the remaining 2 stitches for 10 rows. Next row: Knit 2 together. Cut yarn and finish off. Hide end by weaving under the garter stitch ridges. Make second ear and sew both to dragon head. (Note: See picture for placement of eyes, nose and ears.) Scales: Scales are garter stitch. Knit every row. With red cast on 10 stitches. Knit 2 rows. Next row: K 1, K 2 tog, knit to last 3 stitches, K 2 tog, K 1 Knit 2 rows and repeat decrease until you have 4 stitches on needle. Next row: Knit 2 together 2 times. Knit 1 row. Knit 2 together and fasten off. off. Starting at cuff, sew scales to the center of back ending with the last scale centered between the eyes. Tongue: Tongue is garter stitch. Knit every row. With red cast on 16 stitches. Knit 1 row. Next row: Bind off 6 stitches. Knit remainder of row. Next row: Knit the 10 stitches on needle and cast on 6 at end of row. Next row: Knit. Next row: Bind off all stitches. Center tongue in mouth with back end at the join between top and bottom jaw. Sew in place.

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