When Carol Rhoades first saw Anu Kotli’s knitted Estonian hand puppets, she thought how beautiful they’d be in handspun yarn. The result was this collaboration.

Finished Size: 9½“ tall and 10” circumference.

Fiber: Each puppet uses 2¼ ounces Shetland wool pin-drafted roving (obtained from Julie Guilette, Bramble Wool Farm, 265 Truway Rd., Luxemburg, WI 54217; www.sawmat.com). The flock’s colors are Shetland black, dark moorit, gray, and white (the white is 11 percent angora).

Yarn: About 1 ounce each of two contrasting colors of 2-ply Shetland, 88 yards per ounce, 15 wraps per inch. Also small amounts of yarn for embroidering features and ⅓ ounce waste yarn (raveled knitting works well) for stuffing head.

Yarn weight: #0 - Lace

Gauge: 8 sts and 9 rows = 1”.

Needles: Set of 5 double-pointed needles, U.S. size 0 or size to obtain gauge; tapestry needle for embroidery.

Originally Published: Spin Off, Summer 2006