Maker Monday: Kids can make their own sock puppets

This fun and easy “Let’s Try” Maker Monday project comes courtesy of our creative friends at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. It’s a great one for bigger kids to do on a cold winter day. They can dream up any kind of puppet they can imagine, then make it from an old sock and some spare buttons. (Perfect for a last-minute homemade gift or a project to do during the holiday school break.)

You’ll find all the details on materials and instructions right here, and you can follow along on the video below to learn each step. As with all Maker Monday activities, this is one that your kids can do with items you may have around the house or can get at a dollar store.

A note to kid makers: Please get supervision from a parent or caregiver on every project, including this one, and always be very careful when using tools of any kind, including scissors.

Maker Monday materials you’ll need:

• old socks
• needle and thread
• scissors
• yarn and or scraps of fabric/cardboard
• buttons
• cardboard for additional decorations

Instructions:

• If there are any holes in your sock, sew them up with a needle and thread (the sewing doesn’t have to be perfect and you can skip this step if you want to!). If needed, a grown-up can help you thread your needle. 
• Then make eyes for your puppet with buttons. What do you want the eyes to look like? Add cardboard behind the buttons for extra detail. You can do this by cutting out the cardboard in a shape that you like (we picked a heart) and sewing the button onto the cardboard. (See video.)
• Then, sew the eyes onto your sock. (Another option: You can glue on the buttons or stick-on ‘googly eyes’ stickers.) 
• Next, cut lengths of yarn for hair. (You can also use something else, like little scraps of fabric, cardboard or anything that can look like the hair you imagine for your puppet.) 
• Sew the hair onto your sock. (Again, if you’d prefer, you can use glue rather than sewing.) 
• Add any other details (perhaps glue on a hat made from colorful paper or a big, goofy smile) and now you’ve got a puppet!

Have fun playing with your new friend and make more puppets to create an entire puppet theater, if you’d like! 

Want more at-home fun creating cool stuff and making beautiful things? Check out more Maker Monday projects right here.

Do you have an idea for a Maker Monday craft project? If so, please share it with Kidsburgh! Send your maker activities to info@kidsburgh.org.