In order to design the Phantom Hand Puppet, I really had to reconcile my hatred for all things dark and scary with my love of literature. The Phantom is not ever described as a Spirit, but is given a different name. It is dark like a shadow, and it never speaks. I believe this to be a beautiful and insightful way for Charles Dickens to represent that which could come to pass.
A Christmas Carol is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and hope. The first two spirits speak of things that were or are. They shine a light on difficult truths which Scrooge absolutely needs to hear and see. The Phantom, however; comes bringing a warning. That which he warns has not happened, nor is it currently happening. It is not truth. The future is not written. It is a reflection, or a shadow of that which could possibly happen, if Scrooge does not heed the warning. However, if the Phantom were to speak, that which it said would now be unchangeable and final, but as it stands right now, Scrooge holds the power to change the future he is shown.
If you’re interested in a printer-friendly PDF of the The Phantom Hand Puppet Pattern, you can find the design in my Ravelry or Etsy shops! If you prefer to use the free blog copy below, I still appreciate you being here! And another great way to support my blog is simply by sharing! Thank you for supporting my business!
Materials:
Worsted Weight (4) Yarn –
The Hook Nook Yummy, Charcoal Toothpaste (this is a chunky 5, but on the thinner side. Worsted would still work with this pattern!) – approximately 126 yds
The Hook Nook Yummy Tweed, Precious Metals – very small amount
Crochet Hook, H-5mm
Scissors
Terms and abbreviations to know:
magic ring
rnd, rnds – round, rounds
st, sts – stitch, stitches
sl st – slip stitch
sk – skip
sp, sps – space, spaces
ch, chs – chain, chains
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
dc – double crochet
inc – increase, 2 sc sts in same st
BLO – back loop only
FLO – front loop only
hdc dec – a decrease using the hdc
- Yarn over and insert hook into next st.
- Pull up a loop.
- Insert hook into next st.
- Yarn over and pull through all 4 loops.
invsc2tog – invisible single crochet 2 together; this is essentially a decrease, but done in such a way as to make the continuous stitching smoother, and the decrease not as noticeable.
- Insert hook into front loop only of next stitch, DO NOT yarn over.
- Insert hook into front loop of second stitch.
- Yarn over. Pull through 2 loops.
- Yarn over and pull through last 2 loops.
picot –
- Ch 3
- Sk 2nd ch from hook
- Sl st into 3rd ch from hook
Notes:
The Phantom Hand Puppet is worked almost entirely in one piece, from the top down, in the rnd, with no joining, unless otherwise specified. If you are familiar with my lovey puppet patterns, this is a similar design concept, do get a drape of a dark cloak. There is only one arm so it is made differently than most of my puppets, and the cloak is designed to hide the finger in there, but there’s no actual arm attached.
Size: This is one size, fitting child through adult, but if you wish to make it smaller for a smaller child to play with, simply tighten the gauge or go down a hook size.
Gauge: 6 sts across and 7 rnds down = approximately 2 inches
The Phantom Hand Puppet
Body – beginning at the head, with A
Begin with a magic ring.
Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring; 6 sts
Rnd 2: inc in each st around; 12 sts
Rnd 3: (inc, sc in next st)6x; 18 sts
Rnd 4: (inc, sc in next 2 sts)6x; 24 sts
Rnd 5: (3 inc, sc in next 9 sts)2x; 30 sts
Rnds 6-14: sc in each st around; 30 sts
Rnd 15: (3 invsc2tog, sc in next 9 sts)2x; 24 sts
Rnds 16-18 sc in each st around; 24 sts
Rnd 19: BLO this rnd, sc in next 12 sts, ch 8, sk next 4 sts, sc in next 8 sts; 28 sts including the chs
Rnd 20: sc in next 12 sts, sc into each of the 8 chs, sc in next 8 sts; 28 sts
Rnd 21: sc in next 14 sts, inc in next 2 sts, sc in next 12 sts; 30 sts
Rnds 22-23: sc in each st around; 30 sts
Rnd 24: (inc, sc in next 14 sts)2x; 32 sts
Rnd 25: (inc, sc in next 15 sts)2x; 34 sts
Rnd 26: (inc, sc in next 16 sts)2x; 36 sts
Rnd 27: (inc, sc in next 17 sts)2x; 38 sts
Rnd 28: (inc, sc in next 18 sts)2x; 40 sts
Rnd 29: (inc, sc in next 19 sts)2x; 42 sts
Rnds 30-32: sc in each st around; 42 sts
Rnd 33: (sc in next st, hdc in next st, 2 dc in next st, picot, 2 dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st)7x, join with sl st to the first st of the rnd; 56 sts, 7 picots
Fasten off, and weave in ends.
Cloak in black
Reattach your black yarn to the first front loop of rnd 18, with a sl st, working over top of rnd 19.
(the head should be down as your hook goes through, pointing toward the bottom of the puppet). We will be working in joining rounds for this portion. The first st of each rnd will be in the same st as the joining sl st.
Rnd 1: ch 1, [sc in next st, (hdc, dc) in next st, ch 2, (dc, hdc) in next st, sc in next st]6x, join to first st with sl st; 36 sts, 6 ch-2 sps
Rnd 2: ch 1, [hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next st, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 sp, dc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts]6x, join to first st with sl st; 60 sts, 6 ch-2 sps
Rnd 3: ch 1, [hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 3 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-2 sp, dc in next 3 sts, hdc in next 2 sts]6x, join to first st with sl st; 72 sts, 6 ch-2 sps
Rnd 4: ch 1, [hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 4 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 2 sts]6x, join to first st with sl st; 84 sts, 6 ch-1 sps
Rnd 5: ch 1, [hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 5 sts, (dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 5 sts, hdc in next 2 sts]6x, join to first st with sl st; 96 sts, 6 ch-1 sps
Rnd 6: ch 1, [hdc in next 2 sts, dc in next 6 sts, (dc, picot, dc) in ch-1 sp, dc in next 6 sts, hdc in next 2 sts]6x, join to first st with sl st; 108 sts, 6 picots
Fasten off, and weave in ends.
Hand – the hand is more of a gray finger that’s pointing out of the cloak
You will be using the gray yarn to pinch closed the arm of the cloak. Where the arm hole is, in the body of the puppet, fold the two closed points of the cloak there together.
Attach the gray yarn to the back loop of the 6th st up from the picot, right on the fold.
Rnd 1: BLO this rnd, ch 1, sc in same st where you attached the yarn, sc in next 2 sts and then turn to continue on the other side of the fold, sc into the 6th st up from the other picot, and sc in next 2 sts up toward your first st, do not join; 6 sts
Rnd 2: sc in each st around; 6 sts
Rnd 3: 3 invsc2tog; 3 sts
Fasten off and weave in ends.
Use an 8 inch strand of black to sew the rest of that fold in the cloak together down to about 2 or 3 sts from the picot. Weave in ends.
Hood, in black
Ch 32
Row 1: hdc in 3rd ch from hook, hdc in each ch across; 30 sts
Row 2: ch1 and turn, hdc dec, hdc in next 26 sts, hdc dec; 28 sts
Row 3: ch 1 and turn, hdc dec, hdc in next 24 sts, hdc dec; 26 sts
Row 4: ch 1 and turn, hdc dec, hdc in next 22 sts, hdc dec; 24 sts
Row 5: ch 1 and turn, hdc dec, hdc in next 9 sts, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 9 sts, hdc dec; 22 sts
Row 6: ch 1 and turn, hdc dec, hdc in next 8 sts, dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next 8 sts, hdc dec; 20 sts
Fasten off leaving a long tail for sewing. Sew the beginning ch down around the top curve of the head, with the points for the dc sts in the last two rows, top center of the hood, hanging over the face. Weave in ends
I hope you have enjoyed making the The Phantom Hand Puppet! If you love this design, be sure to check out some of my other free patterns on the blog! Follow me along on Instagram for more sneak peeks and new pattern releases! If you loved making any of my patterns, and show them off on Instagram, please be sure to tag @ekaygdesigns to let me know, and I will share in my stories!