Wicked Witch of the West Hand Puppet

The Wicked Witch of the West is probably the most noticeably different character in the book than in the film. The book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, makes no mention of her being green, and says she has an eye patch! Personally, I think she’s much more fun this way! However, you can use the Wicked Witch Hand Puppet pattern here, and still make her green if you so wish!

If you’re interested in a printer-friendly PDF of the Wicked Witch 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

Red Heart Super Saver Yarns

1. Black (A) approximately 65 yds
2. Buff (B) approximately 28 yds
3. Dusty Gray (C) approximately 22 yds
4. Spring Green (D) approximately 5 yds

Small amount of worsted black for the eyes

Crochet hook size H – 5mm 

Stitch marker

Tapestry needle

Scissors 

Terms and abbreviations to know:

magic ring

rnd, rnds – round, rounds

st, sts – stitch, stitches

sl st – slip stitch

sk – skip

sc – single crochet

hdc – half double crochet

inc – increase, 2 sc sts in same st

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. 

1. Insert hook into front loop only of next stitch, DO NOT yarn over.
2. Insert hook into front loop of second stitch. 
3. Yarn over. Pull through 2 loops. 
4. Yarn over and pull through last 2 loops.

dc bobble – double crochet bobble

1. Yarn over, and insert hook into designated st.
2. Pull up a loop. 
3. Yarn over, and pull through 2 loops, leaving 2 loops on hook.
4. Yarn over, and insert hook into same st.
5. Pull up a loop.
6. Yarn over, and pull through 2 loops, leaving 3 loops on hook.
7. Yarn over, and insert hook into same st.
8. Pull up a loop. 
9. Yarn over, and pull through 2 loops, leaving 4 loops on hook.
10. Yarn over, and insert hook into same st.
11. Pull up a loop.
12. ​Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, leaving 5 loops on hook.
13. Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops.

Notes:

The body of the Wicked Witch Hand Puppet is worked from the top down, in the rnd, with no joining, beginning at the hat. The arms, hair, and eye patch are made separately and sewn on. The eye and nose are sewn on as well. 

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

Wicked Witch Hand Puppet

Body – beginning at the top of the hat, with black – A

Begin with a magic ring.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring; 6 sts

Rnd 2: sc in each st around; 6 sts

Rnd 3: (inc, sc in next sts)3x; 9 sts

Rnd 4: sc in each st around; 9 sts

Rnd 5: (inc, sc in next 2 sts)3x; 12 sts

Rnd 6: sc in each st around; 12 sts

Rnd 7: (inc, sc in next 3 sts)3x; 15 sts

Rnd 8: sc in each st around; 15 sts

Rnd 9: (inc, sc in next 4 sts)3x; 18 sts

Rnd 10: sc in each st around; 18 sts

Rnd 11: (inc, sc in next 5 sts)3x; 21 sts

Rnd 12: sc in each st around; 21 sts

Rnd 13: (inc, sc in next 6 sts)3; 24 sts

Rnd 14: sc in each st around; 24 sts

Rnd 15: (inc, sc in next 7 sts)3x; 27 sts

Rnd 16: (inc, sc in next 8 sts)3x; 30 sts

Rnd 17: FLO (3 inc, sc in next 12 sts)2x; 36 sts

Rnd 18: [(inc, sc in next st)3x, sc in next 12 sts]2x; 42 sts 

Sl st into the first st of rnd 18 to join, and fasten off black. 

Attach color B for the head, to the first unworked back loop of rnd 16.

Rnd 19: in BLO of rnd 16, under the brim of the hat, sc in each st around; 30 sts

Rnds 20-26: sc in each st around; 30 sts

Rnd 27: (3 invsc2tog, sc in next 9 sts)2x; 24 sts

Rnd 28: sc in each st around; 24 sts

Pull black (A) through to complete the last st of rnd 28, and fasten off color B. 

Continue in black. 

Rnd 29: (ch 7, sk next 4 sts, sc in next 8 sts)2x; 30 sts, counting the chs

Rnd 30: (sc into each of the 7 chs, sc in next 8 sts)2x; 30 sts

Rnds 31-35: sc in each st around; 30 sts

Rnd 36: sc in next 2 sts, 3 invsc2tog, sc in next 9 sts, 3 invsc2tog, sc in next 7 sts; 24 sts

Pull green through to complete the last st of rnd 36, but do NOT fasten off black.

Rnd 37: in green, loosely sl st in each st around; 24 sts

Pull black through on the last sl st, and fasten off green. Continue in black

Rnd 38: sc behind the sl st, into black sts from rnd 36, sc in each st around; 24 sts

Rnd 39: sc in next st, 6 inc, sc in next 6 sts, 6 inc, sc in next 5 sts; 36 sts

Rnds 40-44: sc in each st around; 36 sts

Fasten off with a sl st into the first st of rnd 44, and weave all ends inside the puppet. 

Robe Ties, in green (see pictures 6-9)

Have green on your hook in a slip knot. Find the center two sl sts on the green belt of the puppet’s robe, and sl st into the right one, to attach to the belt.

*Ch 12, turn and sl st into the 3rd ch from the hook, sl st into all 9 chs and then sl st into the sl st to the left of where you started,* repeat * to * Fasten green off, and weave ends in, inside of the puppet. 

To create the knot of the robe belt, just knot the two green tassels you’ve created.

Arms, Make 2 – begin with color B

Begin with magic ring.

Rnd 1: 6 st in magic ring; 6 sts

Rnd 2: (inc, sc in next st)3x; 9 sts

Rnds 3-4: sc in each st around; 9 sts

Rnd 5: dc bobble, sc in next 8 sts; 9 sts

Rnd 6: sc in each st around; 9 sts

Pull black (A) through to complete the last st of rnd 6, and fasten off B.

Continue in black

Rnd 7: sc in each st around; 9 sts

*Note, this is the only time we will be turning the work. This portion is to work on the length of the sleeve that goes over the hand

Rnd 8: do not join, but ch 1 and turn work so that you are working the wrong way around the arm, now use the BLO based on what’s facing you, and (inc, sc in next 2 sts)3x; 12 sts

Continue in the same direction until told to fasten off.

Rnd 9: (inc, sc in next 3 sts)3x; 15 sts

Rnd 10: (inc, sc in next 4 sts)3x; 18 sts

Rnd 11: sc in each st around; 18 sts

Fasten off. 

Reattach black into the unworked loops of rnd 7, now going the same direction you did for the hand. 

Rnd 12: sc in each st around; 9 sts

Rnd 13: (inc, sc in next 2 sts)3x; 12 sts

Rnds 14-17: sc in each st around; 12 sts

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Use loose ends around the first part of the sleeve to weave any holes closed as you weave them in. Use last tail to sew into the arm holes with the thumbs (bobbles) inward toward the head. Weave in ends. 

Hair, in Dusty Grey 

Ch 15

Row 1: turn and sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each remaining ch; 14 sts

Row 2: ch 1 and turn, sc in next 7 sts, leaving last 7 sts unworked, ch 8; 7 sts, 8 chs

Row 3: turn and sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 6 chs, sc in next 7 sts; 14 sts

Rows 4-19: repeat rows 2 and 3; 14 sts

*the next rows will be the bangs

Row 20: ch 1 and turn, sc in next 3 sts, leaving remaining sts unworked; 3 sts

Rows 21-34: ch 1 and turn, sc in each st across; 3 sts

Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Lift the brim of the hat for easier sewing, and sew the edges of the rows around the head, just under the brim, with the bangs in the front, and one strand of hair over each shoulder. Weave in ends. 

Eye Patch, in black 

Ch 4

Row 1: turn and begin in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across; 3 sts

Row 2: ch 1 and turn, inc, sc in next st, inc; 5 sts

Row 3: ch 1 and turn, sc in each st across; 5 sts

Do not turn, 2 sc down the side, 3 sc across the bottom of the ch, 2 sc up the other side, sl st into the first st of row 3, ch 28, sl st into the last st of rnd 3 to create a loop. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. 

Sew the patch over where the right eye would be, with the loop going diagonally around the back of the head.

Sew the chain around the back of the head first, then sew all around the patch.

After sewing the patch, use remaining black yarn to sew on the left eye.

Weave in ends. 

Nose, in skin color

About a row below the patch, and centered, sew the yarn over 3 stitches in the center of the face. Sew the yarn over about 7 times for a nice round nose, and weave ends in, inside the puppet.

I hope you have enjoyed making the Wicked Witch hand puppet! If you love this design, be sure to check out some of my other hand puppets, always free on the blog! This is the fifth puppet of our 2nd annual Read Across America Puppet Crochet-a-Long. Find Dorothy HERE! Find the Scarecrow HERE! Find the Tin Woodman HERE! Find the Cowardly Lion HERE! Follow me along on Instagram for more Wizard of Oz themed puppets to come!  If you loved making any of these patterns, and show them off on Instagram, please be sure to tag @ekaygdesigns to let me know, and I will share in my stories!