How to Make a Poodle Using Yarn & a Wire Hanger
An interesting craft item made with 4-ply or heavier yarn is a curly haired toy poodle. This adorable toy poodle uses a wire coat hanger as the frame. The stiff frame provides stability so young children may play with the toy poodle and not disturb the frame structure. A completed, hand-crafted toy poodle makes the perfect companion or gift for someone. Allow about two hours to complete this whimsical toy poodle craft project.
Things You'll Need
- Wire coat hanger
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Heavy cardboard
- Scissors
- 4-ounce skein of 4-ply yarn
- 3/4-inch black pompom
- 2, 1-inch googly eyes
- Red felt
- 1 yard, 1/2-inch ribbon
Instructions
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1
Hold the wire coat hanger by the hook with one hand and the center of the base directly under the hook with the other hand. Pull the coat hanger until the triangular portion of the coat hanger creates a long straight line with the two wires.
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2
Bend the hook end of the coat hanger toward the long straight line made by the two wires. Continue to bend the hook until the end touches the wire. A small circle is created. This is the head.
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3
Place your dominant hand so your little finger is flush against the head portion of the poodle frame. Bend the wire at a 90-degree angle even with the thumb side of your palm.
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4
Position your dominant hand so your little finger is flush against the previous bend. Bend the wire at a 90-degree angle even with the thumb side of your hand. This creates the first set of legs. Repeat this process three times. The body, back legs and tail are formed.
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Place the poodle frame on a flat work surface to ensure it sits flat. Bend the wire to make any necessary adjustments. The legs should be separated by about 1 1/2 inches.
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6
Measure, mark and cut a piece of cardboard that is 2 1/2 inches wide and 4 inches tall. Measure and cut two pieces of yarn 6 inches long and 140 pieces of yarn 5 inches long to use as ties.
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Center and place one 6-inch piece of yarn over the surface of the cardboard rectangle so the ends extend past both the 2 1/2-inch edges. Wrap the yarn around the 4-inch width of the cardboard 20 times. Cut the yarn. Locate the two ends of the 6-inch piece of yarn. Match the two ends together and tie a double knot around the wrapped yarn. Pull the knot tightly. Slide the completed ear off the cardboard rectangle. Repeat the process for the second ear. Set aside.
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8
Place a 5-inch piece of yarn across the cardboard rectangle so the ends of the yarn extend past the two 4-inch sides. Wrap the yarn around the 2 1/2-inch width 20 times. Cut the yarn. Locate the two ends of the 5-inch piece of yarn. Match the two ends together and tie a double knot around the wrapped yarn. Pull the knot tightly. Slide the completed body bundles. Repeat this process for a total of 140 bundles. Set aside.
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9
Tie eight body bundles to the circle head on the coat hanger frame using the ends of the center tie on the bundle. Use double or triple knots to secure each bundle. Tie an ear to both sides of the center head. Use the same process to tie the body bundles to the coat hanger frame beginning at the base of the head working your way to the tail. Slide the bundles as close together as possible throughout the tying process. This helps to prevent the bundles from shifting and it creates a fluffier poodle.
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10
Cut a teardrop shape from red felt that is 1 1/2 inches long and 3/4 inches wide at the widest portion of the teardrop. Hot glue the point of the teardrop in the poodle's mouth location. Position the tongue so it is approximately one quarter of the way up from the bottom of the head.
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11
Hot glue the nose to the center front of the poodle's face. Hot glue the googly eyes on both sides of the nose.
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12
Tie a bow around the neck of the poodle with 1 yard of 3/4-inch ribbon. Cut the ends of the ribbon to the desired length.
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13
Cut the excess ends from the ties that extend past the edges of the poodle fur.
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References
- Photo Credit Apple Tree House/Lifesize/Getty Images
