Book Review: Felt Finger Puppets from Present Perfect By Betz White

With all the book-y goings-on around here, I have been paying careful attention to craft, knitting and sewing books as they come out – both the ones in the last year and new ones. I’m so happy to share a review of Betz White’s Present Perfect today, which has adorable and useful gifts to sew and give, including these adorable felt finger puppets. I love that Betz’s book tour (see list below) has folks actually making the projects– a great way to see various takes on Betz’s designs.

Present Perfect has 25 projects to sew and give, incorporating a wide range of gifts. Truly, there’s something for everyone. You’ll find gifts appropriate for birthdays or holidays, new babies or home-warming gifts that the recipients are sure to put to good use. Betz pays careful attention to both function and style, which I appreciate. The woodland felt finger puppets are a planned gift to my oldest and dearest friend for Christmas. Yay! I can cross one off the list! She has three kids under five and is sure to have a blast with these.

Well, that was my plan, but, you should have seen Allie get excited as we made them. We put them all together in an afternoon, and boy, did she get ramped up! Betz’s instructions were easy to follow and her pattern pieces were spot-on. No enlarging required either (whew!) When I saw all the pattern pieces for the puppets, I was slightly daunted, but a little freezer paper and warm iron and it was snip snap! Plus all the little pieces are glued on so there was much less sewing than I first thought. We loved seeing these little guys’ personalities emerge as we attached their features.

When we were done, Allie gave me show after show complete with a dancing raccoon, a show tune-singing owl, a joke-making fox, a very shy skunk, and of course a rascally rabbit!!

We might be sending them off to our friends a tad used, or (shhh!) maybe not at all!

Beyond all those cute faces, they fit inside a stump you make for easy storage. That Betz, always thinks of everything!

The stump has a leaf hinge and an adorable inchworm handle!

The rest of the patterns in the book are colorful and fun, too. There’s a great man’s dob kit, a handy casserole caddy, a fabulous market tote and the most adorable little hedgehog mittens you ever did see. Go click on some of the lovely blogs below to review some of the other projects. I have reviews coming up for four more beautiful books over the next six weeks so stay tuned for those.

Present Perfect
By Betz White
Interweave/F+W; $26.99

Happy Home

Sew Mama Sew – Make & Bake Apron excerpt – Mon, 10/6
Stacy Sews – Falling Leaves Appliquéd Placemats – Tue, 10/7
House on Hill Road – Hot Mitt House & Tea Towel Set – Wed, 10/8
A Happy Stitch – Sweet Life Pillow – Thu, 10/9

Memorable Moments

Sew Sweetness – Wool Courier Bag – Fri, 10/10
Raspberry Sunshine – Gentlemen’s Travel Case – Mon, 10/13
Pink Chalk Fabrics – Pasha Pleated Clutch – Tue, 10/14
The Long Thread – Eye Candy Glasses Case – Wed, 10/15
Made with Moxie – Cargo Tablet Sleeve – Thu, 10/16
Bijou Lovely – Coffee Cash Coin Pouch – Fri, 10/17

New and Little

Flax and Twine – Forest Friends Finger Puppets – Mon, 10/20
Imagine Gnats – Bib, Rattle & Burp Baby Set – Tue, 10/21