Book Nook – Caps for Sale Directions

The original blog can be found HERE.

Materials:

Felt Pieces
People turnings (wooden pegs) 
   1 – Adults 2 3/8″ x 7/8″
   3 – Children 1 11/16″ x 5/8″
Craft glue
Embroidery floss
Fine tipped permanent markers
Brown Paint
Pattern

Important Note: People turnings (wooden pegs) are not all created equal. Even pegs bought from the same company can be slightly different. I highly suggest you make a copy of the pattern, cut it out of paper, and “try it on” your wooden pegs. Make adjusts to the paper pattern before cutting out your felt.

Monkeys:
Using the pattern or book as a guide, draw face on moneys with a pencil. (I started by drawing a circle, then 2 overlapping small circles for ears, then added the facial features. Using the fine tipped permanent marker, trace pencil markings. After the marker dries you can erase any visible pencil marks.

 
Paint monkey brown except for face and ears. Allow paint to dry.

Using the pattern as a guide, draw on tail with pencil, then trace and fill in with permanent marker. 

Peddler:
Using the pattern, cut out felt pieces.

Using the pattern or book as a guide, draw face on peddler with a pencil. (I started by drawing the mustache, eyes and eyebrows. I then added the hairline and ears.) Using the fine tipped permanent marker, trace pencil markings. After the marker dries you can erase any visible pencil marks.

Using the pattern for placement, French knot 2 buttons to shirt using 6 strands of black floss.

Glue shirt to peg, with buttons centered in front.

Glue on pants, placing seam in back.

Using 6 strands of floss, tack on jacket (cape). You can either use contrasting or same colored floss.

Lift jacket in back and put a dab of craft glue near the collar line. Smooth jacket in place. The little dab of glue will prevent the jacket from turning on the peddler.

Caps:
Using 6 strands of floss, place a French knot in the center of the cap circle.

Using a running stitch and 3 strands of coordinating floss,  sew around the outer edge of the circle. Make sure you do not over lap the stitches because you will need to gather the stitches.

Gently gather the running stitch. Gather so the cap fits snugly on the peddler’s head. Tie off but do not clip the thread.

Place the concave side of the brim along the gathered edge of the cap near the attached thread. Slip stitch the brim to the cap.

Make one cap for the peddler and extra caps to carry on his head.

NOTE: You can chose to glue the peddler’s cap to his head or not. Near the end of the story the peddler removes his cap from his head and throws it to the ground… leaving him capless. Obviously, if you glue the cap on, you cannot do this. I decided to glue the cap to my peddlers head for a couple of reasons. First, by gluing the cap to his head I was able to shape it to his head better. Then, I found it much easier to stack the additional caps on the peddler’s head when his hat was firmly adhered to his head. Of course, indecisive me wound up making 2 peddlers… one with a hat… one without!

EDIT: One of our readers, Katye, suggested gluing a small piece of black Velcro, the “hook” side, to the top of the peddler’s head. It is barely visible, and the hooks will stick to the inside of the peddlers head so he can throw it down at the end. Thanks for the suggestion, Katye.

To glue cap to peddler’s head, place crafting glue on the peddler’s head where the hat will sit.

Position the cap. Squeeze the cap here and there, until it is positioned where you want it, with the right jaunty look! 

Now you are ready for the peddler and monkeys to play. Have fun!