Make This Easy-to-Sew Spider Hand Puppet for Halloween

No sewing machine is required for this darling spider hand puppet!

Handmade, smiling spider hand puppet sits on top of pastel pumpkins

Wacky Webber DIY Spider Hand Puppet Made by Stephen Brown From Glitterville

Glitterville Studios creator Stephen Brown hand-sewed this adorable spider hand puppet, appropriately named Wacky Webber, to delight kids and kids-at-heart for Halloween and beyond.

From: HGTV Handmade

Photo by: Emilee Ramsier

Emilee Ramsier

By: Stephen Brown and Beth Braden

Show: HGTV Handmade

Related To:

This hand-sewn spider hand puppet by Glitterville's Stephen Brown takes a bit of time, but the payoff is so worth it. Using your own hand as a template, this spider puppet is great for puppet shows or Halloween costume accessories. Watch Stephen show you how to create your own spider puppet in the video below, and then keep reading for the step-by-step instructions.

Materials + Tools

pencil
card stock
very sharp scissors
1/2 yard black fur fabric
embroidery needle
buttonhole thread in black, orange and white
straight pins
kitchen skewer
2.5-inch styrofoam ball
floral pin

black marabou
orange chenille stems
orange felt
pink felt
1-inch smooth styrofoam ball
craft knife
toothpicks
white glue
acrylic paint

1. Trace Your Hand and Cut It Out

The easy-to-sew spider hand puppet starts with a template created by tracing around your hand on a piece of card stock. Be sure to spread your fingers wide so the glove isn't too small after it is assembled.

Emilee Ramsier

Creating this easy Halloween spider hand puppet requires tracing around your hand while leaving enough space for the seam to be sewn later in the process. This hand puppet can be done without a sewing machine and with minimal craft supplies.

Emilee Ramsier

Easy-Sew Spider Hand Puppet: Create the Template

The easy-to-sew spider hand puppet starts with a template created by tracing around your hand on a piece of card stock. Be sure to spread your fingers wide so the glove isn't too small after it is assembled.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Trace Around Your Hand

Creating this easy Halloween spider hand puppet requires tracing around your hand while leaving enough space for the seam to be sewn later in the process. This hand puppet can be done without a sewing machine and with minimal craft supplies.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

On card stock, make a cutting template by tracing around the hand you want to wear the puppet on. Be sure to spread your fingers wide to make sure there is plenty of space, so the glove isn’t too small after the pieces are sewn together (Image 1). Trace around your hand so that your template has fingers long enough to allow for sewing a seam in a few more steps (Image 2).

2. Cut Out Your First Glove Piece

Step 2 of the easy Halloween hand puppet includes pinning the cardboard hand template to the wrong side of fur fabric and then cutting around it. After carefully cutting around the template, excess fur should be removed from the edges before beginning to cut the second piece.

Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Cut Out Your First Glove Piece

Step 2 of the easy Halloween hand puppet includes pinning the cardboard hand template to the wrong side of fur fabric and then cutting around it. After carefully cutting around the template, excess fur should be removed from the edges before beginning to cut the second piece.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Cut Out Your First Glove Piece

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Cut Out Your First Glove Piece

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Lay your fabric furry side down and pin your cutting template to it, ensuring that the fabric grain (the ends) points toward the fingertips. Orienting the grain toward the fingertips means the fur will lay appropriately once the glove portion of the puppet is complete (Image 1). Carefully cut around the template to make the first furry glove piece (Image 2). Before you remove the template from the glove piece, pull away any loose fur around the edges of the piece and trim as necessary (Image 3).

3. Cut Out Your Second Glove Piece

Step 3 of the spider hand puppet is cutting out the second glove piece. After removing the template from the first glove piece, the template is turned over, pinned to another part of fur fabric then carefully cut out before pulling away any loose fur pieces from the edges.

Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Cut Out Your Second Glove Piece

Step 3 of the spider hand puppet is cutting out the second glove piece. After removing the template from the first glove piece, the template is turned over, pinned to another part of fur fabric then carefully cut out before pulling away any loose fur pieces from the edges.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Easy Spider Hand Puppet: Cut Out The Second Glove Piece

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Easy Spider Hand Puppet: Cut Out Your Second Glove Piece

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Remove the template from your first glove piece and turn it over. Pin it to the fur fabric and cut around it. This gives you two mirror-image glove pieces (Image 1+2). Before you remove the template from the second glove piece, pull away any loose fur around the edges of the piece and trim if necessary (Image 3).

4. Prepare The Glove Pieces for Sewing

A black fur glove piece is pulled through a man's fist.

Easy Spider Hand Puppet: Prepare the Glove Pieces for Sewing

Step four of the spider hand puppet is removing all loose fur pieces from the glove pieces before sewing. This is done by holding the glove piece in one hand and pulling it through the fist of your opposite hand.

Photo by: Emilee Ramsier

Emilee Ramsier

Fur fabric sheds, so be sure that you get all the loose fur pieces off before you pin them to sew together. Do this by holding the glove piece in one hand and pulling it through the fist of your opposite hand (Image 1).

5. Pin and Sew

Step 4 of the easy spider hand puppet is pinning it with the fur pieces facing one another and then sewing around the edge with black embroidery thread. The bottom of the glove is left open so the piece can be turned right side out and worn.

Emilee Ramsier

Step 5 of the easy spider hand puppet is pinning it with the fur pieces facing one another and then sewing around the edge with black embroidery thread. The bottom of the glove is left open so the piece can be turned right side out and worn.

Emilee Ramsier

Step 5 of the easy spider hand puppet is pinning it with the fur pieces facing one another and then sewing around the edge with a large needle and black embroidery thread. The bottom of the glove is left open so the piece can be turned right side out and worn.

Emilee Ramsier

Easy Spider Hand Puppet: Pin and Sew

Step 4 of the easy spider hand puppet is pinning it with the fur pieces facing one another and then sewing around the edge with black embroidery thread. The bottom of the glove is left open so the piece can be turned right side out and worn.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Pin and Sew

Step 5 of the easy spider hand puppet is pinning it with the fur pieces facing one another and then sewing around the edge with black embroidery thread. The bottom of the glove is left open so the piece can be turned right side out and worn.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Pin and Sew

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Pin and Sew It

Step 5 of the easy spider hand puppet is pinning it with the fur pieces facing one another and then sewing around the edge with a large needle and black embroidery thread. The bottom of the glove is left open so the piece can be turned right side out and worn.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Put the fur sides of the glove together and trim off the fur right around the edges, so you have clean lines to sew along. Pin the pieces together with a generous amount of straight pins — especially along the fingers (Images 1-3). Use your embroidery needle and a double strand of buttonhole thread to stitch around the edge of the glove with an overstitch, being sure to sew a securing stitch at the beginning and end (Image 4). Leave the bottom of the glove open, so your hand will fit inside (Image 5).

6. Turn the Glove Right Side Out

A man uses a skewer to push a black glove right side out.

Spider Hand Puppet: Turn the Glove Right Side Out

Step six of the Halloween spider hand puppet is to turn the glove right side out after the two pieces are sewn together. A skewer is used to push the fingers right side out.

Photo by: Emilee Ramsier

Emilee Ramsier

Turn the glove right side out, using a kitchen skewer to poke the fingers all the way out (Image 1).

7. Make the Spider Head

Step 7 of the low-sew spider hand puppet is creating the head by wrapping a piece of fur fabric around a styrofoam ball and securing it with a straight pin before sewing the sides shut with a running stitch.

Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Spider Head

Step 7 of the low-sew spider hand puppet is creating the head by wrapping a piece of fur fabric around a styrofoam ball and securing it with a straight pin before sewing the sides shut with a running stitch.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Spider Head

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Spider Head

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Spider Head

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Spider Head

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Cut an 8-1/4" by 4-1/2" piece of fur fabric. Wrap it around the 2-1/2" styrofoam ball and push a straight pin through both layers of fabric and into the styrofoam to hold the fabric (Image 1+2). Sew the fabric piece to itself along the short side of the rectangle and remove the pin (Image 3+4). To close the edge, run a gathering stitch around one of the open ends of the fabric, pull it tight to close, and then knot the fabric, so it stays shut. Repeat that process for the other open side (Image 5).

8. Make The Spider Mouth

Step 8 of the spider hand puppet requires a 6" piece of orange chenille stem, but white chenille stems can always be colored orange. Each end of the stem is curled and fashioned into a smile before it's secured to the spider head with straight pins and stitched in place with orange buttonhole thread. Excess fur can be trimmed away from the chenille stem.

Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Spider Mouth

Step 8 of the spider hand puppet requires a 6" piece of orange chenille stem, but white chenille stems can always be colored orange. Each end of the stem is curled and fashioned into a smile before it's secured to the spider head with straight pins and stitched in place with orange buttonhole thread. Excess fur can be trimmed away from the chenille stem.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Spider Mouth

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Spider Mouth

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Spider Mouth

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Spider Mouth

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Use a 6" piece of orange chenille stem for the spider’s mouth. (If you don't have an orange chenille stem, you can always use a marker to color a white one.) (Image 1+2). Curl each end of the stem and fashion the entire piece into a smile (Image 3+4). Secure it to the head with straight pins and stitch in place with orange buttonhole thread. Remove the pins. If the fur is hiding the mouth, feel free to use the tips of your scissors to trim the fur away from the chenille stem (Image 5).

9. Make the Eyes

Step 9 in creating the spider hand puppet is to make the eyes by cutting a 1" smooth foam ball in half and then painting and iris and pupil onto each eye piece. The eyes are held to the spider head using toothpicks inserted into the eyeball and head and secured with glue.

Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Eyes

Step 9 in creating the spider hand puppet is to make the eyes by cutting a 1" smooth foam ball in half and then painting and iris and pupil onto each eye piece. The eyes are held to the spider head using toothpicks inserted into the eyeball and head and secured with glue.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Eyes

Step 9 in creating the spider hand puppet is to make the eyes by cutting a 1" smooth foam ball in half and then painting and iris and pupil onto each eye piece. The eyes are held to the spider head using shortened toothpicks inserted into the eyeball and head and secured with glue.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Make the Eyes

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Cut a 1" smooth foam ball in half with a craft knife to create two eyes. Use acrylic paint to paint the iris and pupil onto each eye (Image 1). Push a toothpick into each eye and secure it with white glue. Toothpicks will help hold the eyes to the head, but toothpicks are a bit long, so cut half the toothpick off at an angle, so it still has a point (Image 2+3).

10. Attach the Eyes

Step 10 of creating the spider hand puppet is to use a craft knife to cut shallow guide holes in the head above the mouth so the toothpicks attached to the eyes can be pressed into the puppet's head.

Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Attach the Eyes

Step 10 of creating the spider hand puppet is to use a craft knife to cut shallow guide holes in the head above the mouth so the toothpicks attached to the eyes can be pressed into the puppet's head.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Attach the Eyes

Step 10 of creating the spider hand puppet is to use a craft knife to cut shallow guide holes in the head above the mouth so the toothpicks attached to the eyes can be pressed into the puppet's head.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Use the sharp end of another toothpick to make a shallow guide hole for the eyes (Image 1). Insert the eyes into the guide holes and press them the rest of the way into place (Image 2+3).

11. Sew the Spider Nose

Step 11 of creating Stephen Brown's spider hand puppet is to make a nose by sewing a few stitches in the center of the face with white buttonhole thread. Some of the black fur may need trimmed back to make sure the nose can be seen.

Emilee Ramsier

Step 11 of the spider hand puppet is to use white buttonhole thread to sew a few stitches in the center of the face to make the nose. Some of the fur may need trimmed back so the nose is visible.

Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Sew the Spider Nose

Step 11 of creating Stephen Brown's spider hand puppet is to make a nose by sewing a few stitches in the center of the face with white buttonhole thread. Some of the black fur may need trimmed back to make sure the nose can be seen.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Sew the Spider Nose

Step 11 of the spider hand puppet is to use white buttonhole thread to sew a few stitches in the center of the face to make the nose. Some of the fur may need trimmed back so the nose is visible.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Using white buttonhole thread, sew a few stitches in the center of the spider’s face to make the nose (Image 1). Remember you may need to trim some of the fur back to show the nose (Image 2).

12. Create and Attach the Antennae

Step 12 of making the spider hand puppet from Glitterville's Stephen Brown is to use two 6" pieces of orange chenille stem to create the antennae. One end of each stem is curled and then a kitchen skewer is used to poke guide holes into the head through the fabric and into the foam. The straight ends of the antennae are then pushed through the guide holes.

Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Create and Attach the Antennae

Step 12 of making the spider hand puppet from Glitterville's Stephen Brown is to use two 6" pieces of orange chenille stem to create the antennae. One end of each stem is curled and then a kitchen skewer is used to poke guide holes into the head through the fabric and into the foam. The straight ends of the antennae are then pushed through the guide holes.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Using two 6" pieces of orange chenille stems to create the spider’s antennae. Curl one end of each stem (Image 1). To attach the antennae, use a kitchen skewer to poke guide holes into the head through the fabric and into the foam (Image 2). Remove the skewer and push the antennae into place (Image 3).

13. Attach the Spider Head to the Glove

Emilee Ramsier

Step 13 of the spider hand puppet from Stephen Brown at Glitterville is to attach the spider's head to the glove. A U-shaped floral is pressed from the inside of the glove through the top and into the bottom of the head piece. Next, the head is hand stitched to the glove, and the floral pin is removed. This step is finished by securing a piece of black marabou around the base of the spider's head.

Emilee Ramsier

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Spider Hand Puppet: Attach the Spider Head to the Glove

Step 13 of the spider hand puppet from Stephen Brown at Glitterville is to attach the spider's head to the glove. A U-shaped floral is pressed from the inside of the glove through the top and into the bottom of the head piece. Next, the head is hand stitched to the glove, and the floral pin is removed. This step is finished by securing a piece of black marabou around the base of the spider's head.

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Secure the spider head to the top of the glove by pushing a U-shaped floral pin from the inside of the glove through the top and into the bottom of the head (Image 1). Hand stitch the head to the glove and remove the floral pin (Image 2). Finish the head by securing a piece of black marabou around the base of the spider’s head (Image 3+4).

14. Create and Attach a Felt Bow Tie

Emilee Ramsier

Photo By: Emilee Ramsier

Cut a bow-tie shape out of orange felt and a knot shape from the pink felt (Image 1). Stitch them together and then stitch them onto the spider between the head and body (Image 2). Trim up any spots of fur that don’t look quite right (Image 3).

15. Host a Puppet Show or Pretend Your Halloween Costume Has a Sidekick

Photo by: Emilee Ramsier

Emilee Ramsier

Enjoy all the silly and spooky uses for this adorable spider puppet.

It's a Glitter Wonderland!

Tour Glitterville Studios 33 Photos

Every day is a holiday in Stephen Brown’s Glitterville Studios, a brand specializing in home and holiday decor including sparkling ornaments, tableware and everything in between. See how Stephen turns his original art and handmade creations into products for the holiday masses, plus shop product collections and get craft projects to bring a little Glitterville home.