Felt fox with movable ears — fingerblasting.net

Intermediate · 45 min · ~$6

A pivoting-ear mechanism made from a single brad fastener.

This pattern is less about the fox itself and more about the technique: a single paper brad fastener turns a static felt ear into a hinge that swivels. Once you've got the mechanism down, it transfers directly to tails, arms, and jaws on other patterns.

What you'll need

Orange and white felt
1 small paper brad fastener
Fabric glue
Black embroidery thread for the face

Fits

Any finger, ages 8 and up (brad fastener is a small-parts choking hazard for younger kids).

Steps

Cut the fox's head and body as one piece, plus two separate ear pieces.
Punch a small hole in the base of each ear and a matching hole on the head.
Attach each ear to the head with the brad fastener so it can swivel.
Glue on a white felt muzzle patch and stitch simple black features for the face.
Fold and glue the body into a finger tube as with the basic mouse pattern.
Test that both ears swing freely before calling it finished.

Common mistakes

Punching the hole too close to the ear's edge, which tears through with repeated movement.
Over-tightening the brad, which pins the ear flat instead of letting it swivel.
Gluing the muzzle patch over the brad's backing, which locks the hinge in place by accident.

Variations to try

Use the same hinge for a wagging tail instead of ears.
Add a second brad at the jaw for a fox that can 'talk' independent of its ears.
Try the mechanism in felt ears on the no-sew mouse pattern for a hybrid character.

Watch It Made

Finger Puppets Felt Tutorial

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