Very Hungry Caterpillar Craft

This step-by-step craft tutorial shows how to make caterpillar crafts and turn them into simple puppets and open-ended DIY Toys for Kids!

Here’s an easy caterpillar puppet craft inspired by the popular children’s book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. But it can be used to make caterpillar crafts of all kinds and colors, Very Hungry Caterpillar or not. Making these easy crafts is an excellent way to strengthen hand muscles and build fine motor skills.

Homemade caterpillar puppets are also great DIY toys for open-ended pretend or imaginative play. Young children, their teachers, and caregivers can use this caterpillar craft during free-play activities, in puppet shows, story baskets, or as an addition to a butterfly-themed lesson or study unit.

Hungry caterpillar puppets also make great homemade birthday party favors for kids! First published March 5, 2017, this Very Hungry Caterpillar craft tutorial is regularly updated to improve the content and keep it current. You might also enjoy making DIY Rainbow Peg Dolls for Pretend Play

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Very Hungry Caterpillar Craft for Kids or Adults:

As mentioned above, this cute little Hungry Caterpillar craft puppet and children’s toy is inspired by the children’s book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Since it is one of my daughters’ all-time favorite children’s books, I thought it would be fun to make Very Hungry Caterpillar crafts.

This simple pom-pom caterpillar puppet brings her favorite story to life in a hands-on way, but it doesn’t need to be made into a Very Hungry Caterpillar puppet. You can make any type or color of caterpillar you like with the instructions and supply options included in this caterpillar craft tutorial.

Making these crafts can also be a calming activity with a soothing rhythm for both children and adults. With your choice of a few simple craft supplies and a little imagination, you can create a wiggly, colorful friend ready for play. It’s an easy caterpillar activity for home or the classroom, and just right for little hands that like to make, move, and pretend.

A Caterpillar Craft Young Children Will Love!

My daughter has loved the children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar since she was a baby. Here she is in her hungry caterpillar pajamas, reading her favorite book when she was about 9 months old in the photo below.

Just look at the joy on her face as she looks through the pages of this classic board book by Eric Carle. You might also enjoy these Books that Teach Kids Important Life Lessons.

Many years later, when my daughter was in preschool. I saw THIS hungry caterpillar puppet by Hanging Houses in the photograph below.

I immediately wanted to make something like it with my daughter to help her develop hand strength and fine motor skills.

As you can see, in the photograph below, the original craft engineer made her caterpillar craft with wool felt balls sewn together with a needle and thread.

I wanted to make something similar with my daughter that was equally quick and easy. But because she was a preschooler, she was not quite old enough to work with a sharp needle and thread or a felting set. So, I decided to use pom-poms and glue to make our own no-sew Very Hungry Caterpillar Puppet instead.

Unfortunately, as of this update, the original needle-felted caterpillar tutorial by Hanging Houses is no longer available because the blog has gone offline. Fortunately, as of this 2026 update, you can use this step-by-step tutorial to make either option!

How to Make a Caterpillar Craft and Toy Puppet:

This step-by-step tutorial teaches how to make caterpillar crafts and puppets.

There are several different types of craft materials you can use, and a variety of ways to make these caterpillar crafts:

1. First, choose between homemade wool-felted balls or pom-poms.
2. Next, decide whether to use glue or a needle and thread to put this easy caterpillar craft together.
3. Then determine whether to glue googly eyes or tiny felt circles onto the head to create the face, or needle-felt them by hand.
4. Finally, consider turning this simple caterpillar craft into a puppet.

Choose the materials you have on hand, or those best suited to the age group or craft experience of the students you are working with, if making the craft with others. For example, if you are a parent or a teacher working with toddlers or preschoolers, I recommend using pom-poms and glue dots to make these simple crafts. Younger children need guidance, supervision, and simple, easy-to-work-with materials.

Conversely, more experienced crafters and adults might want to try sewing them or hand-needle-felting the caterpillar. The step-by-step instructions below include directions for each option, but they do not teach how to needle felt. If interested, you can learn how to needle felt with Felts by Phillipa on YouTube. Her tutorial, combined with the step-by-step instructions below, makes it easy to make a needle-felted caterpillar craft, Very Hungry Caterpillar or not.

Related: The Best Natural Eco-Friendly Toys for Preschoolers

Caterpillar Craft and Puppet Option Materials:

Start by gathering your preferred craft supplies from the recommended materials list. Then follow the step-by-step instructions for the hungry caterpillar puppet in the next section.

• Choose one of the following for the caterpillar’s body:
  • Mixed multicolor assorted pom-poms
  • Felt wool balls
  • Alternatively, make your own needle-felted balls for this craft.
• Use one of the following to assemble the caterpillar:
  • Hot glue,
  • Glue dots,
  • Needle and thread.
• Choose one of the following craft supplies for the eyes:
  • Googly eyes in assorted colors and sizes
  • Craft felt
  • Needle felt them on with a felting needle and wool roving.
• Scissors
• Pipe Cleaners or chenelle stems to make optional antennae.
  • Pipe cleaners can weigh the puppet down when it is made with pom-poms.
  • Antennae can also be needle felted by adults and more experienced crafters.
• Optional supplies to turn the caterpillar craft into a puppet:
  • Small wooden dowel, small bare branch, or piece of driftwood
  • Fishing string or monofilament.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Craft and DIY Toy Puppet Step-by-Step Directions:

Here are a few different simple ways to make caterpillar crafts with pom-poms or wool felted balls. You might also enjoy making this Geometric Puzzle.

1. Gather preferred caterpillar craft supplies:

• Choose 9-21 pom-poms or wool felt balls in the colors you want for your caterpillar.
  • For handmade wool felt balls, use this felting kit and these step-by-step instructions by Felts by Phillipa.
• You can use all one color, make it look like the Very Hungry Caterpillar, or make it bright and rainbow colored, your choice.
• My daughter and I made the no-sew caterpillar puppets shown in the photos using 11 pom-poms and two googly eyes.
• Conversely, the hand-sewn caterpillar by hanging houses is made from 13 wool felt balls and sewn together with a needle and thread.

2. Assemble the caterpillar’s body:

Use glue or a needle and thread* to attach the pom-poms or wool felted balls according to the instructions below:

How to Assemble No-Sew Caterpillar Craft with Glue:

1. Place a dollop of glue or a glue dot on one pom-pom and attach it to the next.
2. Repeat until all pom-poms are glued together.
3. Gently fluff the pom-poms and shape your caterpillar with your hands.

How to Sew a Caterpillar Craft:

1. Cut a piece of thread that is long enough to sew through all of your pom-poms with plenty of extra length left at both ends.
2. Thread your needle, and tie a large knot at one end. If you use wool felt balls, a sharp needle works best.
3. Push the needle carefully through the center of the first pom-pom or felt ball. If the pom-poms are soft, sew slowly so you go through the center. Pull the thread through until the knot stops at the end.
4. Continue sewing the rest of the pom-poms or felt balls onto the yarn one at a time. Push the needle through the middle of each one so they line up in a row like a caterpillar’s body.
5. Slide the pom-poms gently together. Keep them snug, but not squished too tightly. The idea is to make your caterpillar look full and soft.
6. When all the pom poms are in place, tie a tight knot at the last one. For extra strength, knot it a second time.
7. Use scissors to trim any extra yarn or thread.
8. Fluff and shape the caterpillar with your hands.

*Adult help and supervision are necessary for children learning to sew. You might also enjoy learning how to sew a mouse toy.

3. Attach eyes and create the face of the very hungry caterpillar craft:

• There are several ways you can create eyes and a face for the caterpillar craft. Consider each of the optional methods below:
• Glue googly eyes in the color of your choice to add a face to the head of the hungry caterpillar craft.
  • Some googly eyes are adhesive, but you can add glue to ensure they remain securely in place.
• Cut tiny circles from felt and glue them on for a softer, more natural, plastic-free look.
• Adults and experienced crafters can needle-felt wool directly onto the wool ball to add the caterpillar’s eyes to its face, if they prefer.
• Add a small stitched or needle-felted mouth if you like.

4. Make and add antennae (optional):

• Use a pipe cleaner to create an optional antenna for the caterpillar craft.
• Cut a short piece of pipe cleaner and fold it into a “V” shape.
• Tuck or glue the tip of the “V” into the top of the head.
• Alternatively, adults and more experienced crafters can needlefelt the antennae onto the caterpillar’s head.

5. Transform the very hungry caterpillar craft into a hungry caterpillar puppet toy for kids (optional):

• Tie the caterpillar puppet to a wooden dowel, stick, or small piece of driftwood with monofilament string or fishing line.
• Monofilament line is transparent and strong, making it perfect for DIY puppets like this Very Hungry Caterpillar.
• I tied the caterpillar puppet to the wooden dowel after the 3rd and 7th pom-poms, leaving its end free to swing and dangle, as shown in the complete step-by-step photo tutorial below.

Related: The Best Open-Ended Pretend Play Toys for Kids 

Very Hungry Caterpillar Puppet Craft and DIY Toy for Kids:

Now your caterpillar is ready to play with, display, or use during storytime. Feel free to turn your caterpillar into a garland, ornament, puppet, or playful desk buddy.

My daughter and I made a few Very Hungry Caterpillar puppets together. We had such a great time making the first one, we decided to make a few more of these adorable butterfly-themed crafts for her friends. It was fun creating different patterns for the hungry caterpillar crafts with slightly different pom-pom color combinations.

I also played around with different types of sticks to make the caterpillar craft into a puppet. We used beautiful pieces of driftwood and wooden dowels to create several hungry caterpillar crafts.

Since my daughter likes to hang her caterpillar puppet on her wall when she is not playing with it, I thought it would look a bit more like it belonged there. The driftwood hanger makes this very hungry caterpillar craft into a lovely wall hanging in a child’s room!

Caterpillar Craft and DIY Imaginative Play Toy:

Encourage creativity and storytelling with these simple DIY caterpillar toys. Once the puppet is ready, the real fun can begin. Kids can retell familiar stories or invent their own. Puppets give children the power to express ideas and feelings and to create new worlds that provide them with meaning and bring them joy.

Caterpillar puppets can be used in classrooms, on playdates, or quiet afternoons at home. They also provide an interactive storytelling basket prop that makes a fantastic addition to circle time or early literacy activities at home or in the classroom.

As you can see in the photos, my daughter spends countless hours playing with her caterpillar puppet toy indoors and out. She happily chitters and chatters as she plays.

Interestingly, just like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, it eats a lot and gets a stomachache. Then he, too, likes to eat green leaves to feel better. It’s absolutely adorable!

She also loves playing with her Very Hungry Caterpillar puppet in our backyard, singing to him cheerfully as it crawls her and there. Isn’t it cute?

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Hungry Caterpillar Puppet Craft and DIY Toy for Kids

Making a DIY Very Hungry Caterpillar puppet for pretend play is an easy, homemade craft for kids and adults. It only takes about 10 minutes from start to finish to make these cute little caterpillar crafts inspired by a popular children’s book. Unless, of course, you choose to make the needle-felted version of this caterpillar craft.

Even better, this caterpillar puppet is more than just a cute craft. It’s a simple DIY project for all ages with big potential. Use your hungry caterpillar puppet for imaginative or dramatic play, in story baskets, and as an addition to a butterfly theme or nature study unit. 

From building skills to inspiring stories, it encourages kids to learn naturally through play. It’s also a great DIY birthday party favor for a child’s birthday party. Once your caterpillar is finished, don’t be surprised if it wiggles its way into storytime or your children’s playtime activities again and again.

For more fun spring crafts and activity ideas, check out these spring activities with a FREE printable bucket list!

Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author, photographer, and creator of this caterpillar puppet craft inspired by Eric Carles’ the Very Hungry Caterpillar HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!

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