Yep you are on the right track there about splitting the head up the back. About the only thing you can do after the fact.

It looks like maybe you used felt for the straps and it well stretch. You can try to stuff some foam inside the felt pocket to tighten it up if you don't want to dig into the back of the head. I would say in the future to use something that does not stretch. You know the straps you find on back packs? It makes good straps and won't stretch. Google Search: Nylon Belting

yea, it was felt. I was leery of using it, but I made sure to stitch down the least stretchy side. Its not stretched yet, just planning for the future. When it goes, I'll likely just cut up an old belt.

Michaels sells bags of scrap leather for $7 or $8 out of which you can make quite a few straps. It's a good deal thinner and softer than most belts and still plenty durable.

As to your first puppet. Yup, you'll never forget your first and you'll continue to learn with pretty much every new puppet you make. I'm continually amazed at how much I keep learning with every puppet build. I nicknamed my first puppet Franky (for Frankenstein) because his seams were all pretty obvious and he was more than a little rough around the edges. Still love that old monster of a puppet though. It occurs to me that I've never taken a picture of him. I'll have to do that and add it to my gallery.

You're doing a great job on your first build and I'm sure you're having the time of your life doing it. Keep on building, learning and having a blast! I know I'm going to.

thanks for the michaels tip. theres one right down the road, so I can do that on my way home from work tomorrow.

I'm just catching this thread.  You really put a lot of thought into your first puppet!  Great job!

love it, i hope m,y first puppet will be this good

wow. talk about life getting in the way of things. well, as of right this minute, there has been minimal progress made on this puppet. I've made a few heads of others, but haven't finished any yet due to some personal circumstances that have arisen over the last few months. but, i will hopefully get this guy buttoned up soon, and get started on draping a few others.

I think Phillip had a good idea of making a long sleeve with a kind of mitten on the end for you hand then you could glue those glove fingers to your mouth plate when the felt gives out instead of ripping open your head. It has the added benefit of being a lining so you don't have to feel the scratchy foam. That felt is not woven it is just fibers mushed together, it does not hold up very long. My first puppets were all felt and my thumb poked out thru the chin, not a good look.

My first puppets were all felt and my thumb poked out thru the chin, not a good look.

LOL. My first thought was those zombie puppets might disagree.