Had planned on using the tutorial from Paul Louis, so went and bought 2 separate colors of fleece 1/2 yard each.  After some contemplating, I decided that I would do better with a pattern and bought the Glorified Sock Puppet.  This pattern calls for 3/4 yard of fabric, so I am wondering if a puppet looks ok utilizing two colors.  one for the head and arms, and 1 for the body.  I have a purple and a gold type.  Or would it look better as a single color? 

Though, after looking at the pattern I think I am good with the 1/2 yard.

There aren't really any rules. Go with what you have and what you want to do! By the way, welcome to Puppets and Stuff! I look forward to seeing your first project. Be sure to take some pics. Even if you don't want to share them it's nice to have a record of your own work.

Thanks   I will be taking pics, mostly for constructive feedback.  Just started, will cut and finish eyes tonight and sew tommorrow as I have to borrow the sewing machine.

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff............... looking good so far!

Welcome! I'm just starting out in puppets myself and I've already learned a ton here.

I love the color you're using, but looking at the pieces you have marked out, you'll need to cut another set of arm pieces. Unless you are making a one armed puppet, or their other arm is some sort of fantastic tentacle cyborg thing.

Actually, that gives me an idea.....

Lol...yeah, caught that after tracing.  So gonna double up on fabric and sew them together.  Which is in the instructions if only I would read them :p

Also, looking at the upper left corner of the picture, I'm guessing the green thing is the foam mouth plate. It looks like you cut a hole in the center?

On the pattern piece, there's a dotted line on the foam mouth plate pattern, which is used to align the felt mouth piece on the foam when you're gluing it in. Maybe you accidentally cut that instead.

Or maybe I'm looking at the picture wrong. Is that the cardboard?

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff!  Looks like you have a good start there and lots of good feed back already. Instructions... what are those... you mean your supposed to read them?

DrMegan, no...you are looking at it right.  I have watched at least three different tutorial videos and I think I am mixing things up.  I beleive one of them had you cutting out that part, though it was with a different pattern. 

Shawn, thanks!   Yeah, I attempted to create a more stable foam head though I somehow cut things a bit small.  Think I will stick with the instructions

Heheh, I think everyone messes up on their first project a little bit, and that mouth plate is easy to get wrong the first time. It's something I know I'm still learning.

Fleege was the first puppet I'd ever built, and it's his mouth that looks worst. (Every time we film an episode, I stare at him and remind him he can be replaced)  That's where I learned the importance of a properly aligned mouth plate.

Also, don't let cats help you sew.

Love the picture Dr. Megan!  So did the cat get sewn to the project? I actually sewed my finger to something I was working on the other day and did not even notice. Had about three inches of hand sewing before I realized. It took quite a bit of tugging to remove my finger from the seam. I didn't want to take out the stitches.   Don't freak folks it was a bit of dead skin on the end of the finger.

Love the picture Dr. Megan!  So did the cat get sewn to the project? I actually sewed my finger to something I was working on the other day and did not even notice. Had about three inches of hand sewing before I realized. It took quite a bit of tugging to remove my finger from the seam. I didn't want to take out the stitches.   Don't freak folks it was a bit of dead skin on the end of the finger.

   Glad to hear it wasn't too serious!

Shawn- Thankfully Leeroy didn't get sewn to Fleege. He's a helpful kitty though and wants to be where the action is, and if involves string of any kind he wants in.

He also enjoys napping on the puppet fabrics.



CousCous isn't so crazy about puppets.



Okay, enough cute kitty pics! Don't mean to threadjack!

Cats are cool!  Had my fair share with mine tonight

Well, had fun with the sewing machine and retried the method in the Paul Louis videos, and wound up with this guy:



Made a lot of mistakes, which I hope to correct in the next one.  The biggest are some odd stitches in the armpits and neck that throw the puppet orientation off.  I imagine its my inexperience with the machine and turning fabric.  I also made things a bit small, hard to get a hand through the neck, so the next one will be a bit bigger.  That being said, I think he turned out okay

The Paul Louis method is lots of fun, and it's a quick way to build a puppet.  I think he looks very cute.

I should have added, that my alligator puppet I have as my avatar was built with the Paul Louis method.  I love the alligator, but I need an updated avatar!

That cat is cute!

Yes I agree he turned out pretty well. I love the freckles!

I really like his eyes. He looks like he's day dreaming. *sigh* "Where are all the pretty flowers?"

Nice work! Great first effort! We learn so much with each new build and your education is off to a great start.

Started by Joel - Last post by Clewer Puppets
Hi TygerHawks. You have actually done really well for your first puppet. A couple of tips: the mouth is the hardest part, so it is worth persevering to get it right. Check the stitching line before you turn the head in to the right side: an uneven seam around the mouth edge will distort the look of the puppet. As for the arms and fingers, I use an old wooden chopstick to shape the fingers and small parts when turned in the right way. Make your neck a little larger than your wrist width.Draw your intend pattern up on paper first. Make alterations to patterns you have already done on baking paper or tissue paper first-pin it loosely together to see it it works and what adjustment is needed. All the best for your future projects. Debra Clewer.

www.clewerpuppets.weebly.com

Remember that it is your hand that has to go through the neck opening first.   If you are like me the width of my hand is bigger then my wrist even if I have it folded up. Tuck your thumb in and use a tape measure around the thickest part of your hand then use that as the measurement for your neck width. Don't forget to add seam allowance.

That is one modification I had to make to the Forma series patterns from Project Puppet. I had to increase the size of the neck opening. I don't have especially large hands but the hole size included with those patterns was just too tight a squeeze for me. As I say I learn something new with each new puppet I build!

That is one modification I had to make to the Forma series patterns from Project Puppet. I had to increase the size of the neck opening.

Agreed! I have gotten two patterns and make a habbit of blowing them up to 125% of the origional pattern size and it has worked for me very well so far the very first puppet I built was direct from the pattern and I couldnt get it over my forarm and my hand was very cramped.