A wonderful hello to all my fellow ventriloquists and puppet makers. I am a 42 yr old guy that is just getting started in ventriloquism. I make my own puppets and have 5 so far but I am wanting to make a  large wrap around snake and can't seem to get the pattern for my foam right. I was wondering if anyone out there has a pattern they could sharewith me. This is a very important figure that I need to get done, it is for a friend of mine that is 7 yrs old and has cancer> He loves the snake from junglebook and would like to have a talking snake too. I have tried and tried but can't seem to get the head pattern to look right. Could someone please share a pattern if you have one.

Welcome to Puppets and Stuff.................. Would love to see pics of your puppets ............... I bought a halloween costume of a snake wrapped around your neck. I was going to use it to design a snake pattern................. mean while I dig it out of storage maybe someone else will have one.

Billy D.

Update: here are some links you can build some ideas off of until we get the right one.

http://www.highlightskids.com/Express/Crafts/Toys/C0900_snakePuppet.asp

http://www.highlightskids.com/Express/Crafts/Toys/C0900_snakePuppet.asp

http://sewing.about.com/od/toysanddolls/ss/toysnake.htm

You have to see our own resident Dr. Puppets recent snake build
http://puppetsandstuff.com/community/index.php/topic,2734.0.html

Here is of course swazzle
http://swazzle.com/blogs/2006_10_01_puppet101archive.html

http://www.swazzle.com/swazzleworkshop8.html

Here is a picture of the costume I have or close to it....except this girl is better looking.

....

Welcome to the gang and have some fun!!!!

sincerely,

Spoon!!!

Found this one...... It is for a kids costume with a talking mouth................ Just a idea

Python
   

What age group is this costume for?
Middle School
High School & Beyond


Difficulty level:
A bit more advanced - sewing definitely required


Items you will need: (Hit your return key to start a new line)
"Snaky" fabric print, several yards. Cruise thrift stores for tacky polyester...

Eyes for snake; button type or glued-on felt scrap circles

Fabric or felt scrap for snake's mouth

Felt scraps for snake's tongue, fangs, nostrils

Thread

Polyester fiberfill batting



Instructions:
I'll confess I haven't made this yet, but I've seen one made up. You stitch up and stuff a long tube of fabric, tapering the tail end, and forming a head at the other end. The head should have a mouth sort of like Lamb Chop the sock puppet, and as I recall, an elastic band secures the jaws over the ears of the person wearing it. The snake's lengthy body is coiled all 'round the wearer, and secured, probably with safety pins.

Billy D.

 

Welcome to PUppets and Stuff.  Looks like Billy is throwing lots of options at you.  I know Dr. Puppet made an awesome snake not too long ago maybe he'd be willing to point you in the right direction.

Love to see some pics of the puppets you've already made.  P&s is half puppet instruction, half just puppet talking and 3/4 show and tell.  (yes I know thats more that 100%)

Seriously, God bless you for wanting to do something special for yor 7 year old friend.  Cancer is terrible at any age but it seems even more wrong when is happens to kids.  Good luck.

If you don't want to make one here are some inexpensive pre-made ones. I know thats no fun

http://www.puppetrevelation.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=50

http://www.puppetrevelation.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=51

Here is a great example of a professional style snake from Pavlos Puppets

http://www.pavlovspuppets.com/snake.htm

If you want to buy a pattern book there is Lets us teach kids. I have book 1 & 2 this book for the snake pattern is # 3

http://www.letusteachkids.com/puppets/puppetpatterns.htm

Billy D.

Thank You all so very very much for the suggestions. I have sent Dr.Puppet a messege because the snake he did is just the look I am going for in my snake.

Always glad to welcome a fellow ventriloquist!! You will like it here!

Welcome to our family and glad that you jumped right in with a question....glad that you found what you wanted in the end. 

Billy you did an amazing job at finding such great variety of resources.....thanks for all the great effort. 

Daryl H

Hi:

Have you considered something besides a foam body?

How about a spring?  It would give you a more snake like action.

Another construction to experiment with would be similar to the snake toys from SE Asia and Africa which is a series of graduated wooden or plastic discs (ribs?) mounted on a piece of rope or cloth (spine?).  This would give you even more snake like action.  Look for these toys in general toy stores and also at World Market and other import shops.

Either base could then be padded with thinner foam to hide the shape.

The mouth construction is up to you, but I would include the detail of a false hand around the snakes neck so that your hand wouldn't simply go away.

For the covering consider using scale shaped sequins.  Working them up would definitely be more laborious, but the result would be 3D and very beautiful.

Good luck,

MR