For my first puppet I am thinking I am going to make a Kappa.

What would be the best pattern to use?

Picture I drew up:

Maybe it would help if you also let us know what the puppet needs to do? I'm guessing you want a moving mouth, rods for arms, etc?

if its your first puppet i would recommend buying the roly puppet pattern from projectpuppet.com. it will give you a head shape similar to your drawing and has good clear instructions on how to put it all together. you would still have to make your own pattern for the shell and maybe add the beak separatley or check out project puppets tutorial on adding facial features to your puppet. that should help you out and give you a good start on your first build.
good luck with it and please keep us posted on your progress.

cheers
Spam 

I was thinking the Roly pattern too.  It's available at www.projectpuppet.com.  The beak will add an extra challenge but the tutorial Spam suggested would be good.  It's called adding facial features.  This too is on the Project puppet site.  Let us know how things are going.  If you hit a snag, let us know.  This group is very active and ready to help.
Pam

Maybe it would help if you also let us know what the puppet needs to do? I'm guessing you want a moving mouth, rods for arms, etc?

Yea, a moving mouth and rods for arms. Just a basic puppet. I am sorry I didnt state that in my post, I am kinda new at this whole thing.

Kanamai, I think you've chosen a nice project for your first puppet.  Not too difficult but at the same time guite original.

Are you wanting the puppet to have legs as well as arms?  What you are planning one way or the other doesn't really make the build more difficult just gives some different things to consider when it comes to the puppeteer's access to the head.

How big do you want the puppet to be?  if you can give us that info we can help you figure out how much foam and fabric you need.

Are you wanting the puppet to have legs as well as arms?  What you are planning one way or the other doesn't really make the build more difficult just gives some different things to consider when it comes to the puppeteer's access to the head.
How big do you want the puppet to be?  if you can give us that info we can help you figure out how much foam and fabric you need.

Yea, I think I do want it to have legs. I havent really thought about the size yet. What do recommend size wise for a beginner? I don't want something too small or big.

For a beginner, size is not so much an issue as the ease of use of the pattern.  The Roly pattern is pretty easy to use.  It also happens to be small.  It doesn't have legs as a part of the pattern, but you could draft up a pattern for legs.  Actually I wouldn't mind making a leg pattern for you if you choose to go that route.  My kids admire your Kappa drawing.  They think it's cute.
The body portion of the pattern doesn't quite have the lovely round shape your Kappa has.  Depending on how accurate you want your puppet to be compared to the drawing, this may have to modify this as well.

Pam

For a beginner, size is not so much an issue as the ease of use of the pattern.  The Roly pattern is pretty easy to use.  It also happens to be small.  It doesn't have legs as a part of the pattern, but you could draft up a pattern for legs.  Actually I wouldn't mind making a leg pattern for you if you choose to go that route.  My kids admire your Kappa drawing.  They think it's cute.
The body portion of the pattern doesn't quite have the lovely round shape your Kappa has.  Depending on how accurate you want your puppet to be compared to the drawing, this may have to modify this as well.

Pam

Tell your kids thanks.

I am sure I could modify the body pattern to make it more round no problem. I have made a few plushies. I probably won't have money to buy the pattern until November. A pattern for the legs though would be nice.

So about how much foam and fabric do you think I will need to get?

Are you making Kappa out of polar fleece?  I'd say 1/2 yard of the main green fabric if it's 60" width and 1 yard for 45" width (assuming legs), 1 foot of foam (you could get away with 6 inchess), 12-16 inches of green shell material, 8 inches of skullcap green, 8 inches of beak colour fleece.  That's my educated guess based on measuring my pattern pieces.

Your experience making plushies will serve you well with puppet making.  I'll work on drafting those legs.