Hi,
I've just put together a larger version of Mr. Harmon. (see below)
As mentioned in a previous post I'm going to try my hand at adding skin, I have no antron fleece, so I will have to use some tee shirt fabric for now... my question is:

Is it best to pin the fabric to one half of the foam head allowing for dart placements as needed (then place on fold of fabric etc), or....

Can I actually use the head pattern as it is and just add extra length to the mouth and neck areas that will need tucking under, would that work?

Hi Rosie!

I really like your progress with the foam so far!

I don't know if you saw my post over in the Puppetry on the Internet section, but I just put up a new blog post about this exact scenario!

It's not exactly a step-by-step, but maybe it will be beneficial for you!

If you'd like to check it out, just go to www.carluccipuppets.blogspot.com

Hope that helps!

With the pattern you are using, you could perhaps use the foam pattern.  Just remember you need increase it every where by the thickness of your foam at least.  Does that make sense?  You would also need to add for the neck and mouth as you had thought also.

Hi Rosie!

I really like your progress with the foam so far!

I don't know if you saw my post over in the Puppetry on the Internet section, but I just put up a new blog post about this exact scenario!

It's not exactly a step-by-step, but maybe it will be beneficial for you!

If you'd like to check it out, just go to www.carluccipuppets.blogspot.com

Hope that helps!

Thank you for your help and encouragement, i really appreciate it.
I checked your blog, your work is really good and you explain things well.
I think I will try that way, it seems very doable, thanks. Also, did I miss it?...
does the pattern need a seam allowance to be added, I'll be hand stitching this.

Just remember you need increase it every where by the thickness of your foam at least.  Does that make sense? 

Hi Shawn,
I'd read that somewhere before but I don't get it, sorry. I know you are right but I don't understand why, lol. Why, if I'm covering the surface of the foam, apart from the neck and mouth openings that have to go round a 'bend' so to speak, do I have to add the width of the foam to the equation?... which by the way is a half inch. I'd like to learn both methods so I will attempt this one after I try the above. Maybe this version will make sense when I draft the pattern.

Hmmm.... not sure how to really explain it but let's say that you used 1/2" foam instead of 1" foam.  The end result would not be as "big" on the outside with the 1/2 then with the 1" because you would have an extra 1/2" of material.  I know that does not really explain it well.  Actually since t-shirt material is so cheap and has quite a bit of stretch you might want to just give it a test.  Cut out one side or a section of the full pattern and lay it on your foam.  It should only come to the seam or even be a bit shy of the foam seam.  You may not need the full 1" added but you need some for seam allowance when you sew it up.

Ok... here's what I've done so far with the bigger version of Mr. Harmon, talking of Mr.Harmon, I put some green wool on his head to see how he would look, what do you think? I'm not sure, he looks so boyish now.  

Anyway, I did try the pinning the fabric, it didn't turn out too good, I could have continued trying but then I remembered reading somewhere about taping the head. So that's what I did. (see below)

What I will do next is to somehow make it one flat piece, by cutting darts.

Where would be the best place to put the darts, I'm thinking maybe up from the corners of the mouth and the top of the head in a couple place, like the pattern.

Shawn, I'm thinking that I will just need a seam allowance for the center seam, including below the mouth, right?

I will post more pictures as I go along, feedback is most welcome!

You need seam allowance any place that you have a seam.  If you took your tape and now off the head and cut it to lay flat, in order to sew it back together you would have to lose some of the size where the cuts are.  So the whole thing would end up smaller.   That is why you need seam allowance. Make sense?

Awesome work Rosie. I am just about to add fleece to my own puppet, but since its a first for me I admit that I am a bit nervous because it will be a first time for me dying fleece and working with fleece all together. And since I dont have that much, I will have to be careful on how to well manage the little fleece I do have. But seeing your work inspires me to do the same and to succeed.

Thanks for sharing your progress. Its really nice.

Shawn, I see what you were talking about re: the seam allowances, I guess I had to do it for it to make sense.
SHould, thanks for your kind words, this is a lot of fun.

Here's what I have done with the 'Camille'... I did take a lot of pictures of the process, I will post them in my craft blog hopefully this weekend with an explanation of every step and the challenges and changes I would make for my next.
I still have to finish her and will do that later today and post the final picture of her completed.... hopefully.