OK so I've got a foam body and I'm doing the arms with antron, with just a hand insert sewn in(foam with wire so the hand is posable).  So I am going to attach the arms made of polyfill stuffed antron to a foam body and im wondering how most of you guys here do it? Or do you use foam for your arms? Chime in I'm curious!

 I believe I'm going to leave the end of the antron arm  unsewn a couple of inches, then use the flaps over the arm socket humps to "strap" it into place first using glue, then reinforcing with a good stitch.

Primarily, I use doll joints. http://www.crscraft.com/products/vProduct1.asp?pid=Joint&L1=1&L2=8&L3=0&L4=0&L5=0&V2=1&V3=0&V4=0&T2=Style&T3=&T4=&cat=doll+supplies&sub=Fasteners&class=&searchOffset=x (I'm not recommending or disrecommending this supplier, it's just one in my bookmarks.) Usually I find mine at an almost local craft store.

Stiqman has a video on blogtv.com using a key ring thingie so that the arms are detachable (very handy for high speed costume changes). http://www.blogtv.com/Shows/736892/buZEY2NGaeXHY23FZP&pos=ancr.

I have also sewn arms to bodies. (Sounds rather macabre in a Dr. Frankenstein kind of way, doesn't it?    )

Anyone have any other method aside from doll joints?  On a side note how do most of you attach the ears on your puppet heads?

what i would do is sow the fabric part of the ear to the rest of the head after you finish stitching the fleece to both parts.... what i DID do is just hot glue my puppets ears on, but only because they were big enough to hide the glue from sight. i dont have any good advice on joints though, but the foam book has lots of information on little things like that

Doll Joints are the best way to attach arms over most methods....I guess that will be a video made coming up in September for Blog TV....you can sew as mentioned....I would not glue it as you mentioned.....and yes the detachable method that I did it a nice idea if you plan to remove clothing often or just for packing reason's.

For ears if you are covering the head with fleece and the ears are made of fleece you should sew them on if you are using foam you will need to glue them.

Hope this helps.....

Daryl H

What are the pros for detachable arms if you have removable armrods?  This puppet in particular will not be going through wardrobe change...The ears are actually foam covered in antron...

Detachable arms for dressing your puppet quickly and with out damaging your puppet...puppets are not made to cloth easily unless you build in snaps on everything...just a nice feature if you need to change clothing and really not hard to do or expensive.

I would limit the gluing if at all possible on the outside of the puppet.....but some things just have to be glued and no choice because they can't be sewn.....I would suggest then that you sew your ears on but it really is up to you....camera work with puppets you need to keep things very clean and neat...glue may goop and is hard to clean up if you make a mistake....just a thought for you.

Daryl H

Yeah I'll probably sew the ears on, the idea of adhesive near antron kinda makes me want to cry a little.....I should have explained better about the arm situation.....the puppet will be wearing a 3 to 5 piece suit....so the only fleece showing would be the head, neck, and the arms from about wrist down...I was going a Little overkill.......i think a nice stitch will do fine.....

I use doll joints for all of my arms. I had tried sewing them on, but found with repeat use of the puppet the seams came lose over time. The point at which the arm meet the body may be under stress depending on the needs of the puppet. Doll joints in my opinion are the best option.

I agree that for ears sewing them on is the best option.

ok guys ill never glue my ears on again. nicky was my first puppet and i didnt know anymore than what i brainstormed on my own. im much better at stitching now so i dont think ill never need glue again. also i was thinking leather joints might be a good method because jarrod boucher seems to use that on alot of his puppets and it actually bends quite nicely and makes it look natural.