so i wanted to start a topic about consistency of picking seams. ive learned alot the past year or so about it.
takes some learning that cant exactly be told. you can do it just down the middle where the two fabrics meet but that doesent always do the job. sometimes you have to go to either side as well but if you do it to much than someone can tell the fabric is over worked. from what ive learned, is also its easier for me to do it when the puppet is done (sewing wise). that way your work doesent get messed up while you are trying to finish sewing it. what do you guys think on the subject?  i would love to hear what works best in your methods of puppet building! 

just a thought. working late on a puppet "picking seams". eric

You are right about it being something that cant really be explained fully, its all in the experimentation as different people get different results and find a way that works for THEM!!

But saying that, i find that i make it the very last thing i do with my puppets, the finishing touch (unless I'm putting some colourful detail or something to the face, hands, etc...) and i use allsorts depending on the puppet, but mostly i use a small needle to gently pluck out the fibers caught in the seam, and when i say gently i mean it makes a BIG difference, as you can catch the thread by accident and it will weaken the seam eventually, so be gentle, and then i gently 'brush' over the plucked seam with the hook side of some Velcro, not digging it in, simply fluffing the fibers to make the seam invisible before a possible shaving of the fabric (antron and fur mostly) i also use an 'eraser pen' with a pointed tip sometimes to drag the fibers out of the seams as it creates the right amount of friction to pull the bits out but not to mess anything up, but it depends on the look i am going for.

as you have found out its something you will have to get the knack for and you'll definitely find that some fabrics, no matter what you do , will always have a visible seam, you just need to disguise it as much as possible, there are many other ways i hide the seams too, but these are the main things I personally do, the rest is a tad more complicated!!!

hope this helps in some way.

the perfection of puppet building!as with any artist you are constantly  lerning! always learning and trying to do better every time!