How to costume a puppet

[sspuppets]

Is it best to costume a puppet strictly using a pattern.................. or can you just pin and drape fabric over the skinned out puppet and just pin and cut the fabric to fit. Then sew using a machine or by hand.

SS Puppets

[gspuppets]

I'm going to let Well Dressed Puppet answer this one... she's writing a puppet costuming book even as we speak!

[Well Dressed Puppet]

Thanks, Vania!

Actually, I've found that both techniques can work equally well!  Although I've also found that it can depend on the type of puppet you're costuming. If you have a roughly human-shaped puppet, a modified doll-clothes pattern can come in very handy, whereas with a non-human shaped puppet--say a huge plastic egg you're turning into Humpty Dumpty--you would have better luck just draping or even gluing the fabric directly onto the "body."  (You'd probably not have much luck finding a ready-made pattern to fit a plastic egg, as well, although if you do I would love to know about it!  )

And speaking of costuming patterns--as Vania said, I am writing a book about puppet costumes even as we speak, and I would be very interested to know what types of information would be most useful when you're trying to put a puppet costume together--fabrics to use, where to find certain items, etc.?  I'd be very glad for any thoughts!

[sspuppets]

Am I glad to get the chance to speak with you. Please include a chapter in your book on sewing techniques, sewing stitches, what type sewing machine needles are best to sew on certain fabric. What do words like grain of fabric,stretch of fabric, and bias mean. What fabric make best puppets ? Antron fleece vs polar fleece? Dyeing these type fleeces? What is the best dye? How to make your own clothes pattern?
These are questions I am ask all the time and it would be nice to tell folks to be able to access these and other type questions in a book.

Ss Puppets

[Well Dressed Puppet]

Thanks for the input--these are good things to know.   I actually AM including a chapter on basic sewing equipment and techniques, as well as recommending a few other good sources if you need more advanced information.  In addition, I'll have patterns that can be copied and modified, and also some instructions on how to make wigs/hairpieces, accessories such as hats and shoes, and what kinds of materials might work best for what types of costumes.  I admit, though, that there won't be any info on actual puppet building stuff (the Antron fleece/vs. polar fleece)--my book more or less starts where something like the Foam Book leaves off.    But that's still good stuff to know--perhaps there might be a sequel to the Foam Book down the road?   

[sspuppets]

Sounds Great.................... Please let us know when it comes available for sale.

Ss Puppets

[confused monkey]

I am realy looking forward to the part on accessories. Hats and shoes always give me problems. Steve

[CanuckAmok]

My favourite resource is to raid Value Village or some other second-hand shop for interesting infant clothes to "repurpose." For example, a pair of little girl's Sunday school shoes with buckles is now decorating the feet of my swarthy pirate puppet. Hats galore! Tiny gloves that can be stuffed for hands! And best of all: no sewing! You can even get old stuffed animals that can "puppetized" for only a couple of bucks. Oh, and the costume jewelry! The fun never stops.

[Well Dressed Puppet]

CunuckAmok wrote:

"My favourite resource is to raid Value Village or some other second-hand shop for interesting infant clothes to "repurpose." For example, a pair of little girl's Sunday school shoes with buckles is now decorating the feet of my swarthy pirate puppet. Hats galore! Tiny gloves that can be stuffed for hands! And best of all: no sewing! "

Thrift stores ARE great places to look for puppet costume stuff!    I talk a bit about that in the book as well.

And speaking of the book--it's finished, and I mailed it off to my publisher last week.  Whoo hoo!  It's a great feeling to have that done!

I'm posting here just a few photos from the book, so folks can see some of the things that are covered in there.  I'd created a puppet character named Herbert that I used throughout the book to demonstrate different sewing/costuming techniques, and here he is in some of his favorite costumes/costume pieces.

Modelling a simple lady's bonnet:



As a fairy-tale princess:



As Little Red Riding Hood on the way to Grandma's house:



And as his favorite character, a fierce pirate.



I also talk a bit about modifying/using the same pattern for different types of puppets; here the pattern for Little Red Riding Hood was modified slightly to make a Dorothy costume for a bear, complete with ruby slippers.



I'll be sure to post updates on the progress of the book if folks are interested.  And please do keep posting your own costume ideas! 

[jgpuppet11]

very cool. looking forward for your book to come out.

[puppetsinmelb]

Well Dressed Puppet, can you put me on your mailing list for when you start selling your book?

Incidentally, if you have info about materials/tools, can you please also include ideas for substitutes (ie. in Australia we don't get antron fleece; although you mention you're not discussing that, it's an easy example for me to use) that other nationalities might be able to find, if you know of them. Also, it would be great if you use both metric and inches/etc. for measurements. It makes things so much easier for us who use metric.

Another question: does the book focus just on foam puppets, or could we use it for other types of puppets too?

PM me for my email address if you have a mailing list.

[confused monkey]

Interested, Interested and did I mention I am very interested. Please let us know when the book is available.        Steve

[Well Dressed Puppet]

Thanks very much for the positive repsonse, everyone!   I'll be sure to let you all know when the book comes out. Right now I'm in the middle of getting my first book--about ghosts!--to print, so I'm becoming more familiar with the publishing process.  It will probably be a few months before my puppet book hits the shelves.

puppetsinmelb wrote:

"Well Dressed Puppet, can you put me on your mailing list for when you start selling your book?"

Absolutely, I'll be very glad to!   I'll PM you for your e-mail address.

"Incidentally, if you have info about materials/tools, can you please also include ideas for substitutes (ie. in Australia we don't get antron fleece; although you mention you're not discussing that, it's an easy example for me to use) that other nationalities might be able to find, if you know of them. Also, it would be great if you use both metric and inches/etc. for measurements. It makes things so much easier for us who use metric."

Do you know, I didn't even think about that, but it's a very good idea.  When I do my rewrite/revision, I'll make certain to include that. Thanks for that input!

"Another question: does the book focus just on foam puppets, or could we use it for other types of puppets too?"

I've tried to include ideas and techniques for costuming a wide variety of puppets, from simple hand puppets to hand-and-rod puppets to marionettes, and everything in between.   I use Herbert to demonstrate these--he's shown as each of these type of puppets throughout the book, and I explain the modifications and techniques used to costume each one.  I also include examples of non-people-shaped puppets (I was able to use some of my favorite puppets from Grey Seal, such as Blackbeard the Pirate made from a scrub brush and Humpty Dumpty made from a large plastic egg).  It's my hope that all puppeteers from beginners on up to more advanced crafstman would be able to find some info in the book that would be useful to them!

[maranatha]

Thanks, Vania!

Actually, I've found that both techniques can work equally well!  Although I've also found that it can depend on the type of puppet you're costuming. If you have a roughly human-shaped puppet, a modified doll-clothes pattern can come in very handy, whereas with a non-human shaped puppet--say a huge plastic egg you're turning into Humpty Dumpty--you would have better luck just draping or even gluing the fabric directly onto the "body."  (You'd probably not have much luck finding a ready-made pattern to fit a plastic egg, as well, although if you do I would love to know about it!  )

And speaking of costuming patterns--as Vania said, I am writing a book about puppet costumes even as we speak, and I would be very interested to know what types of information would be most useful when you're trying to put a puppet costume together--fabrics to use, where to find certain items, etc.?  I'd be very glad for any thoughts!

We are kind of new to this web site, but finding it very helpful. When we had our Marionettes they were tricky to costume. They were about 30 inches tall and thin so doll patterns did not work well. When I needed a Roman soldier costume, I bought an adult pattern and took it into a printing shop and had them shrink (reduce) the pattern for me. It worked perfect! I too would like to purchase a copy of your book when it is available.
Thank you, Tari

[confused monkey]

How is the costume book coming along- Steve