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Let^s Make a Puppet.f
By Helen Farnam & Blanche JVheeler

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Itasca Press : The Webb Publishing Company

Saint Paul : 1947
COPYRIGHT 1947 BY THE WEBB PUBLISHING COMPANY

MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 CONTENTS
MAKING THE PUPPET 1

THE BODY. THE ARMS. THE LEGS. THE HEAD.

CHERRY'S COSTUME 12
THE SLEEVES. THE SUIT. THE CAP.

THE CONTROL 22

STRINGING THE PUPPET 23

READY FOR ACTION 25

OTHER CHARACTERS 28

STAGING SIMPLE PLAYS 30

HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE STAGE. PLAYS AND ACTORS.

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 J[\,et's Make a Puppet!

MAKING THE PUPPET

ou Will Need:
A yardstick or ruler.
Scissors.
Pins.
Three needles: one for No. 40 thread, one for No. 8 thread, and
a darning needle for fish cord.
Thread: No. 40 and No. 8 in white. No. 20 in black.
White cloth for body, 18x15 inches.
Colored cloth for costume, 36x24 inches.
Cotton or waste for stuffing.
Yarn for hair.
Red thread or embroidery cotton for mouth.
Red crayon for coloring cheeks.
Red ball button for nose. _^^

White buttons for ears.

One hundred BB shot (a five-cent package) for weights in
hands and feet.
Twenty feet heavy fishline, for stringing.
With these materials you can make the complete sixteen-inch
own puppet. Cherry, or any other character puppet you may wish to
ake.

1
 Diagram— How to use white material for the body of the puppet.

^ 18 inches

/< 4'/2-' 4" 4"

4li"

body body

leg leg

41/2" 4'/2"

head head

Figure

Directions— Use a yardstick or ruler and a dark crayon to make line

for all parts of the puppet before cutting.
 FIRST STEP: THE BODY
For the body you may use new white cloth or the best part of an
old sheet. A new flour-sack dish towel is excellent.
Cut two pieces from the cloth, each six and a halfby four and a
half inches Pin these pieces together. With a fine running stitch sew
around three sides, a half inch from the edge, as shown in Figure 2.
Use No. 40 thread. Leave the bottom open. Always fasten the thread
securely both at the beginning and at the end.
Then turn the body piece in-
2 inches
;ide out and it is ready for stuffing,

kuff it firmly with cotton or scraps

)f cloth.Pin the bottom together
jntil you are ready to put on the
egs.

Figure 2
 SECOND STEP: THE ARMS
Cut two pieces of white cloth for the arms, each eight inches b^
three and a half inches. See Figure 3.

Fold each piece lengthwise through the center, bringing Al t(

A2 and Bl to B2. Use several pins to hold the cloth in place. Befon
sewing mark ^vith crayon, rounding the corners at one end to form th(
hand. Sew a half inch from the edge as sho^vn on dotted line in Figur*
4. Leave end opposite hand open. Turn the arms inside out.
 Indicate fingers \vith lines made with small stitches of black thread,
ee Figure 5.

Al— A2 Bl— B2

FlGLRK 4

K^ 1%" -^

arm

do not stuff here'

Figure 5

TTACHiNG Arms to Body

Do not stuff the arms. They
lust hang limp to insure free
lovement when Cherry goes into
:tion.

Sew arms firmly onto the

3dy with heavy thread, No. 8. See
igure 6.
 THIRD STEP: THE LEGS
Next make the legs. Cut two pieces of cloth nine and one-half by
four inches, one for each leg. See Figure 7.

9!/2 inches

Fold each piece lengthwise through the center, bringing Al to A2

and Bl to B2. Pin together as you did for the arms. See Figure 8.

Al— A2
 Sew a half inch from the edge as shown by dotted line. Round
corners at one end to form the foot. Mark foot with crayon before
starting to sew. Leave opposite end open for stuffing. See Figure 8.

Then turn the legs right side out.

Make weights for each foot by putting 50 BB shot in a small bag,
just as you did for the hands. Put a little cotton in end of foot, then
slip in one of the weights. Stuff each foot firmly with more cotton and
sew across top of foot two inches from the end. This forms the ankle.
With black thread, using small stitches, make lines for the toes. See
Figure 9.

2"

leg
foot

Figure 9

FlQURE 10

Now fold over the foot at the ankle two inches from tip of toe.
From the back of the foot sew across with overcasting stitches, using
No. 8 thread. Then fasten each side of the foot to the leg with a couple
of stitches, using heavy thread. Now the foot will remain in a natural
position. See Figure 10.
Then stuff the legs very stiff to within one inch of the top.
 . 1

ArrACHiNG Legs to Body

Now insert the legs in the open end of the body and pin them in
phue.
Sew across bottom of body as indicated by dotted line.

Remember always to fasten thread securely at the beginning and

the end of your serving. See Figure 1 1

Figure 1
 —

FOURTH STEP: THE HEAD

Cut two squares of cloth, each foiu^ and a half by four and a half
inches. See Figure 1.

Pin these two pieces together.

Sew on three sides half an inch from the edge, rounding the cor-
ners at the top as indicated in Figure 12. Mark ^vith crayon before
sewing. Then turn the material as shown in Figure 13. Stuff solidly.

Figure 12 Figure 13

Figure 14 ,
it-Figure i
15
r

With heavy thread gather the material three-fourths inch from

dge of opening. See Figure 14.
Pull gathering firmly and twist around ruffle to form the neck. See
Figure 15.

9
The Face
You are now make Cherry's face. This is the most impor-
ready to
tant and interesting and one that requires care and close attention.
step,
Look at Figure 16 before you begin. Draw a face on a piece of pa-
per the same size as Cherry's is to be, for practice. Then, lightly, make
dots to indicate where you will place his features.
Your puppet will be more life-like if his eyes sparkle, so use two
bright new black dress snaps, size 4, or small black buttons for eyes.
White buttons make good ears and should be sewed at right angles
to the head. Ears may also be made of small pieces of folded cloth.
A red ball button makes a perfect nose; or the nose, too, may be
made of a piece of folded cloth.
Outline the mouth u'ith bright red thread, using small stitches.
Make a spot with red crayon on each cheek.
Use your imagination for details, but use the chart (Figure 16)
for spacing of the features.

eyes and ears are

half way between
top of head and chin

nose is half way

mouth is half way
between eyes and
between eyes and
mouth
chin

Figure 16

10
Fitting the Head to the Body

Use heavy thread, No. 8,

to sew the head onto the body.
Take three or four long ver-
tical stitches a fourth of an inch
from the end of the neck into
the body half an inch from the
top. These long stitches will
form a hinge so that the head
will be very flexible. Fasten
thread very securely. See Fig-
ure 17.

Figure 17

11
 CHERRY'S COSTUME
Diagram— How to use material for Cherry's suit and cap. Figure 18.

36 inches
 FIRST STEP: THE SLEEVES
Cut two pieces of material eleven inches long by ten inches wide.
Be certain to cut notches at Bl and B2 as shown in Figure 19.

61 CI
Al inches
1 1

.y
• > 3"

sleeve

-7 3"

A2 C2
B2
Figure 19

Next fold sleeve, bringing A 1 to A2 and CI to C2.

13
 Then sew from Al— A2 to Bl— B2, leaving open the space from
B1-B2 to C1-C2 for armhole. See Figure 20.

Al— A2 Bl— B2 CI— C2

.-......«•» ....•..«— — — «.« open here

sleeve

fold

Figure 20

Figure 21

At bottom of sleeve make a one-and-a-half-inch hem, using large

14
 Leave a long thread at each end to pull up for gathering after
stitches.

you have put the sleeve on the arm. See Figure 21.
Turn sleeves right side out and slip over the arms of the puppet.
Then sew onto body at top. See Figure 22.
Now pull the gathering thread snugly around the wrist and fasten
well. See Figure 23.

Figure 22

Figure 23

15
 SECOND STEP: THE SUIT
Diagram of Cherry's Costume— Mark off with ruler and crayon
two pieces of material each 19x14 inches as indicated in Figures 24 A and
24B. These will form the two parts of Cherry's suit.
14 inches

E2 Figure 24A
16
 The notches show you how to put the costume together and where
) sew.
The dots show you how far to sew and how far to cut the armholes.

14 inches

[CURE 24B

17
 Be sure to put the notches and dots on Cherry's costume exactly
as shown in the diagram in Figure 25. This is very important.
Then match v and v. Pin the two parts together.
Sew from Al— A2 to Bl— B2. This will form one side of the waist
part of the costume.

Figure 25

18
 Lay the costume on the table with the sewing or wrong side down.
Fold down the middle in line with each armhole.
The costume, folded, will now look as shown in Figure 26.
Match vv and vv. Pin together and sew from CI— C2 to Dl— D2.
"his will form the other side of the waist part of the costume.
To make one trouser leg of the costume, match and pin together
wandvvv. Sew Dl— Bl to El— E2.
To make the other trouser leg match and pin together vvw and
vvv. Sew B2-D2 to F1-F2.

19
 Now turn over an inch-and-a-half hem at the top of the suit and
at the bottom of each leg. Run a gathering thread an inch from the

Neck

Ankle

Figure 27

edge of each hem. See Figures 21, 22, and 23, where the gathering
is shown for the sleeve.
The costume will now look as shown in Figure 27.
Turn suit right side out and put it on the puppet.
Pull up gathering thread to make ruffle at neck and ankles. Have
neck ruffle loose so that it will not interfere with the movement of
Cherry's head. See Figure 30.

20
 THIRD STEP: THE CAP
Cat two pieces of material matching the suit, each four inches
square.
Mark with crayon, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 28, and
»e^\'. Leave the bottom open.

Figure 28 Figure 29

Then ttirn right side out, turning

ip a half inch at the bottom. Sew a few
visps of yarn around the edge of the cap
or hair. See Figure 29. Put the cap on
he head at a jaunty angle and fasten
vith a few stitches. If you can find a tiny
)ell, sew it to the tip of the cap. Its gay

inkle will add a jolly note to all of

[Cherry's antics.

Figure 30

21
 THE CONTROL
The control, as shown on the inside front and back covers of the
book, can be made from various types of lightweight wood, such as
from the sides of an orange crate, a cigar box, or thin ply-
strips cut
wood. Tongue depressers may be used, or strips of plain narrow mold-
ing.
The control consists of three pieces of wood, each about seven inch-
es long and about an inch wide. The space between the crosspieces
should be about two inches. Make holes in the control as shown in the
diagrams, large enough for the fish cord to pass through. Small screw-
eyes on the underside of the control may be used instead of holes. Or
you may simply cut small notches on the sides of the strips to keep the
strings from slipping.
After the strips have been prepared, cement them together as shown
on the control diagram. Use airplane glue or any strong household
cement. Place the control under a heavy weight or clamp together, and
let set for 24 hours.

22
 .

STRINGING THE PUPPET

Cherry is now ready for the strings which attach him to the con-
ol, a process called "stringing the puppet."

Cut a piece of heavy fishline three feet, eight inches long. Thread
lis cord through a large darning needle and put itthrough the cloth
ist above Cherry's right ear, tying it with a square knot. See Figure 31.
Then, from the under side of the
Dntrol, put the other end of the cord up
irough the under side of the hole
larked "right ear" and down through
le top side of the hole marked "left

ir." See end sheet and Figure 32. Take

stitch just above the left ear and tie ^ c,

. , ,
Figure 31
ith a square knot.

Now lay the puppet on his back at one end of the dining room
ible or on the floor.
Stretch the head strings out straight, as they would be if you were
olding the control in your hand. Stand the control upright, supported
y two large books, as shown in Figure 32.
Cut two pieces of fishline, each thirty inches long. With a square
lot tie one of these to the end of each foot on Cherry's big toe (which
on the inside of the foot) This will make him walk naturally.
.

Then tie the other end of the cord to the hole in the control
larked to correspond with the foot (Right foot. Left foot)
Now have someone hold the control horizontally so that Cherry
ill stand up straight while you take up any slack in the foot strings,
'hey must be just long enough to be tight when he is standing.

23
 Then lay him down on the table or floor as before. Cut two
strings, each thirty inches long. Tie one to the end of each hand. These
are quite short, as the hand action is better if the arms are slightly
bent.
Tie these strings to the holes on the control marked hand"
"left

and "right hand." Notice that the strings cross each other. These are
the only strings that do cross, the reason being to coordinate the hand
action with that of the foot. That is, the left hand goes up as the right
foot raises, and the right hand with the left foot. See endsheet.
No^v turn him over, face do'^vn.
Tie a twenty-nine-inch fish cord to the lower part of the body,
about seven and a half inches from the top of the head.
Again have someone hold him while you fasten the cord to the
hole at the end of the control marked "back."
Put a dot of household cement on each knot.
For characters other than Cherry do not cross hand strings, biu tie
string from right hand to right side of control and string from left hand
to left side of contol.

Figure 82

24
 READY FOR ACTION
Now you are all set for a lot of sure-fire fun.
Hold the control horizontally with your free hand in front of the
"back" string. Tip the control from side to side to make Cherry dance.
To make him walk is a little more difficult. As you tip the control from

left to watch his feet and move him forward slowly with each step.
right,
For extreme action such as kicking his foot, waving his hand, or
bowing, pull the single string, such as an arm or foot string, with your
[ree hand. With a little practice you will soon be able to distinguish
between the various strings.
It is convenient sometimes to tie a red ribbon or thread at the top

3f the string most frequently used, such as the one which makes him

ivave his hand. You may also want another blue or green ribbon tied
3n a foot string for kicking. Cherry likes to kick a bright-colored bal-
loon fastened to the end of a long black string. Have someone hold
:his for you, or hold it yourself with your teeth.

He will also enjoy swinging on a trapeze, hanging with either his

irms or legs over the bar. To make the trapeze, take a seven-inch stick
ind tie a long string to each end. You will need to have someone hold
:his for you while Cherry performs.
With practice you will become better acquainted with Cherry and
:he things he is able to do. He can do many tricks. He can climb up
3n a little girl's shoulders and whisper in her ear. When playing with a
little boy, he can raise his fists and say, "Want to fight?" Of course,
you will learn to be a ventriloquist and talk for him. Then tip the
:ontrol rapidly from side to side and watch him shadow-box.
You will have fun if you watch Cherry practice his stunts in front
of a mirror placed on the floor.
If the Strings Become Tangled
Waxing the strings with a little paraffin or wax will help to keep
them straight.
Use the "back" string as a guide when untangling the strings. If
they become badly tangled you may have to untie some of the strings.
If so, untie them on the control, not on the body. Use a pin, if neces-

sary, in imtying the knot. Never cut the strings, as the lengths have
been correctly measured for action.
When Cherry is not in use it is a good idea to hang him up on a
nail with a cord tied around the control. If you keep him put away
or take him visiting, have a special box for him. An ordinary shoe box
will house him very well.
A "string guard," as shown in Figure 33, will help to keep the
6 inches

Figure 33
26
trings in order and ready for action. When winding the strings on
he guard, hold all the strings together just under the control and slip

hem through the slot in the guard. Then, with the guard held flat

gainst the control, wrap the strings around them.

/Tusic TO Accompany Action

You can often find lively or funny music on the radio to which
jherry can dance. Better still, if you have a phonograph you can buy
our own records, "Turkey in the Straw," "Pop Goes the Weasel,"
Roll Out the Barrel," "The Jolly Coppersmith," etc., etc.

27
 OTHER CHARACTERS
With the pattern described for Cherry you can make any other
character you wish. You can make faces or costumes typical of various
( ountries. Or you can make a giant, a fairy, a witch, or characters from
stories.

Always draw a picture first of the character you wish to make,

scaling the proportions. A giant will be larger, children a little smaller,

a fairy much smaller.

The face should always be drawn first on paper and laid on the
head to get the effect before marking on the real head.
Se^v on a folded piece of cloth to make a large nose for the witch
or any other extreme character. For others, embroider or mark dots
to indicate the nose.
For hair, use darning cotton, yarn, curled paper ribbon, metal
scouring ball curls, or fur. Use your imagination.
When making clothes, follow the general idea of Cherry's suit.
Sleeves are nearly always the same loose style. Trousers
and blouses are the same, without the flounce, except
that ruffles are made for women and girls.

Witch
 When you make a witch or a giant, use tannish material for the
ce and hands. For a clown like Cherry the face and hands are usually
hite. Most puppet people have faces and hands which are yellowish
•
flesh-colored. You may use material of this color or you may dye it
»urself. Or the hands and face may be tinted after they have been
ade.
If a character is to appear before footlights a stronger yellowish
st, almost orange, is desirable.
For most puppets keep the expression simple. Make the mouth
lall and straight. Then, as the mood changes, the expression seems
change.
For hearty laughter or crying, turn the face away from the audi-
ice, or have the puppet cover his face with his hands. For example,

Cherry bumps his toe and wants to cry, have him sit doA\ n, bow his
?ad, raise his hands to his face and cry, moving his -^vhole body up

id down a little with each sob.

When he talks, have him move his head slightly a^vay from his
idience or bow down a little.

The same tricks are important for a witch or for any character with
"set" expression, but they are also good for general use.
If you touch the lips, nostrils, and eyes with a drop of clear finger-

lil polish it will add much to aliveness of all your puppet people.

29
 1

STAGING SIMPLE PLAYS

How TO Make a Simple Stage
you wish a stage and footlights to add glamour to your puppets]
If

you can do it quite simply. Try to remember that you are focusing^
attention on the small puppet actors and that people will not be watch-
ing you, so it is not necessary to conceal yourself behind a screen or
curtain.
A very satisfactory stage setting may be made by standing a card
table edgewise on the floor with the lower legs open for support. A,
large paper carton with the front and top removed will also serve very'
well. The back of an overstuffed chair will make a fairly good stage
ifyou stand on a strong chair behind it.
A piece of material thrown over the back of any small stage will
make a good backdrop. You may want to make a tree out of paper or
cloth and pin it to the back of the stage to give an out-of-door at-
mosphere. Make an improvised window, perhaps with small curtains,
for an indoor scene.
A bridge lamp or desk lamp with its light directed toward the stage
will add sparkle to your act, no matter how simple it is.

Plays and Actors

When you want to have a real play think of the stories you like
best and dramatize one of them. A play usually has three acts. The
actors can always tell about any incident which is too difficult or too
long to act out. As a puppet actor talks have him move his head a little
and make a few gestures with his hands.

30
 Here are several suggestions which will arouse the interest, stim-
ilate the imagination, and help you to get the response of your audi-
nce:
Use interesting colors in costumes and stage settings. If you do not
lave the right color material use crayons or dye to get the desired effect.
Use all the sparkle you can, such as sequins, brilliants, imitation
)recious stones, or small ornaments, when it is in keeping with your
haracter or scene.
Use soundeffects whenever and as often as possible.

Keep the action of the puppets natural. Do not jerk them around.
Ceep their feet on the ground.
Avoid long pauses in both movement and conversations. Be short
)n talk and long on action.
After you have had the fun of making puppets and watching peo-
ple laugh at their naturalness, these make-believe friends will become

/ery real to you, and no matter how shabby they get you will never
3art with them.

3J
Plastic Binding Division
Minneapolis Paper Co.
400 So. Sth Street, Mpls.
U. S. Patent No. 197028S
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