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Puppet Hands

Your puppet’s right hand can be cut in the shape shown, A, which is then fitted around the little finger, over-lapped and glued or pinched in place. For the left hand, fit the same shape to the thumb. Simpler mitten hands can be made from paper or foil. Longer lasting wrap-around hands, as in A, can be made of felt, leather or cardboard. Soft wire twisted in the shape shown, B, can be covered with cloth or paper and then fitted to a paper or leather cuff.

The Basic Body

Here is the pattern, C, for the basic puppet skirt or body. Two pieces are cut and sewed together down the sides, leaving neck, wrists and hem open. You will have to experiment to get the proper size for your hand, large enough to allow free movement, but not so large that too much material gets in your way.
Once you have discovered the right size, make a pattern of cardboard and keep it.

With a little experimentation you will discover ways of padding out your skirts to make characters fat or broad-shouldered or bosomy. The method shown (D) has the hands attached by rubber bands to a little pillow, which fits in the palm of your hand under the skirt. This has the advantage of also holding the hands firmly in place on thumb and little finger.