To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:59:30 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Costuming a Puppet


I use a similar method to that Mark described, for the neck of my glove 
puppets.

I make sure the neck is built extremely strong, even before I add the 
grooves.
I seal it very well inside and out, multiple layers.
Then I make a removable inner cone out of something sweat proof, such as fun 
foam.
I glue it inside with some hot glue, but while the glue is not too hot (for 
easier removal later).

Instead of a single "lip" on the neck and arms, I use two, which prevents 
the sleeves (inner sleeve and costume) from moving up and down the neck. 
Like Mark, I sometimes use rope (soaked in glue and covered in paper mache 
strips), or if my neck material is thick enough, I'll carve a groove into 
it.

Instead of rope to attach the sleeve to the puppet parts, I use galvanized 
steel or brass wire, tightly twisted. This sort of attachment cannot be 
retwisted because the metal ill be weakened, so each time you remove it, use 
a new wire.

I always make my inner sleeve's neck longer and wider, to be able to flip 
the extra fabric over my wire. For extra security against sliding 
(overtime), I add a few stitches to link the fabric to itself (see pic 
below). The costume doesn't need to be attached to the inner sleeve, it can 
just be worn like any other garment, but some areas might need small pieces 
of velcro, or subtle stitches. The costume can be designed to hide the neck 
completely.

Here you can see my Polichinelle in his "undergarments", showing how clean 
the result can look.
The inner sleeve's cuffs at the neck and arms are folded over to hide the 
wire.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61428267-AT-N00/2350400468/in/set-72157604186844154/

I still don't know how to hide the upper "lip", so far it wasn't necessary, 
but if someday I need to leave the inner sleeve visible, I'd like to know 
how. 

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