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Sock
Puppet
Basics
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 Choosing the Sock and Beginning the Puppet
A thick sock as opposed to a thin one will give the finished puppet more body, and will be easier to work with.
As Princess Irulan says, a beginning is a time for making certain that all of the balances are correct, and so it is with sock puppets as well. Pull the sock onto your hand, and hold it the way it will be held as a finished puppet, forming a ‘mouth’. If your chosen sock has a pattern or a seam, decide before you begin where the ‘mouth’ and ‘eyes’ will be, and place the pattern or seam symmetrically if that is the effect you wish. Lightly mark where the ‘eyes’ will be placed.
Adding Eyes and Hair
Eyes may be added many ways, with a buttons, pieces of felt, or commercial ‘eyes’. Lay them in place and be satisfied with their appearance before sewing or glueing permanently.
Place the puppet back onto your hand and lightly mark the ‘crown’ of the head. This will  help you place the hair.
Probably the easiest way to add hair is with yarn. You will need a sharp needle with an eye large enough for yarn to be threaded through (looking for ‘darning’ needles). Working with the hair is easiest if you insert a hard, rounded object inside the head while adding the hair.
 Hair is added by starting the first addition from the BACK (where the yarn is knotted). Make a loop as long as you wish the hair to be, then make a second stitch over the top of where the loop emerged and re-entered the ‘head’. Making this second stitch will keep the hair from easily pulling out.
A single layer of ‘hair’ originating at the crown of the head will suffice, but it will look thin. Two or three layers will be thicker and look fuller. Begin with the lowest layer:
Then add the second layer, and then the top layer, which should originate from the crown.
After all of the hair has been added, cut the loops, and trim the hair as needed.
Dressing the Sock Puppet
The sock puppet may be stylishly dressed in a second sock with the toe cut off, and the finished edge near the ‘face’. An ordinary sock or trouser sock works well. Stitch the ‘clothing’ in place so it will stay put as the sock puppet is used.
Glasses may be made from flexible plastic. Gauge how far apart the ‘lenses’ should be by the separation of the ‘eyes’, and make a lightweight paper pattern. Cut out the paper pattern and try it with your puppet. If you are satisfied with the fit and proportions of the paper pattern, use it to trace onto the plastic with a sharp pen or pencil. You will need sharp scissors to cut the plastic smoothly.
Sew the glasses in place so they will stay with the puppet.
Dark Mirage
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The Sun Never Sets on PureMX.net
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