FUN WITH FABRIC MARIONETTES

This is a blog version of my original book with some updated posts in the front and the original book pages following. You can right click any page and select "Save As" to save to your desktop of a folder for later printing, especially for the full-size patterns.

I have never stopped experimenting with new and more effective patterns to create fully functional marionettes entirely from fabric. This has been a fun and educational project for me and I hope it will become one for you too! Enjoy!

 

UPDATE: ALADDIN'S GENIE

Here are patterns to create the GENIE for my ALADDIN marionettes.

Some basic instructions are included here. All other construction techniques can be found within the original book. 

 

UPDATE: NEW IMPROVED HEAD PATTERNS

I have never been happy with the heads on the ALADDIN marionettes. Recently I have been experimenting with patterns to produce more dimensional heads and at last I have come up with a set that I am very pleased with and want to share with you.

Here is the Aladdin marionette with his new and much improved head and face.

Here are the new head patterns. You can save this page by right clicking the image and selecting "Save As" to your desktop or to a folder.

Ordinary muslin fabric is used with the eye whites being Gessoed felt and the eyelids regular weight felt. The Irises are colored buttons ( I spray painted these to get the right blue shade). The pupil is a black round dot made with an ordinary paper hole punch. I added a small white paint dot for the highlight followed by a swirl of gloss coating. I ran strong thread through the buttons and the eye whites and pulled it through the back of the head to sink the eyes in slightly. The mouths are done the same way with the Princess's lips of felt set under the thread before it is pulled back. Small bits of black felt glued in place form the eyebrows. You can also add to the definition of the features with a fine tipped black marker. Some red watercolor pencil was used to rouge the cheeks.

Here is the Princess with her replacement head. The hair for these characters is fine black yarn stitched directly to the heads. 

You could make a variety of characters with these same patterns and even alter the shape of the nose or chin slightly if you like.

 

Update to Fun With Fabric Marionettes - ALADDIN

These are marionettes made for ALADDIN AND THE MAGIC LAMP. It is necessary to make two identical versions of Aladdin for his transformation into a "Prince". A human actor in a mask plays the Genii so that he can physically move the marionettes and scenery around.

Poor ALADDIN in his rags.

"Prince" ALADDIN in his finery. The red feather and striped sash match Poor ALADDIN'S cap and vest to tie the two versions together.

 

Update to Fun With Fabric Marionettes - WIZARD

 

Update to Fun With Fabric Marionettes - CAMEL Marionette

Here are patterns and instructions for making the CAMEL marionette. 

[For other Animal marionette ideas check out my main blog:

puppetsandmarionettes.blogspot.com 

Besides the fabric required you will also need these wooden parts and the half Slinky.

This Camel is strung using the same double airplane control as the other marionettes in the book. The back knee strings cross over the body and attach to the control along with the front knee strings to give the Camel an animal's gait. If you want more Head movement consider attaching the head strings to a removable control bar. 

This marionette was made for use with the ALADDIN puppets.

 

Update to Fun With Fabric Marionettes - JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

Since publishing this Blog I have been doing some experimentation with variations of the patterns. Here are marionettes made for JACK & THE BEANSTALK. (The GIANT'S Body & Costume patterns can be found within the book.)

JACK'S and his MOTHER'S heads are made using the gusseted head patterns shown below. These create a more dimensional head for the marionettes than the traditional Head patterns included within the book. By experimenting with different face profiles a wide range of characters can be made using this Head pattern variation.

Like all of the patterns in the book if you right click this photo and "Save Image As" to your desktop or a Folder then you will be able to print the patterns out full size on 8 1/2 by 11 inch copy paper. Sewing directions are included on the pattern page and will reference the construction instructions within the book. 

JACK'S MOTHER face and head detail.

These are the variation patterns for JACK. I used the ELF patterns in the book for his Arms, Legs and neck. The Body variation is pictured here so that his lower body serves as his leggings with contrasting color hips and legs. 

JACK detail showing his costume.

A closer look at the Body variation construction and JACK'S felt shoes.

These pattern variations are for JACK'S MOTHER'S costume. Her Body uses the ADULT Body patterns found within the book.

JACK'S MOTHER'S costume with side Paniers and Bodice Vest with capped sleeves and front lacing.

Detail of the MOTHER'S bloomers and felt shoes.

And finally the MOTHER'S Bonnet patterns. Refer to the photos for the finished look and fit for the Bonnet.