UPDATE: NATIVITY MARIONETTES - Revised Head & Hand Patterns

Since discovering and adapting this Revised Head Pattern I have been using it in place of the other patterns which I originally published in the book. When firmly stuffed with the fiberfil it produces a nicely rounded and dimensional marionette head that fits perfectly with the Body Patterns. Although this isn't right for every character I have found that it serves well for most ordinary "human" heads.

I developed the Revised Hand Patterns to achieve  more realistic fingers. They are constructed just as the hands in the book with one exception. I now bend a large 12 inch pipe cleaner into shape and insert the bent over ends into the forefinger and third finger of each hand before stuffing with the cotton so that the hands can be shaped. The mitten style hands used for the Nativity Marionettes are even easier to sew and stuff and were designed to give a more formal appearance to these pageant puppets.

The Bare Foot Patterns are constructed in the same manner as the hands and require a variation to the lower leg patterns. You simply fold in the open edges of each foot and slide them over the weighted foot stump before hand stitching into place. The sandals will hide the seams when attached to the feet.