Simple Series Legs & Feet Pattern

The Simple Series Legs and Feet Pattern is a great way to make your Simple Series based characters into full-body puppets. This pattern is designed to be used along with one of the core Simple Series patterns available at Project Puppet, and preferably with the Simple Series Alternate Body Pattern. Of course, you are not restricted to the Project Puppet patterns, and may use this pattern as a guide to add legs and feet to any puppet. Let’s begin! Material List 18 X 18 piece of fabric (antron fleece, polar fleece, furry fleece, terry cloth, or faux fur) X-Acto™ knife Polyester fiberfill Basic sewing supplies

Prepare the Pattern

1-1

Print and cut the pattern pieces for these instructions. If machine sewing your puppet’s legs and feet, include the additional seam allowance marked by the dashed lines. When preparing the Upper Foot Pattern, remove the outlined area around the toes with an X-Acto™ knife, as shown (1-1).

We suggest rough cutting the individual pattern pieces, gluing them to posterboard or another stiff material, and then carefully trimming around the edges of each piece. Preparing your pattern in this way will facilitate many uses in the years to come.

Trace and Cut the Materials

Position and trace the Lower Foot Pattern (2), Upper Foot Pattern (2) and Leg Pattern (2) on the fabric you have chosen for your puppet. Follow any special instructions printed on the patterns. Be sure to take note of the fabric grain. In addition to the outer edge of the Upper Foot Pattern, trace around the toes as pictured (2-1).

2-1

Carefully cut the pattern pieces from the fabric along the traced lines with a sharp pair of scissors. Note: We’ll be using a sewing machine, for the most part, in these instructions.

Copyright © 2009 Project Puppet. All Rights Reserved.

The Legs and Feet 3-1

3-1 Hand-stitch Seam 1. This may seem a difficult task at first glance, but in reality it is quite easy. Pin the bottom edge of the Leg Piece along the U-shaped edge of the Upper Foot Piece and stitch in place.

3-2

Copyright © 2009 Project Puppet. All Rights Reserved.

Sew Seam 2, from the top of the leg, across Seam 1, to the heel of the Upper Foot Piece as shown. 3-3 Match the triangular notches of the Upper Foot Piece and Lower Foot Piece and pin the two together. Machine sew along the traced lines of the toes. Continue sewing Seam 3, leaving a ¼

inch seam allowance, until the Upper Foot Piece and the Lower Foot Piece are completely attached around the edge.

3-2

3-3

3-4

3-4 Now trim away the excess fabric. Carefully cut around and between the stitching of the toes. Be careful not to snip the stitches! Turn the leg and foot right side out through the opening at the top of the leg. Begin stuffing the appendage in sections with polyester fiberfill. Stuff each toe separately and more firmly than the rest of the piece. The foot, ankle, and lower leg may be stuffed as one segment. Lightly stuff the upper leg, leaving the knee joint area with little or no stuffing. The leg will naturally bend where there is no fiberfill. Repeat the above steps to complete the other leg and foot. That’s all there is! The puppet’s legs and feet are finished!

Attach the Legs

There are a variety of ways to attach the finished legs to the puppet’s body. The easiest way is to stitch the top of the legs to the lower body using a simple

whipstitch, much the same way that the arms are attached to the puppet in the core Simple Series pattern with which you are working. Another method is to cut holes in the body fabric, positioned according to the requirements of the character. The circular holes should be 1⅛ inches in diameter if the body fabric is stretchable, 1¼ inches if the fabric is a non-stretch material. Hand stitch the circumference of the opening at the top of each leg around the edge of its respective hole. Be careful to ensure the legs are positioned correctly in the holes before stitching them in place, feet facing forward and hanging in a natural life-like way. Also be mindful that the right foot is on the right and the left on the left.

Seeds for Experimentation Planned experimentation is the surest way to improve your puppet building skills and the quality of your finished puppet characters. Here are a few thoughts, regarding a puppet’s legs and feet, to get you started.

What are some other ways to attach the puppet’s legs to the body? How might you use posted doll joints? How would you make the legs removable?

Can you make the legs and feet of your puppet more character specific? Could you change the

toe outline to better fit your character? Would lengthening or shortening the legs (and the arms proportionately) add to your puppet’s personality?

How might you use techniques covered in the free tutorial Arm Rods and Posable Hands on the

Project Puppet website to create a foam understructure for your puppet’s feet? What about posable toes?

For more ideas, patterns, tutorials, and inspiration visit us online at: www.projectpuppet.com!

Copyright © 2009 Project Puppet. All Rights Reserved.