Crocodile puppet legs

Crocodile puppet legs
Originally uploaded by rosemarybeetle

Have been fitting up the new back legs (brwon unpainted) and new tail to the crocodile puppet. Getting there...

Constructing the crocodile puppet body

The basic sleeve for a glove puppet can be made easily by cutting the sleeve of a black jacket. You can pick up tatty old jackets with good silk linings quite cheap. Each jacket makes 2 sleeves!

The head is fitted into the sleeve hole, which needs making smaller

The cloth arms with hands fitted are sewn into holes cut in the sleeve. The silver duct tape here is holding stiffening rings into the cloth arms, to prevent them collapsing, which makes it easier to get the fingers into them

The body is pre-stuffed, then sewn onto the sleeve to hang down in front of it.

Crocodile costume design

Having realised I have only designed the head of the crocodile, I thought I had better look at costume design. This is interesting, but too staid i think. It needs probably to be more flamboyant, as the character is a spoiled/pampered endangered species. Suit or bling...?