Making Sprocket - Part 2

Hey reader,

I am just as surprised as you are that I am getting to a part 2 immediately after a part 1. I feel like I have been all over the place lately. I am starting my YouTube channel and that has cut into my craft time considerably! This puppet needs to be finished up so that I can get it to the auction though, so back at it!

The next step in the process is to make the mouth plate. I have done card board mouths, poster board mouths, and plastic lid mouths. The plastic lids are the most secure and long lasting, but the creation process is much longer. I think I finally worked it down to a quicker process though.

I punched four holes on either side where the elastic will go, and then sew an X into the elastic. It is much faster than my method where I force the needle through and need a pair of pliers, that's for sure. It kind of happened by accident. I have reorganized my craft supplies and couldn't find my thick elastic for mouths. I was left with a thinner elastic I was using for waistbands in a dress last year. It forced me to work smaller and the whole thing came together really fast! That dress was fun to make, but I did learn I am an unattractive man in drag. I won't be competing on Drag Race! Unless they do a season with amateurs. That actually might be fun. I would like to see a season where the people were really new, maybe have previous contestants provide assistance and feedback. I think I just described Drag U, but still.

My head assembly process is still the same, though the lack of stretch does come into play. I broke a needle sewing the head fabric and when I tried to slide my spare needle in it didn't fit. I don't know how that happened, but a quick trip to JoAnn's later and we were back in business.When I got back, suddenly the extra needle that didn't fit slid right into place. So now I have about 9 extra needles in case of emergency.

I tried attaching the neck with the sewing machine, but it was just not possible without the stretch. It is a good thing I have been improving my hand stitching. It was pretty tough, especially because the fur kept getting in the way, but he is pretty well attached to his body now.

I have done a fair number of puppets with all over fur. I wanted Sprocket to have fleece arms. This would make the arm assembly process easier, as well as give him some nice variety.

I attached his arms to the side of his body. Had I been planning ahead I would have sewn the arms in as I was creating the side panels for the body. I didn't, so I used a small feather boa around his neck to hide my stitching and give him a little break up to the solid pink color. He is looking a little sloppy right now, he needs some hair styling. The other furry puppets I have made had short enough fur that there wasn't a lot of room to style. This carpet/fun fur is much longer and it makes him look a little electrocuted.

I will figure out how to style him in my next entry where we get to see the finished product!

Keep making cool stuff!
Until next time,
JoshPrime