Puppet Hands 3 - Final

 Finally, you just turn the sewn hands inside out. This takes a bit of effort and the help if a new, un-sharpened pencil. Use the eraser end which helps to grip the felt and push it forward. the un-sharpened end offers some leverage against your thigh when needed ( hence the un-sharpened part!).

Carefully fold the wire armature and insert it into the turned hand, working the fingers over the wire until it is firmly seated within the hand.

Using cotton batting ( polyester fiberfill will work, but just isn't the same ) gently stuff the fingers as you work them into shape.The same pencil works well to grip and insert the batting into place.

Remember that you are trying for a natural looking hand shape; not too firm and not too soft. You will also find that by pinching the wire armature as you stuff you can achieve big beefy hands or slender female fingers depending on your needs.

Above we have, from the same pattern, flesh colored hands for CARROT TOP, White "gloves" for REYNARDO, gentle pink fingers for MARGUERITTE and the as yet un-worked green hands for GOLO, the Giant. I play around with the finger positions now, but they can be altered quite easily once the hands are attached to the finished puppet.

We';ve had a run of warmer weather here, so up next the attachment of the felt "skins" to the heads!