Directions for a Marionette Puppet

You can make a simple marionette out of yarn.

Marionette puppets can be used when putting on a theatrical play or children's drama. Although marionette puppets can be purchased from a toy store, it can be more exciting to make one yourself. There are many different methods to create a marionette puppet, but one of the simplest ways is to create one out of yarn. To make a simple marionette like this, it is important to follow a few basic guidelines.

Things You'll Need

• 1 skein yarn
• Cardboard
• Nylon thread
• Hot glue gun
• 2 large popsicle sticks
• 2 large buttons
• 2 small googly eyes

Instructions

1. Cut out two circles from cardboard, each measuring 4 inches across.

2. Cut out two more circles from cardboard, each measuring 2 inches across.

3. Cut a 1 inch hole out of the middle of each small circle.

4. Cut a 2 inch hole out of the middle of each large circle. This will create four doughnut shapes; two that are large and two that are small.

5. Wind two balls of yarn; one with a diameter of about 2 inches and one with a diameter of about 1 inch.

6. Place the two larger doughnut shapes together.

7. Wind the 2 inch yarn ball around the larger doughnut shapes. You can wind the yarn around the shape by sticking the ball of yarn through the hole and around the exterior ring until the yarn has been used up completely. Set the wound doughnut shape aside.

8. Place the two smaller doughnut shapes together.

9. Wind the 1 inch yarn ball around the smaller doughnut shapes as you did with the larger ones.

10. Cut around the perimeter of the larger doughnut shapes, cutting through the yarn.

11. Tie a piece of yarn tightly between the doughnut shapes.

12. Remove the doughnut shapes and trim off any long pieces of yarn. This will be the body of the marionette puppet.

13. Cut around the perimeter of the smaller doughnut shapes, cutting through the yarn.

14. Tie a piece of yarn tightly in between the doughnut shapes.

15. Remove the doughnut shapes and trim off any long pieces of yarn. This will be the head of the marionette puppet.

16. Glue two small googly eyes onto the head of the marionette. Allow the glue to dry.

17. Glue a 2 inch piece of yarn in between the head and the body of the marionette. Allow the glue to cool completely.

18. Glue two 2 inch pieces of yarn underneath the body of the marionette. Allow the glue to cool completely.

19. Glue a button onto the open end of each piece of yarn attached to the body. These will be the feet of the marionette.

20. Glue an 8 inch piece of nylon thread to the top of the head.

21. Glue a 14 inch piece of nylon thread onto the top of each button.

22. Place two popsicle sticks on top of each other in a perpendicular fashion. Glue them into place.

23. Glue the open end of the nylon string attached to the head onto one of the popsicle stick ends.

24. Glue the open ends of the nylon strings attached to the buttons onto popsicle stick ends.

25. Allow the hot glue to cool completely before playing with the marionette. To use, hold onto the popsicle sticks and move them back and forth to move the puppet.

References

• Pregnancy: Make Your Own Marionette
• PBS Kids: Marionettes