Instructions

The T-stick armature is made from a piece of wood that is a base and anther that becomes arms. Attach arm piece ½ to ¾ inch from top of base with hot glue. This small space will become the neck of your puppet (If you don’t want to use glue you can wrap telephone wire or pipe cleaner around the arm piece to attach to base). Wrap wire around stick tightening with pliers until wire is secure enough to be manipulated. Then,  wrap with duct/gaffer tape to strengthen hold.

You will need a head, a piece of clothing to become a tunic and material to make a belt with.

Take your chosen fabric and fold it in half long-wise. The amount of fabric you begin with depends on what you are making, for a shirt, the fabric will fold into a square, for a dress the fabric will fold into a rectangle.

Pick up your fabric with folded material facing you and fold the material width wise.

Make a tiny cut in center of fold.

This is the neckline for costume-you only need a tiny slit just enough to slip over stick.

Open fabric up and slip over stick.

Cinch in fabric where the puppet’s waist is and tie with yarn or trim to make a belt. Attach head.

Additional T-Stick Puppet Ideas:

Queen of Hearts: If you replace the cross stick with a plastic tube or strong straw you can run wire through allowing arm movement. You can also glue some tubing at waist point of base stick for the skirt to flair as if the puppet has hips. The felted heart head took almost two hours to create stabbing carded and cleaned red wool with a felting pin into the heart shape.

Materials reused: T-shaped armature made with a plastic tube shoulders and hips;  Felted Heart head; Wire; Satin fabrics; Lace; Trim; Ribbon; Velvet flower; Purple gem.