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It seems that a lot of people keep popping up my site in Google searches - they want to know what kinds of materials to use when making a puppet.

The problem is, they often use generic search phrases and terms, like "what are the materials we need for make a puppet". Well, this post is going to try and make a few things clear:

1. There are a variety of types of puppets, and each type of puppet requires different sets of materials and tools.
2. Each puppet type requires different materials and tools depending on what part of it you are making: the head of a puppet will often need specific materials compared to the feet; the mouth will need other materials, and so will the mechanisms of operation.
3. While there are industry standard materials used by professional puppet makers, each puppet type can use a range of materials according to one's own tastes, styles, building techniques, budgets, and other factors, like ease of obtaining a certain material in your location.

So next time you want to Google about the materials needed for making a puppet, keep this in mind, and try a more specific search phrase. Like, "materials to make a shadow puppet", or "materials to make muppet"... because you will no doubt get better search results. If you don't know what materials you need to make a puppet out of, it's more than likely that you are making a puppet type for the first time - so find an online tutorial or pattern, or a book, and learn from that first. Then you can go on and make whatever you want with greater ease and insight.

I am going to, over the next six months, continue adding to the FAQ about how to make each type of puppet. From there I will extend the FAQ out to include a more detailed explanation and list of what materials will be needed to make each puppet type. It won't be definitive, because as mentioned above, it really does depend on what you want to make the puppet out of. UPDATE: I've now started adding more specific posts about materials for particular types of puppets. Starting with muppet-types, which can be found here.

For more information on how to make a certain type of puppet, click on the category most appropriate to what you want to make. Here's a list of puppet types.

Need some moppet eyes for your next puppet build? Buy them at my online store! 

Want more? Help build a puppet!