A to Z Challenge: S is for Sock Puppet
Since I began working at the library over six years ago, I have been involved in several side projects along the way. I’ve made posters for Bike to Work Day and Earth Day events; created a shadowbox fish tank with illustrations that fit over a book cart (a future post to come on this project) for Staff Development Day; and my most recent venture which had me creating a video for another Staff Day where I created sock puppets to be the actors for the story.
I had to create all the backdrops for the puppet show as well as any props that were needed. It was my largest endeavor yet and many hours were put into the creation of the story, its characters, the filming, and the editing, post production. I became a writer, director, producer, singer, and actor all rolled into one.
After the script was written, I set out to start on the puppets. I knew that getting my coworkers at the library to act and figuring out how to make the character costumes would prove too difficult, so I thought sock puppets were the best alternative. All but one of the sheep puppets, were made by me.
Every night I got out my socks, felt, hot glue gun, and scissors and got to work. Many burned fingers later, I had 15 puppets and was ready to begin production of the film, The Littlest Librarian. In case you’re interested in watching the film, here is the full version from YouTube:
I had to crop the length of the video down to about half that size for Staff Development Day. A lot of the heart of the story became lost in the end, but I was proud of the full, unedited version as you see it above.
The sock puppets were a lot of fun to make, and I plan to teach you all how to make one in a future post.
Which character would you like to learn how to make? Here is a list of the main characters with pictures to choose from:
Princess Reesa
Sheep
Dragon
Wolf
Lion
Let me know in the comments which character you’re interested in seeing how to make: Princess Reesa, the sheep, the dragon, the wolf, or the lion. I’ll make sure my tutorial on how to make a sock puppet is made using the winner!
20 Comments
Matthew
sorry it just translator.If you cold send me the dragon, lion and the wolf tutorial im be very happy
JHWinter
Hi Matthew! Thanks so much for reaching out. At this time, I don’t have tutorials made of how to make the sock puppets. I will add that to my list of videos to make for my YouTube channel. Thanks so much!
Jackie
Still so impressed by how those well those puppets came out! The wolf one especially, all the facial features and the teeth are so cool. I would be most interested in a tutorial for that puppet. That was so fun to film, and a really good script!
JHWinter
Thank you for letting me know which sock puppet you’d prefer a tutorial on! I appreciate the input, as always 🙂
Nichole
Do you have a tutorial on the wolf/coyote puppet?
JHWinter
I haven’t yet made a tutorial for any of my sock puppets but if there is interest, I will certainly put that on my list of tutorials to make! Thank you for the idea. 🙂
Melissa Brown
Please do!
JHWinter
That would be fun to do as a “How-to” post. Thanks for sharing your interest!
Anna (the drruth2point0)
Great job!! They are adorable!! 🙂
JHWinter
Thank you so much, Anna!
Gülsüm
I need your urgent help. Can you tell me how you made the princess puppet’s mouth? I’m a preschooler and this is my homework. I have very little time.
JHWinter
Hi Anna, there is a folded circle of cardboard that is glued on the inside of the sock to keep the mouth’s shape. Then I hot glued the felt lips on the edge of the outside, and the black inner mouth circle. I hope this helps!
Gülsüm
Thank you very much for taking the time for me. Finally, I want suggestions. Did you cut the sock or put cardboard without cutting it?
JHWinter
I didn’t cut the sock. You want to find where you want it positioned by putting the cardboard into the sock, roll back the sock so that you can put hot glue on the inner mouth of the cardboard and then press the sock down into the folded cardboard to give it the mouth shape. I used an oval of felt glued down to make the inner mouth (paper is another option). Please let me know if you have any more questions! I’d love to see your finished sock puppet! Tag me @jhwinterauthor or email ink.and.stitches.designs@gmail.com. Have a wonderful day!
Gülsüm
My homework is done, thank you very much, thank you very much, you literally saved my life. Your presence made me very happy. I will definitely post the finished version. have a nice day
JHWinter
You too! I saw the pictures and your princess came out fabulous! I will certainly share her on social media 🙂 It shows all the hard work you put in to getting her just right.
Carol
I remember making sock puppets as a kid! Of course mine were never that fancy, they were usually just socks with eyes and ears sewn onto them, maybe a nose. And I vaguely remember getting in trouble for the number of socks that went missing … LOL
JHWinter
Stealing out of your parents drawer, eh? Sock puppets are a lot of fun to make! I had a few burned fingers but all-in-all, the process went rather well. 🙂
Renee
Thanks for posting this! It was a fun time for all of us. It’s pretty amazing to see all the puppets and backgrounds again…a lot of work!
JHWinter
The film was a lot of fun to work on with everyone at work! It brought out sides of our coworkers that we hadn’t yet seen before. A great way of bringing the staff together. 🙂