What materials do you use for sock puppets?
As mentioned in my short post about what materials to use when making a puppet, there’s no hard and fast rules as to what to use when building a puppet. However, sock puppets are pretty much basic when it comes to materials.
Obviously, most sock puppets use socks for the basis of the neck and head. For the mouth, many people use a paper or cardboard plate, or felt, folded over in half; for a sturdier mouth some people choose to create something that uses a bit more of the ‘muppet’ technique (see the muppet-type category for more info), with felt, foam, or thick matboard. Glue is usually used to attach the two pieces together.
As for accessories, they can be anything. Eyes can include a range of items, from polystyrene balls, plastic domes, buttons, sequins… just about anything can be used. Clothing, facial features, and other accessories can likewise be a range of materials: pipecleaners, fur, doll or teddy bear clothes, boas and feathers, wigs and wools… the ideas and materials are endless. Puppet noses are discussed in more detail here.
However, you don’t have to stick to the traditional building methods - my version of a sock puppet used a sewn sleeve instead of a sock. You can try sewing your own sleeve, or you could take an old shirt and use the sleeve from that; you could also use mittens, or other scrap items.
Want more? Help build a puppet!