Free shadow puppet patterns
(If you’re looking for patterns for other puppet types, please use the menu to the right and select the ‘Free patterns’ category; you’ll find more lists there)
I will be adding to this list as I find more patterns. Please note that these patterns come free courtesy of the credited people; please respect their wishes for creditation (if requested) if you publish the link elsewhere. More patterns are available here.
- My pattern and video tutorial for a dog (actually two, one ’short’ and one ‘long’)
- My pattern for a creepy halloween spider
- Makezine’s shadow puppet PDF pattern
- Disney Family Entertainment has a crocodile pattern (also a parrot and giraffe, which is linked from this main page)
- Marilyn Kinsella has some basic instructions
- Young Audiences (Northeast Ohio Arts for Learning) has this good teacher’s pack
- Tasmanian Government education site has this basic instruction (scroll to bottom)
- MOLLI has instructions on puppets and a cardboard theatre
- Jamboree has patterns and instructions for a cardboard theatre, both for Billy Goat Gruff
- ABC (Australia’s BC that is) Creature Feature’s site has cardboard theatre instructions and puppet basics
- Charles Sturt University has some very basic building hints
- Owly Shadow Puppets has a very good classroom exercise - actually good for adults too!
- See More’s Workshop has another basic building hint page
- Best for last - Hobey Ford’s advanced puppetry (pdf)
Why so few free puppet patterns? Find the answer here. Read the article on dispelling some myths about free patterns. How to make a screen is discussed here; how are shadow puppets different from silhouettes; making joints for shadow puppets; materials is discussed here.
Want more? Help build a puppet!