Over the last six months or so, my site has been getting more and more (and more) about making marionettes. This may be a combination in the rise of articles on my site in google search results (it’s cyclical: the more people who click on the link, the more likely google will think the article is popular; the more popular it is, the higher it appears in the results; the higher it appears, the more likely people will click on it), as well as reflecting a possible rise in interest in these type of puppets.

However, I don’t actually believe that’s true. Pretending that the rate of interest in marionettes has stayed the same for as long as I’ve been blogging about puppetry, and considering the fact that the ‘how to’ on marionettes on my site has remained #2 in google results for 3-4 months now, I’m starting to think it’s something else.

Why then do so many people want to learn about making marionettes? I think it’s actually more to do with internet usage itself. In a number of my other articles, I discuss (well, mention) that a lot of puppeteers aren’t online; those that are sell mostly, and I’d bet 90% of free patterns and other information are offered by parents, teachers or random members of the public. Therefore, there’s not much info out there about marionettes, especially in terms of making professional ones. (Granted, sites like Expert Village, etc. are catching up)

So this rise in hits is more likely to be from people who want to learn about making marionettes, but can’t seem to find a lot of info online. Because muppet-type puppets are heavily discussed, it’s easier to find. Likewise with glove or finger puppets, with much of the online info being directed at making stuff for/with kids. But marionettes… why is it so hard to find info on that?

And here begins the myth part of this article. My educated guess is that there’s not so much about making marionettes (especially with detailed patterns and instructions) is because they are just so darn complicated to make. It’s very easy to make a ’scarf’ marionette - quite literally a scarf with strings attached - but to make a wooden, carved marionette, with full-blown controller and strings, is just not something you could easily describe or make a pattern out of, and then offer it for free. (Myths of free patterns is discussed in more detail here) Most marionettes sell from several hundred dollars upwards: you’re not paying for materials, you’re paying for labour. In that sense, it’s natural that you won’t find free information all over the net on making marionettes.

Further to the myth, is that marionettes are simple. Yes, they can be, as shown with the scarf marionette above. But most hits to my site suggest that people want to learn the ‘traditional‘ methods, using wood carving and/or papier mache. But there are so many things to consider when building a marionette: the weight of the materials, the balance, the ergonomics of the control, the complexity of the control, methods of jointing… most people don’t realise, I’m betting, that even the simplest marionette has about eight to twelve strings! (At this point, you may want to read about replica marionettes, where I discuss some of this in more detail)

Ultimately, the myth of the marionette is that it can be easily learned and understood in a digestible (ie. 1000 words or less) article, tutorial or pattern. I have considerable experience making a range of puppets, but think myself a mere beginner in making marionettes. This is simply something that is not learnable in a few hours. - That’s not to say that you should give up at the outset, merely that a few videos on Youtube, Expert Village, whatever, and a free pattern/tutorial is not going to teach you how to make a marionette as well as the Czechs (who are notable for their amazing marionette work). It’s kind of like using a free pattern to build a muppet-type puppet and expecting it to look like something from the Henson Workshop the first time around. Both of those are technically difficult to make, and therefore require some expertise to make them well. That’s why there’s also very few free information/patterns/tutorials available that detail every step of making a muppet-type puppet (that ends up with professional-quality features), and why there’s so few sellers online who offer muppet-type patterns. It’s just a lot of work. (That and I get the feeling that most puppet makers would rather sell puppets they make, than sell patterns - at least in terms of muppet-type puppets and marionettes. .. But as I mention below, makers are catching up to both the online market and the technology available to make these patterns/tutorials available)

If you want to get started in making marionettes, believe it or not, but you’re best bet is to find a good book. There’s some info here about that, but there are a number of cheaper books available on Amazon, including the less-than-$10 The Complete Book of Marionettes by Mabel and Les Beaton. I don’t have this one in my personal library yet, but know many people who recommend it. Now, let’s be clear: I’m not recommending books because I get fees (although yes, full disclosure I do get referral fees), I’m recommending it because… well, if you’re looking for info online on making marionettes as the professionals do, you simply won’t find a lot and a book is a better, and even cheaper option. 

The myth of the marionette is that it’s just not feasible to give a detailed course in building them online, without charging a fee, making huge and unreasonable files to download, or giving little more than some basic concepts. Though puppet makers everywhere are making inroads, to expect every last piece of information on making marionettes professionally to be both free and easily digestible is frankly, naive at best and insulting at worst. There’s a reason why there are whole books written on the subject: it takes a whole book to discuss everything you need to know!

Now for those of you who don’t want to start with a book, I say go to Puppets and Stuff and read the volumnous threads on making marionettes. There are plenty of things there to read for free, such as finding out about types of joints and methods of jointing; stringing; weighting; materials… And to get a little inspired, then you must go through this entire thread and watch the making of a member’s first marionette - he ends with making three very amazing dragons! So even with a little knowledge and skill, you can make something of professional quality. It just takes a little extra research with marionettes than with other puppets, that’s all.

Learn how to make one of these puppets here. Read about the types of materials needed to make marionettes. Find out how to untangle them here. Additionally, you can find my list of free marionette patterns here. How to string a marionette is discussed here.

… This post AKA how to build complicated marionette, AKA pattern for wood carving marionette, AKA make traditional marionette, AKA items and instructions needed in order to make a human marionette

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