One question I haven't seen pop up yet — how much, typically, does each Kermit cost you to build?
And since a ton of people have asked and received no answer (and I'm probably damning my first question to the same fate now), PLEEEEEEEEEASE can you upload your updated specs and measurements? You'd totally be saving the day for us less talented/patient folks.
Either way though, boy oh boy has this been awesome... seriously, good work man!
Thanks for the comment, ollyhills! To be honest, I don’t share my latest patterns. The thing about a Kermit build—or any other flexible ‘Sock puppet’ type build—is that the pattern for every build will vary from builder to builder anyway. I often do share my early patterns mostly because it provides for a place to start, and the biggest challenge in the beginning is really just problem solving and working through the build (it can also be hair pulling frustrating), which is the most valuable thing because it builds confidence. It’s much better to get to the ideal place through the process than trying to build the ‘perfect one’ right away, which never happens anyway, even with the advanced/refined pattern.
As for how much materials costs to make a Kermit (or a puppet in general), I find that the fabric is most expensive, depending on the type and where you get it from. Puppet Pelts or Weird Kid Store are two great places to go for ‘puppet fleece’—a yard is typically under $50, and more than enough to build one puppet. The rest is fairly straightforward: foam, felt, etc. Most of the investment is in the time I think, and a lot of trial and error in the beginning phases, if you haven’t built puppets before. Although investing in a couple of good quality scissors is vital.
ecl, thank you so much for all guides and patterns! Here's my first Kermit build, with many adjustments and lots of room for improvement.
The arms and legs are way too skinny, and I can't seem to stitch the head perfectly straight. If you look close, the right part of the head is a little higher than the left. Also, I had a really tough time getting the foam body to stick together (I used rubber cement), and you can see the body panels splitting under the fleece. My favorite part about this build is the backwards leg that warped. How did others combat this?
All in all, this process was challenging and Kermit has brought a lot of joy to the household. Can't wait to start Kermit v.2!
Thanks for sharing this photo, season3muppets! I never get tired of seeing other builds—each one is completely unique. That’s the fun part, really. The fleece material is very stretchy, and if your fabric isn’t pinned enough before stitching, it’s possible that while you’re stitching, the seam might end up off /not centered. That could account for the twisting of the leg. That happened many times during my very early build attempts when I was still learning how to put things together. Contact Cement—which is a little different than rubber cement–generally works really well with the foam parts. It stinks and is terrible stuff, but just use in a well ventilated area. It’s best to lightly coat both surfaces, wait a little for it to get ‘tacky’ to the touch, and then press together for a strong bond.
I’m not sure how you did yours, but I usually pin the pieces like this (below, Kermit legs). Using a lot of pins really helps to keep things from moving too much, just remove them as you progress with the stitch. Also, when you’re sewing, it’s also good to practice a light touch. No need to pull overly hard on the thread, and just generally letting the needle do most of the work and not pulling too much on the fabric, etc. That will help reduce the amount of shifting the fabric might go through:
Despite that, your build looks fun and has character, and that’s the whole point! If you decide to make more, it’s only going to get better each time. It’s pretty cool to see Kermit—or any character—appear out of a bunch of fabric and foam isn’t it? It’s kind of magical in a way, and eventually you can even make your own characters too.