Mr. Punch

Mr. Punch outside

Mr. Punch inside Mr. Punch hoop setup

Note: The basic head is hung from poles like a hoopskirt. Hoop and cloth puppets are made with heavy (9 gauge) wire, or plastic irrigation tubing running through seams in the cloth. Their advantage is that they can be very large because they are very light. They are also easy to store either flat, with the tubes in, or folded, with the tubes out. It is very important that the basic shapes be circular, for strength.
Build the hoop structure first. Hang hoops from the stick and from eachother with string, and adjust them until you like the shape, then measure the structure to make your cloth pattern. Remember to leave extra cloth for seams to contain the hoops.

See Forest King and Mr. Punch photos

Thumbnail Sketches
Thumbnail Photos

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