pining a puppets hand

[faze]

What is the best method to pin a puppets hand or arm when only using 1 rod to operated his hand?

 

[Lab Rat]

I use large safety pins or nappy pins and pin from the inside of the clothes in through the wrist and palm of the puppets hand.

 

[faze]

wont it make a hole in the puppets arm or wrist?

 

[Lab Rat]

i've never had a problem pining them that way i've been doing it for years if your puppet is made from felt it could possibly make a hole but if it's fur or fleece it wont.

 

[Punch'n'Judy]

The Fraggle Rock puppet riggers (so presumably other Henson shows as well) used T Pins rather than safety pins.

 

[Was Once Ernie]

The Fraggle Rock puppet riggers (so presumably other Henson shows as well) used T Pins rather than safety pins.

Yes, T pins are what they were also using on Sesame Street, for instance, to pin Bert's nose on. T pins are very useful.

 

[faze]

what would you guys suggest safety or T pins?

cause i dont have any T pins at home but tons of safety pins tho, lol

 

[Punch'n'Judy]

If you can find some T Pins they really are useful. The cross bar at the top (the T shaped bit) stops spreads the load across a much larger area than a safety pin, so if pulled hard it shouldn't rip the fleece/foam.

 

[pjpiperhop]

T pins do work great. One warning! If younger puppeteers are going to use the pinned puppet, you may want to use safety pins so they don’t stick themselves.
I often use quilter’s safety pins. They are slightly bent and easier to put in than the regular straight safety pin.