I know this is a longshot, but....

I'm sewing a bookwork puppet for a writer's conference. Thought maybe someone might know where I might get a pattern. (already checked all the usual, Mccalls, Butterick, etc.)

I make puppets a lot and never have a pattern, but I need this one in a hurry. Actually I need a catepillar pattern in a hurry. Making a worm took all the time and looks like a snake onstage.

Mayve if I can find a pattern for a stuffed catepillar, I could adapt it.

I don't think I know much about catepillars.

smile

Why don't you send Maggie a private e-mail. I bet she might be able to help!

Hi,
You might try HGTV.com and go into the Carol Duvall show. I would try the ones in previous years and you might find a pattern. I will try to think of some other sites but this one may lead you to others too. There are a lot of people who sew. Unfortunately I do not sew a stitch and admire anyone who does.
Hope this helps.
Just thought could you use small plates and make your own pattern. I can see each segment a different color with two antennas.
Just a thought.
Maggie

Thank you Maggie and for the private email too. I tried both sites and didn't find a caterpillar. Went on ebay and found a kind of crochet looking thing, but not what I needed.

In the meantime, I just charged ahead and at least it seems to be going in the right direction. It needs to be pretty big in order to be visible onstage and I'm afraid it may be so big that it will scare the kids, but.... I'm using a kind of bright green with a white belly. I made lumps and a tail that kind of sticks up and a round head. If it comes together, I'll send a photo.

Thanks again.
smile

Sounds cute, sorry the sites didn't work for you.
Sometimes the kids like to be scared of those kinds of things so I wouldn't worry to much about that.
Would love to see a picture of it. The lumps sound great.
Maggie

Hmmm... what if you found a medium-sized stuffed caterpillar doll... and wore a black glove in stark contrast to the color of the caterpillar... and sort of invisibly strapped the catty to your hand... that might work... sort of a Japanese-like puppet... or even use sticks, the way Sesame Street does for Slimy Worm and his buddies....

Or get a much larger caterpillar doll... cut it open and make it so that your hand can fit inside... get little doll glasses for the eyes... .

Or take a really, really big sock... stuff rolled up socks in its "back" to make the inchworm humps, and tack them in place with a couple of stitches... and I'm sure you know how to handle the rest of the sock puppet....

Even if the thing looks like a snake on stage, if you over-stuff some of the spots on its back to make body segments or back humps, and you keep insisting over and over again that it's a bookworm, this could help as well. It's awfully hard to distinguish a caterpillar from a worm from a snake at a distance anyway, so don't be too hard on yourself.

Hope this is helpful... good luck, and please let us know how it turned out....
Bright Blessings,
Lil

Thanks guys. Lil, if only I could have found some of the things you mentioned. Believe me I tried.

Meanwhile I've got this kind of lumpy looking thing going now. Working on a happy looking face with a mouth that opens and plan to put glasses on him to make him look smart. If I get really into it and have time, I think I'll put graduation cap on his head. That oughtta' make him look smart. You think?

Onward
smile

Smile,
Your bookworm sounds really nice, love the smiley face, glasses and graduation cap.
Lil, what good ideas.

My email is crafterscoop@oregoncoast.com
if you would like it.
Thanks,
Maggie