How to Build a Doorway Puppet Theater

How to Make a Puppet Theater

• 1

  Choose an interior door frame where you won't mind the puppet theater hanging for a while and preventing the door from closing. Your child's bedroom doorway is a good choice.

• 2

  Measure the doorway's width.

• 3

  Cut an old bedsheet, curtain or large piece of fabric so it's 1 to 2 inches wider than the doorway.

• 4

  With a fabric marking pen that disappears with time (or with a pencil or sliver of soap) mark out a rectangle measuring about 20 inches by 18 inches. Place the bottom of the rectangle (which will serve as the puppet "stage") no higher than your child's shoulder.

• 5

  Cut out the rectangle "stage."

• 6

  Mark a square on the contrasting fabric using a fabric marking pen or other writing utensil. It should be 1 to 2 inches larger than the size of the "stage."

• 7

  Cut out the square.

• 8

  Cut the square in half and pin both pieces to the back of the rectangular puppet "stage" so that they look like curtains.

• 9

  Sew in place, or use safety pins to hold the curtains in place.

• 10

  Cut 1- or 2-inch-long triangles either from the curtain fabric or an additional contrasting fabric.

• 11

  Sew or use fabric glue to hold the triangles in place along the top of the stage opening, with the points of the triangles facing down.

• 12

  Cut the grosgrain ribbon into two 12-inch lengths.

• 13

  Pin the ribbon to the top corners of the puppet theater, making loops.

• 14

  Sew in place, or use safety pins to keep the ribbon in place.

• 15

  Finish the edges of the puppet theater by either sewing seam-binding around the edges or applying a product like Fray Check (found in fabric stores) along all unfinished edges.

• 16

  Hammer nails into the top of the door frame and hang the puppet theater on them, using the ribbon loops.