Free shadow puppet patterns: A list

(If you’re looking for patterns for other puppet types, please browse the other categories as you’ll find more lists there)

I will be adding to this list as I find more patterns. Please note that these patterns come free courtesy of the credited people; please respect their wishes for creditation (if requested) if you publish the link elsewhere. This is the total of these particular type of puppet patterns listed on this site; feel free to browse for more on my site, but you’ll just end up back here again I promise.

Read about the myths of free patterns [link to be added].

• My pattern and video tutorial for a dog (actually two, one ’short’ and one ‘long’)
• My pattern and video tutorial for a creepy halloween spider
• (Not a pattern but worth using in conjuction with one…) My video tutorial on making shadow puppet joints
• Makezine’s shadow puppet PDF pattern
• Disney Family Entertainment has a crocodile pattern (also a parrot and giraffe, which is linked from this main page)
• Marilyn Kinsella has some basic instructions
• Young Audiences (Northeast Ohio Arts for Learning) has this good teacher’s pack
• Tasmanian Government education site has this basic instruction (scroll to bottom)
• MOLLI has instructions on puppets and a cardboard theatre
• Jamboree has patterns and instructions for a cardboard theatre, both for Billy Goat Gruff
• ABC (Australia’s BC that is) Creature Feature’s site has cardboard theatre instructions and puppet basics
• Charles Sturt University has some very basic building hints
• Owly Shadow Puppets has a very good classroom exercise - actually good for adults too!
• See More’s Workshop has another basic building hint page
• Mini Eco has some basic patterns
• Chez Beeper Bebe has some puppets-on-a-stick patterns, Halloween style
• Simply Read Books has a couple of animal shadow puppet patterns
• Best for last - Hobey Ford’s advanced puppetry (pdf)
• That Artist Woman has an excellent wayang kulit tutorial

Why so few free puppet patterns? Find the answer here. How to make a screen is discussed here; how are shadow puppets different from silhouettes; making joints for shadow puppets; materials are discussed here. [links to be added]