Carve a Puppet Hare

The finished hare measures approx 14.5cm from head to toe (not including ears!)

CARVE A PUPPET HARE: online tutorial series

  • Learn how to CARVE a PUPPET HARE, through my step-by-step tutorial series!

  • Suitable for beginner carvers

  • Learn handheld knife carving techniques - this puppet can be carved using just a whittling knife.

  • Assemble your puppet using a small selection of handheld tools.

  • Learn painting and staining techniques for working with wood.

This tutorial series is 10 videos long. Videos 1-10 are available to watch below…

Video 1 shows you what's inside a carving kit, and talks you through the tools and equipment you will need to complete the project.

Video 2 covers carving safety and sharpening.

Videos 3-8 show you how to carve the puppet, broken down into the different parts of the body

Videos 9 and 10 show you how to paint and assemble your puppet


CARVING KITS
Available to order now

The tutorials are FREE to watch, but to take part you will need to purchase one of my CARVING KITS. Video 1 below explains the carving kits in more detail, and you can order a kit from my online shop…

KIT LIST
Available to download now

You will also need to source your own tools and other perishable materials eg. paints and glues. Video 1 below talks you through everything you will need. You can also download a full KIT LIST at the link below.

DONATE
Donate towards my tutorials

I have created these tutorial videos FOR FREE. Therefore, if you feel moved to, you can DONATE towards my teaching practice. You can donate any amount, any time… thank you in advance for supporting my work!

Donate towards my tutorials

Testimonials

I would love to hear your feedback on the series or see what you've made! You can get in touch will me through Facebook, Instagram, or just send me an email at sarah@sarahvigarsart.com. Testimonials are always welcome, but I am also interested to hear any queries or questions you might have. Any feedback I receive will help me improve my tutorials in the future.

"This is an excellent kit and highly recommended for beginner carvers!"

"I learnt a lot from following Sarah’s detailed videos on YouTube and hope to use the knowledge gained on my next carving project. The instructions were great and the carving was fun.”

- participant feedback February 2022


SOME GUIDELINES On Watching The VIDEOS

  • I recommend watching the videos in order

  • Please watch VIDEO 2 before beginning any carving, as it covers CARVING SAFETY

  • Each video has been broken down into CHAPTERS and STEPS for ease of watching

  • A 'SKIP AHEAD' arrow will appear when you can skip to the next STEP in each video

  • You might want to watch each STEP first, before beginning the activity.

All tutorials and puppet designs are copyright Sarah Vigars
sarahvigarsart.com
All musical recordings are copyright Louis Bingham
louisbingham.bandcamp.com


Recommended Participant Age: 16+

Please note that these tutorials are intended for ADULTS. They are not suitable for children as they involve the use of sharp equipment and epoxy glues. My carving kits are resources for adult learning. They are NOT intended as toys for children (and are not made to toy safety regulations). It is therefore your responsibility to supervise any child’s play with your finished puppet.


Introductions

I recommend watching these two introductory videos before starting the carving. Video 1 takes you through everything you will need, and Video 2 covers carving safety and sharpening. NOTE: when it comes to tools, you don’t need everything all at once! You will only need a whittling knife to carve the puppet (plus a strop for sharpening, and a finger guard for safe carving). You can also use your own paints if you want to. You won’t need most of the assembly tools until the very end of the project (Video 10).

(Video 1) Introduction part 1/2
KITS, TOOLS and PAINTS

----CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO--------------

0:00​ General introduction
1:28​ Chapter 1 - Carving Kits
4:19​ Chapter 2 - Carving Tools and Equipment
5:38​ Chapter 3 - Wood Dyes, Paints and Oils
7:48​ Chapter 4 - Assembly Tools and Equipment

(Video 2) Introduction part 2/2
CARVING SAFETY and SHARPENING

----CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO--------------

0:42​ Chapter 1 - Carving Safety
4:50​ Chapter 2 - Sharpening your Knife

Please watch this video before beginning any carving, as it covers CARVING SAFETY

ALLERGEN ADVICE - relating to the dyes, paints, oils and glues used in these videos

  • Bolgers Water Based Wood Stains are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, odourless and VOC free. They are unlikely to cause skin irritations.

  • Milk paint is made from casein (a protein found in milk) and lime. It is non-toxic, VOC-free & biodegradable. However, as it is a milk product, it may be unsuitable for severe dairy allergy sufferers. Use chalk paint or acrylic paint as an alternative.

  • Rustins Danish oil is not VOC free, though I only use it in very small quantities. It conforms to The Articles in Contact with Food Regulations and to the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1995, BS:EN71 Part 3. However, please note that Danish Oil contains tung oil which is extracted from nuts, and may therefore be unsuitable for severe nut allergy sufferers. Use at your own discretion, or contact Rustins Ltd for more information about their products.

  • Araldite glue and UHU glue are toxic if consumed and can cause skin irritations. Keep away from children. If you have sensitive skin wear gloves when using these glues. Both glues are also toxic if inhaled so use them in a well ventilated area, or wear a mask.

  • This list is not exhaustive: if you have sensitive skin, asthma, or severe allergies please take due caution when using any of the materials listed in these videos.


Carving the Hare

(Video 3) Carving the hare part 1/6 - Carving the BODY

----CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO--------------

0:00​ Introduction: the Body Carving Blank
2:17​ Chapter 1 - Carving the Belly (segments 1 and 2)
3:15​ Chapter 1 - Step 1
5:00​ Chapter 1 - Step 1 (cont)
5:32​ Chapter 1 - Step 2
6:37​ Chapter 1 - Step 3
7:28​ Chapter 1 - Step 3 (cont)
8:13​ Chapter 1 - Step 4
9:21​ Chapter 2 - Carving the Back (segments 3 and 4)
10:39​ Chapter 2 - Step 1
12:13​ Chapter 2 - Step 2
14:00​ Chapter 2 - Step 2 (cont)
14:35​ Chapter 2 - Step 3
15:37​ Chapter 2 - Step 4
16:31​ Chapter 2 - Step 4 (cont)
17:14​ Chapter 2 - Step 5

(Video 4) Carving the hare part 2/6 - Carving the FRONT LEGS

----CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO--------------

0:00​ Introduction: the Front Leg Carving Blanks
1:40​ Chapter 1 - Roughing Out
1:53​ Chapter 1 - Step 1
6:19​ Chapter 1 - Step 1 (cont)
7:09​ Chapter 1 - Step 2
11:08​ Chapter 1 - Step 2 (cont)
12:06​ Chapter 2 - Shaping
12:17​ Chapter 2 - Step 1
16:34​ Chapter 2 - Step 2
17:49​ Chapter 2 - Step 3
21:26​ Chapter 2 - Step 3 (cont)

(Video 5) Carving the hare part 3/6 - Carving the UPPER HIND LEGS

----CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO--------------

0:00 Introduction: the Upper Hind Leg Carving Blanks
1:04 Chapter 1 - Roughing Out
6:18 Chapter 1 (cont)
6:48 Chapter 2 - Shaping
7:40 Chapter 2 - Step 1
9:09 Chapter 2 - Step 1 (cont)
10:44 Chapter 2 - Step 1 (cont)
11:28 Chapter 2 - Step 2
14:10 Chapter 2 - Step 2 (cont)
16:44 Chapter 2 - Step 3

(Video 6) Carving the hare part 4/6 - Carving the FEET

----CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO--------------

0:00 Introduction: the Feet Carving Blanks
1:22 Chapter 1 - Roughing Out
2:00 Chapter 1 - Step 1
6:35 Chapter 1 - Step 2
8:44 Chapter 1 - Step 2 (cont)
10:12 Chapter 2 - Shaping
10:57 Chapter 2 - Step 1
12:06 Chapter 2 - Step 1 (cont)
13:24 Chapter 2 - Step 1 (cont)
15:33 Chapter 2 - Step 2
16:29 Chapter 2 - Step 2 (cont)
17:35 Chapter 2 - Step 2 (cont)
19:49 Chapter 2 - Step 2 (cont)
22:24 Conclusion

(Video 7) Carving the hare part 5/6 - Carving the HEAD

----CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO--------------

0:00 Introduction - the markings on the head
2:01 Chapter 1 - Roughing out the front of the head
2:24 Chapter 1 - Step 1
3:38 Chapter 1 - Step 2
4:25 Chapter 1 - Step 2 (cont)
4:44 Chapter 2 - Shaping the back of the head
4:57 Chapter 2 - Step 1
6:56 Chapter 2 - Step 2
7:22 Chapter 2 - Step 3
10:34 Chapter 2 - Step 3 (cont)
11:12 Chapter 2 - Step 4
12:20 Chapter 3 - Shaping the brows
12:32 Chapter 3 - Step 1
13:13 Chapter 3 - Step 2
15:12 Chapter 3 - Step 3
16:10 Chapter 4 - Shaping the cheeks
16:23 Chapter 4 - Step 1
16:55 Chapter 4 - Step 2
18:45 Chapter 4 - Step 3
20:47 Chapter 4 - Step 4
22:00 Chapter 4 - Step 5

(Video 8) Carving the hare part 6/6 - TIDYING UP and adding DETAILS

----CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO--------------

0:00 Introduction
0:35 Chapter 1 - Carving the nose and mouth
0:47 Chapter 1 - Step 1
1:30 Chapter 1 - Step 2
2:46 Chapter 1 - Step 2 (cont)
4:52 Chapter 1 - Step 3
6:12 Chapter 1 - Step 3 (cont)
6:27 Chapter 2 - Carving away the saw marks
9:28 Chapter 3 - Carving the paws
9:38 Chapter 3 - Step 1
10:37 Chapter 3 - Step 2
11:28 Chapter 3 (conclusion)
12:04 Chapter 4 - Final sanding


Adding Colour

(Video 9) Adding colour part 1/1 - STAINING, PAINTING and OILING

----CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO--------------

0:00 Introduction
2:28 Chapter 1 - Staining with water-based wood dyes
3:37 Chapter 1 - Step 1
4:30 Chapter 1 - Step 2
7:24 Chapter 2 - Sanding to add texture
9:45 Chapter 3 - Adding white paint
13:28 Chapter 4 - Sealing the wood with Danish oil


Assembling the Puppet

(Video 10) Assembling the hare - EARS, TAIL, EYES and CONTROL

----CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO--------------

0:00 Introduction
1:15 Chapter 1 - Making the ears and tail
2:28 Chapter 1 - Step 1
2:57 Chapter 1 - Step 2
3:39 Chapter 1 - Step 3
5:53 Chapter 1 - Step 4
6:58 Chapter 2 - Adding the eyes
7:09 Chapter 2 - Step 1
8:09 Chapter 2 - Step 2
8:47 Chapter 2 - Step 3
9:04 Chapter 2 - Step 4
9:43 Chapter 3 - Assembling the knee joints
9:55 Chapter 3 - Step 1
10:29 Chapter 3 - Step 2
11:21 Chapter 3 - Step 3
12:01 Chapter 4 - Attaching the legs
12:14 Chapter 4 - Step 1
14:42 Chapter 4 - Step 2
16:14 Chapter 5 - Attaching the ears, tail and control
16:25 Chapter 5 - Step 1
16:48 Chapter 5 - Step 2
18:35 Chapter 5 - Step 3
19:09 Chapter 5 - Step 4
19:54 Chapter 5 - Step 5
20:42 Chapter 5 - Step 6