The Making of Ralph
On a recent trip to Prague, I was taken by an amazing marionette puppet – a bedraggled looking character
dressed in knitted clothes. I suddenly became inspired to recreate something at the school, and given
the current working environment, thought it highly appropriate!
The school was faced with massive upheaval, undergoing restoration projects and mass rearrangement – cranes
moving portable classrooms; boxes being packed hurriedly; temporary teaching spaces being made
available.
With no fixed Art Room, the Visual Arts program required mobility and ease. Carting wool and knitting
needles from one class to the next was manageable, and it seemed like a great way to engage the whole
school in a worthwhile project with minimum hassle and mess!
The children and their families were very keen to embark on the project, making a life-sized character that
would become a part of the school. Donations of wool and knitting needles were plentiful, and there was
an overwhelming response for enthusiastic helpers.
Our most valued assistant was ‘Grandma Doris’, who became a huge part of the school for many
weeks (she was almost entered on the Grade 5/6 attendance role!).
We began by sketching our ideas, brainstorming how he might look and how he would be constructed. Never did
we imagine that he would become such a huge character, made with so much love and detail.
With a great deal of help from the parents and an overwhelming amount of determination from the children,
the Grade 5/6’s learned to knit (some advancing to ‘fancy’ stitches and casting on
and off). Their dropped stitches, uneven tension and additional ‘creative’ touches just
added further to Ralph’s uniqueness!
Meanwhile, the Grade 3/4 children made their own ‘Knitting Nancy or Ned’, using cardboard
cylinders with four icy-pole sticks attached with masking tape. Circular knitting was being churned out
on mass, as the children were determined to take it home and continue in front of the TV. Many were
keen to knit or at least have a go!
The task of finger knitting with colourful wools was given to the Grade 1/2 children. Initially this was
quite tricky, however once mastered, the children really got on board. They even made rag dolls with
the extras!
The Preps were responsible for making pom-poms, working with short lengths of wool to avoid tangling. We
finished with many colourful balls of varying thicknesses, dependent on their level of concentration.
Whilst the children busily knitted (even throughout their lunch break), a small group set out
to make
the body of our puppet. We were unable to find an old mannequin that we could transform, so we bound
cane with gaffer tape to construct the large trunk. Layers of lunch wrap paper dipped in diluted PVA
glue was draped over the frame, which dried as tight and as strong as a drum! The shell was then
suspended on a pole, and secured into a wooden base.
The exciting stage of dressing the puppet then began. Grandma Doris capably took charge, involving the
children in sewing and crocheting the many swatches of knitting to make the clothing. A scarf was made
using the leftover knitting, and was decorated with woven strands of finger knitting and assorted
buttons. A multicoloured fringe was also added to the bottom of the outfit, by hooking the finger
knitting through cast-off stitches. Ralph was now starting to look rather stunning!
A balloon covered with papier-mâché was used for the head. The facial features were sculptured
with ‘Paper Magiclay’, which was perfect for showing the exaggerated lines and shapes. His
hands were also built with the same material.
Ralph has become a well-loved character in the school’s foyer. Some days he adorns his casual beret,
and other days he dresses in his somewhat more formal top hat…
Hawthorn West Primary School
Suitable for Prep – 6