For Ballet Idaho’s new Nutcracker the majority of the shop at Trinity University worked after-hours to construct heads for several characters. I assisted in the creation of mock-ups and tested the comfort and visibility of said mock-ups. I assembled several heads from buckram and feathlight plastic boning, assembled their ‘skins’ from jersey knit, and assisted in the creation of bias tape made from the jersey. Cording made with the bias tape was applied by hand and by machine, and we finished the heads by attaching the ears with curved needle and heavy duty thread. 

The mouse head was constructed similarly to the rat heads, with the exception of the ruff which was made by a more senior stitcher. Each stitcher assisted in finishing the head, however, as hundreds of faux-pearl buttons were applied by hand. The Nutcracker’s head and the unicorn heads were constructed by other stitchers, but the entire shop worked to finish them with rhinestones, sequins, buttons, and trim.