Crafty Uncle Sam

Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-172 -- More Projects »
Here's a Yankee Doodle dandy. Modify the same basic steps to fashion two sizes of Uncle Sam figures.
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Clothespin Uncle Sam
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Figure A

The smaller figure started as a plain clothespin, while the larger figure evolved from a cardboard tube.

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Figure B
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Figure C

Materials:

old-fashioned wooden clothespin (figure A)
scissors
fabrics with patriotic colors and designs (figures B and C)
wooden skewers
cardboard
flesh-colored construction paper
glue
pen
cotton ball
foam tray
tooth pick
cardboard tube

Clothespin method

1. To make the trousers, cut a piece of fabric so that it measures half the length of the clothespin and is slightly wider than its circumference. Wrap the fabric around the lower part of the clothespin (figure D), and use a skewer to tuck the vertical sides of the fabric in the front opening of the clothespin.

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Figure D
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Figure E

2. Cut a different piece of fabric, and wrap it around the clothespin to make the shirt (figure E).

3. Cut a small piece of fabric and fold it into a 1/4-inch strip. Glue it around the clothespin between the shirt material and the trouser material to hide the seam between the two.

4. Cut two small pieces off a skewer, and wrap them with the same fabric used to make the shirt. Glue the pieces onto the clothespin to make the arms.

5. Cover a small circle of cardboard with fabric to make the brim of Uncle Sam's hat.

6. Roll up a strip of paper and cover it with fabric to make the top of the hat, and attach it to the fabric-covered "brim."

7. Glue wisps of cotton around Uncle Sam's "head" to make hair and a beard, and then attach the hat.

8. Use the pen to draw two small eyes on the top, rounded part of the clothespin.

9. To make a base for Uncle Sam to stand on, cut two, 1" x 1" squares out of the foam tray, and glue them on top of each other. Cover the pieces with fabric, and attach them to the bottom of the clothespin.

10. Make a "flag" out of a piece of paper glued to a toothpick.

11. If desired, write a guest's name on the paper, attach the flag to one of the arms, and use the figure as a decorative place card.

Cardboard tube method

1. Cut the tube to the desired height.

2. Cut a long, 1/8-inch wide vertical notch out of the bottom half of the tube (figure F). Attach the appropriate fabrics to the tube as in steps 1, 2 and 3 of the clothespin method.

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Cardboard tube Uncle Sam
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Figure F

3. Wrap two clothespins in fabric, and glue them onto the tube to make arms.

4. Draw a face on a strip of construction paper, and attach it to the tube.

5. Make a hat similar to the one from steps 5 and 6 of the clothespin method. Use fabric, a circle of cardboard, and a piece of the unused portion of the tube.

6. Glue wisps of cotton around Uncle Sam's "head" to make hair and a beard, and then attach the hat.

7. Glue a piece of fabric to a skewer to make a flag, and attach the flag to one of Uncle Sam's arms.