Step through the creaky, oversized wooden doors of the Whatnot Muppet Workshop, and you’ll find yourself in a world of felt, fluff, and pure imagination. Here, amid walls stacked high with vibrant fabrics, googly eyes, and tufted fur, a team of dedicated puppet artisans brings life to characters that dance, sing, and crack jokes on screen. Welcome to the secret heart of Muppet creation—a place where no two puppets are ever the same and where creativity reigns supreme.
Welcome to the Whatnot Muppet Workshop
The Whatnot Muppet Workshop is not just a workshop—it’s an artist’s playground, a place where characters are sculpted from the dreams of designers and performers alike. The term “Whatnot” comes from the endlessly customizable background Muppets used in The Muppet Show and Sesame Street, designed to be transformed into anything the script calls for. Need a mustachioed opera singer? A mischievous alien? A googly-eyed chef? No problem! The Workshop has a part for that.
Walking inside, you’re immediately hit with a kaleidoscope of color. Walls lined with shelves of puppet heads, all with blank expressions, await the moment they will be assigned their unique features. Racks of arms, legs, noses, wigs, and outfits fill the space like an elaborate costume shop. There’s a scent of fresh glue in the air, and the faint sound of a sewing machine hums in the background.
At the center of it all are the Muppet makers—skilled craftsmen who cut, stitch, and sculpt each character to life. These artisans have spent years perfecting the art of Muppet-making, ensuring that every character, from the iconic to the background ensemble, has its own personality and charm.
The Art of Bringing a Whatnot Muppet to Life
Creating a Muppet is an intricate process, blending artistry with engineering. Each puppet starts as a sketch—a simple doodle that captures the character’s spirit. From there, the real magic begins:
- The Frame & Fabrication: Muppets aren’t just stuffed dolls; they’re built with lightweight foam cores, designed for flexibility and expressiveness. The foam is carefully shaped to form the basic head and body structure, allowing for smooth movement.
- The Features: Whatnot Muppets are unique because they have interchangeable parts. Eyes, noses, mouths, ears—all these features can be swapped in and out to create thousands of different character combinations. The craftsmen carefully choose each piece to match the personality they’re bringing to life.
- The Fuzz & Fluff: Once the frame is set, the next step is covering the puppet with fabric—whether it’s classic fleece, shaggy fur, or something more exotic like iridescent scales. Everything is hand-stitched, ensuring each Muppet has a polished, professional look.
- The Hands & Arms: Many Whatnot Muppets use rod-controlled arms, allowing puppeteers to animate expressive hand gestures. Some are even built with glove-like designs for live-hand Muppets, where the performer’s hands become the character’s.
- The Final Touch: The last step in the process is all about details. Outfits are designed and tailored, eyebrows are stitched in for extra personality, and accessories like hats, glasses, and tiny bow ties complete the look.
When finished, the Muppet is ready for its moment in the spotlight. But their journey doesn’t end there—the performers must now bring them to life with movement, voice, and a little bit of Muppet magic.
Where Do the Whatnots Go?
Once completed, Whatnot Muppets find homes in a variety of places. Some join the legendary ranks of Sesame Street or The Muppet Show, while others are background characters in commercials, theme park performances, or live stage shows. Because of their modular nature, Whatnot Muppets are often reused and reimagined, starring in different roles from one production to the next. A pirate in one episode may become a disco dancer in another, simply by swapping out a few parts.
But perhaps the most exciting chapter in the Whatnot legacy was the moment when fans got to take part in the magic themselves.
How Fans Can Create Their Own Whatnot Muppets
In 2008, the dream of creating your very own Muppet became a reality. The FAO Schwarz Muppet Whatnot Workshop in New York City opened its doors, inviting visitors to design their own custom puppets. Customers could choose from a variety of heads, eyes, noses, hairstyles, and outfits, building a completely unique character before skilled Workshop artists assembled it right before their eyes.
For those who couldn’t visit the store in person, an online builder allowed fans to mix and match features, placing their orders for a one-of-a-kind Muppet to be shipped to their door.
Though FAO Schwarz eventually closed the physical workshop, the spirit of the Whatnot customization lives on. Today, fans still create their own Muppets through DIY puppet kits, handmade projects, or custom commissions from skilled Muppet-style puppet makers. With the right materials—foam, fleece, a hot glue gun, and a whole lot of creativity—anyone can bring their own Whatnot to life.
The Magic Lives On
The Whatnot Muppet Workshop remains one of the most whimsical and wonderful corners of the entertainment world. It’s a place where characters are born, where laughter is stitched into every seam, and where the impossible becomes possible. Whether they’re on-screen, in theme parks, or in the hands of an excited fan, Whatnot Muppets carry on Jim Henson’s legacy of joy and creativity.
So, if you ever find yourself daydreaming about creating your own wacky, one-of-a-kind puppet, just remember—you don’t need to visit a workshop. All you need is a little imagination, some fabric, and a touch of Muppet magic.
