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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- This is a quick tutorial on how to make a pair of Squidward legs for Sponge Bob the Musical.
Includes names of hardware components I used. This is version 6 and performed very well for the actor. Had to double up the dress shoe brackets on front and back side.
Also made a back up set of shoe brackets that came in handy during a performance.
Using dowels make it easy to adjust leg lengths as needed.
Very happy with how it turned out and hope this is helpful to the next Squidward builder.
Hi all those desperate for help! This video was tremendously helpful, but here are some things that I did to make our legs very successful!
Everything: The wooden dowel in the video was such a good idea but as many comments say very heavy for the actor. We chose to use 1" pvc pipe and then connect the hardware with a 1" wooden dowel cut to about 5". We then drilled through the PVC and the wood dowel and connected with a bolt and nut. This seemed to work well, and allows the legs to change lengths with our actors (our show is double cast, and these will be used for productions for years to come!).
Ankles: My company made the choice to keep the back shoes as jazz shoes even when the actor changes into tap shoes. This made it easy to take the ankle joint (1" boat bimini) and put it on a small dowel and glue the dowel right into the shoe. Then we took small buckles and hot glued them to the inside of the back pair of feet, and then the other half of the buckle was glued into the actors shoes. This allowed them to be buckled right into the extra feet. It also makes the switch into the tap shoes really easy.
Knees: The 1" Boat Bimini Folding Swivel Connector (I was able to find them on amazon, but not at my local hardware store) was FANTASTIC! I didn't even know the existed but they work so well. I didn't do much different from the video except only used one furniture pad to allow the legs to straighten a little more.
Hips: The hips we did very differently from the video. We used a back brace to go around our actor, and so I sewed the hip joint right into the back brace. Instead of using the emt coupler, I just used two more of the 1" boat biminis and stitching them into the back brace through the little hole stilled allowed them to move with the actor.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Yes. Measure from hip joint to behind the the knee.
And then from behind knee to just below ankle. When assembled, double check against actor’s leg to verify length.
Error to slightly longer. Too short will make the back shoes hover.
After multiple failures, I think these might be good for cosplay but are not strong enough (or perhaps too heavy) for use in the musical. One good kick and that #6 screw for the ankle joint breaks. A few dance moves and the strap holding the shoes together fails.
what part of these is too heavy specifically? I'm planning on making them with pvc pipes and a back brace for support but am lookign for ways to alter the design to be lighter
@@asher6072 The hanger strap on the shoes is heavy, but if you don't double it up, it ends up bending too easy. I've seen other systems that use a hinge that connects to the bottom of both shoes. I didn't get to see the legs that were borrowed from another production and used but they might have been a small door or cabinet hinge.
Another heavy point is the boat connectors for the knees. I wish I had found something lighter for that.
Can you provide a full list of materials (and how much of each)? :) Loved the video, thanks so much!
looking at making these, do you have an items list?
We made these with all PVC parts - much lighter for a "Junior" version of "Sponge Bob." Notes: a support system is needed for the pants - we used a back brace and suspenders to really stabilize the legs....Also, more detail is needed on how the pants and legs are attached to each other - the video is not really that clear on how this is done....
Looking for a set for a production next month...do you have a set available to rent or purchase?
@@sarahwilliams7212 - We are currently using them for another production. They really arent't that hard to construct....
Hi!
I'm not sure if you read comments any more, but we are desperate. 😅
My mom and I are trying to build Suidward's Legs for a highschool production. This video has been such a tremendous help and inspiration.
However, we are stuck at the hip part. And have some questions if you don't mind.
- what/how do the EMT brackets attach to besides the black canvas strap? I can see that they are zip tied to hold it in, but are they free floating after they've been zipped or is that canvas strap enough to support all the movement?
Also - how far down are they attached to the hip? Do you recommend following the back pockets like you did, or is it just dependent on the prefomer?
I know this is a lot, but any help or suggestions would be so greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance! ✨️💖✨️
Do you sell these? I run a small community theater and we are desperately looking for someone to help us with Squidward legs.
Where did you find a #6 screw long enough to fit across the heel? The shoes I'm working with would require a 3-1/2" long #6 screw, which I can't seem to find. Should I go up a size on the aluminum tube to fit a #10 screw?
10:33 Strap to leg connection
When you cut the dowels did you measure the actors leg as a reference?
Did you add a harness or anything to keep the legs up, or were these just put on and taken off like normal pants? It seems like the back legs might need a harness to keep them up, unless I'm mistaken. Also, how much bend did these have?
The actor just put them on like regular pants. And the knee joints allow to fully squat.
We need help for our production are you near Chicago?
@@kcgap69 i am not in the Chicago area unfortunately.
We made these - a brace or suspenders are needed to stabilize the legs - otherwise, they are too floppy...
Be careful in making these. They are relatively heavy and the weight tends to bend the hanger straps (note the quote "Had to double up the dress shoe brackets") in addition to putting all the weight on the heel of the performer's shoes. We broke one heel in the first two days of rehearsal. Also, that hanger strap is sharp!!!
Did the double brackets last?
@@jeffszymanowski9659 No. We ended up getting a different set of legs from another production. The design in this video is too heavy and doesn't offer enough lateral stiffness between the shoes or in the ankles. We had multiple breaks during run throughs.
@@bullschuck8787 Looking for a set for a production next month...do you have a set available to rent or purchase?
@@sarahwilliams7212 I do not. Sorry.
looks great. can you send a material list?