how to make doll hair with embroidery floss
She is a cloth rag doll with an embroidered face and yellow embroidery thread hair in two loop braids on either side of her head. For the dolls shown here, we used wooden beads 1 1/4 inch/3.3 centimetersdiameter sometimes called dowel caps as they have a single, fairly large hole on the base of the bead, and 3 3/4 inch long/9.5 centimeters clothespins. Cut the loops and give them a downward tug to help them lay flat. Thank you kindly!. Bring the needle 1/2 inch up from the edge (at 1). They develop in a really organic free way, almost as if they create themselves. Embroidery Flowers. Last Updated: November 17, 2021 And make sure you read them as over time people have added their particular way of using one of these techniques, for all of us to learn a tip or two together. Another more time-consuming method is to crochet/knit each stitch and pull as much of the mohair fiber to the other side of your cap as you go along. You can either crochet it or knit it. I recommend the following supplier to get fabrics suitable for doll hair, but dont stop there. 2. Then I gather up some long embroidery floss. You are done with your doll bodies! Continue stitching the side rows until they touch the pins. August 2015 For this example I used the colors 642, 840, 3781, 3782, 611, two strands of each together on the needle. I brought the two dotted lines together on one side of the mushroom stem and lower cap and whip stitched along the seam, with the right side of the fabric together (so I was whip stitching the piece inside out). If you use artist's acrylic paints, you should only need two coats. This is such a beautiful and understated way of adding hair to your doll. Continue to fill in rows at the back of the head as well until they are about 2" from the front hairline. 2. You might be able to find some beautifully hand-dyed roving at your local yarn store as well. Again, when it comes to your doll's hair you have to experiment and see what works for you and his/her personality, always taking in consideration who the doll is geared to. You may also want to check out these 10 easy (I am always for 'easy') flower embroidery designs - each of them you can complete in a matter of a few minutes. Another very simple method used when you want to utilize yarn for hair, but this time using your sewing machine, is to make bundles of yarn sewn down the middle and then attach them to the dolls head. If you wish, you can now wrap embroidery floss which corresponds with the doll's costume, around the upper part of the arms to make sleeves. Apply a thin line of tacky glue to the center of the dolls head. Word of caution: do not FOLD locks halfway and then attach them to the dolls cap that way. Crewel Yarn or Wool. This will diminish the amount of leather you will be hand-sewing to the head and therefore a bit easier on your hands. 1. Press the center strip of the hair (where your needle was) to this line of glue so the strip looks like the part in the hair. Doll Embroidery Floss - Etsy Check out our doll embroidery floss selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. She has over 30 years experience teaching this highly specialized craft. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Learn how to whip one up at home with some help from Bit of Whimsy. Cut a length of embroidery floss that is twice the length of the doll's hair. Synthetic hair can sometimes be difficult to cut, as it's often unwieldy to handle. After every few rows, use the eye end of the needle or a plastic comb to carefully separate the strands of floss. Photo Tour Take the paper off the 2 hanks of embroidery floss and lay flat. Enjoy! For the first few lines of stitching, you only need to use your mid-tone (cone) color. Felted wool yarn - Best used for couching in embroidery. The ring supports are 1 1/8 inches/3 centimeters wide. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Kirsten's doll, Sari, was introduced in 1986 and retired in 2009. This style was quite popular a few years ago and is still a very suitable type of hair for your doll. We're huge fans of this rag doll design to look like Sally from the Nightmare Before Christmas and we're thankful to Instructables for laying out how she's made in such simple steps. Step Two Now put the pearl bead in between the loop you just tied a knot in and spread the strands over the bead. June 2016 You can use the same yarn as the cap, to minimize shock value but you can also get very creative and not only vary the colour of the yarns used but the type and fibre. September 2015 If you're making a doll that's meant to look like a particular character, you should make sure your doll's hair matches the character. The process to use this material and turn it into doll hair is simple enough: cut pattern pieces to make a hat (think of the pieces of a simple bonnet, one for the main centre that goes from the forehead to the nape of the neck, and two crescent moon shapes for the sides-the fewer seams the better). Think about the type of doll you're making, or the doll whose hair you're replacing. Wool locks have tiny little hooks that all go down the same way, starting at the root. Yes, as long as the fibers have been cleaned (using a mild wool wash) and combed before you stitch them in place. Keep a pack in your sewing basket for felt sewing projects, applique, cross stitch and embroidery. If you wish, you can paint the doll support base ring. Cut about a two foot length of each and use two strands of each to create a six strand length of mixed colored floss. Stitch several rows on either side of the head, angling them toward the center line of the head until they are perpendicular to the original rows. It is important to set each thread very close to each other. Try adding another layer of flower petals on top! As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Cut off a length that you can use to tie in the middle like we did with our embroidery thread. You will go through it fast, so it speeds up the process if you have a lot cut and set out. Tibetan lambskin means that what you are basically using is the hide of the animal with the "fur" or fibre still attached. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. How to Make Doll Hair using Suri Alpaca, via Fig and Me. Since you will be sewing it down, what you need to know is its total length. Use a length of pipe cleaner suitable for the size of your doll. I can't recommend it highly enough. nurturing creativity and imaginative play, How to make a weft with Suri Alpaca, mini tutorial. It is an extremely playful style and one suitable both for children and collectors. Some categories might say Mohair wig but upon closer inspection it reads synthetic mohair. Discussing doll hair: fabric cap on a Cloth Fig doll, via Fig and me. Even though I don't see this style used as often, it is one of my favourites. Remove the pins. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. This technique works for doll hair on several other stockings. ", "The pictures in the article really helped! If a child under the age of 7 is going to be playing with the doll, the hair should probably be yarn. For a tutorial on how to use this method of hair, please visit Antique Lilac. I would love to hear about a doll with Tibetan Lambskin that has been washed, so if thats you and your doll please report back. Wrap over both arms and body beginning at the shoulder of your worry doll, for about 1/2 to 3/4 inches. I wish you the best of luck creating hair for your lovely doll, or maybe even giving one of your dolls a makeover. You can use a pencil to stuff the poly into the arm. Tube acrylic paints are better for this work than craft bottles of paint, which may have a poor liquid to pigment ratio. If you're making a Rapunzel doll, for example, you'll want your doll to have very long hair. Repeat the same process on the other side of the body. Tie a knot at the end of the floss, leaving a small loop. You should receive an email from me shortly, please MAKE SURE to click on Manage your Preferences where you can opt-in for Stitchy Notes, and click on receiving Emails. It is usually listed by how long the actual weft is, its colour, the length of the fibre, what type (curly, straight, etc), and wether is coarse, medium or fine mohair, and then its total weight. Cut your embroidery floss so you have a sufficient length (at least 4 to 6 inches/10 to 15 centimeters) to finish wrapping the arm and second hand. One idea is that you can needle-felt a base of similar colour roving to the doll's head, and then needle-felt the locks to this woolly base. If you're struggling to remove the tissue paper, try trimming some of it off with a small pair of scissors. 78 - NEW Roller Skates for 18" Doll 79 - NEW Franklin Soft Tip Dart Board 80 - NEW Minecraft Creator Series Party Palace . For suitable mohair yarn, please abstain from using mohair meant for knitting. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. November 2014 Since these bracelets are only braided, this is a great project for a younger crafter. Most of the time I am using pieces of yarn and it can be quite thick. I have used Teeswater (you can check out this Patreon video for the new method I am using in 2020), Wensleydale, Mohair and Suri Alpaca. Welcome to my dollmaking journal. Your doll might be a rag doll, baby doll, porcelain doll, bisque doll, fashion doll, or another kind of doll. Continue stitching in rows up the back of the head. July 2015 To make the front part of the hair I cut a length of yarn twice the long edge of the card and laid it across the short end. Use a darning needle to thread the floss through the armhole, then insert the wire and fit it through after the floss as shown in the photo above. July 2016 (Use a big needle!) Discussing doll hair: mohair wefts used to create beautiful doll wigs, by Fig and Me. How to Make Doll Hair, using comercially available wefts. Place pins where you want the hairline to be. "The detailed pictures really helped my understanding. The clothespin doll shown here has a shirt made with ribbon sleeves and a body. If you've been following the Six Weeks of Love for Softies contest, you may already know that neither. Such an extremely natural hairstyle requires very considerate care and shouldn't be handled extensively. Hope you enjoy your visit!. I'm sure the dolls will mean more and more as they are passed down in your family. 1. the simple loop method This is the method which produces a very realistic looking hair. Cut a suitable section of ribbon and glue it across the front and the back of the doll so the ribbon sits neatly over the "shoulder" of the clothespin. Follow the eye line and keep stitching over and over until you fill the whole region. If for example, you are using a doll body pattern for a baby (curved limbs) and you sculpt the face with young child proportions (chubby cheeks, quite round, etc), the doll would look very odd if you give it long hair. This is a great item for any Kirsten's doll lover! July 2014 Sew the body, taking care with where the arms are pinned. The thread is cut in double the length of your desired hair length. If you want to make a clothespin doll baby and mother for shower decorations or a cake topper for a new mother, it is easy to make a newborn baby doll to fit in her arms. It is not as common in my opinion, maybe because it takes considerate amounts of time and effort to create this hairstyle, but it is such an endearing one that more people ought to use it. The alpaca is my least favourite, and the Wensleydale locks my most favourite, but the dolls are always requesting Suri Alpaca, of course! side of your house. You can curl yarn hair. Take an extra piece of yarn and use a long needle to backstitch the hair to the top of the dolls head. Then snip the tips of the arms to the thread. Then it only makes sense that you would love crafting tutorials that help you actually make classic movie characters of your own! Place the bundle of yarn right in the middle of the doll's head (middle part) and sew to the head over the stitches you made with your sewing machine. Once you make your doll the question arises: what to do for hair? Recap And Goals You will not see the same doll here again. 3. And here let me stress this point: the age/personality of your doll. Wow, what amazing hair, and you have incredible patience! This will help me out with a few other patterns that I have for dolls. 4. A baby doll may have shorter hair than a doll that's supposed to be an older age. Pattern Design Your stitches will cover this line. Via Fig and Me. I personally crochet the caps, but my dear friend Jenny Marshall at Little Jenny Wren dolls,knits them with the same results. For suppliers of Tibetan Lambskin please visit: Mohair Wig Supplies, Tibetan Lambskin section, Tibetan Lambskin and other animal pelts by Little Oke Dolls. To separate the individual strands; start by untwisting a one-inch section on one end of the thread. As a more detailed alternative to making simple arms and hands from pipe cleaners, you can wrap wire with embroidery floss to shape simple loop or mitten hands for clothespin dolls. 0:00 2:25 How to make waldorf doll hair the easy way step 1 Ode to Simplicity 218 subscribers Subscribe 107 15K views 5 years ago When you start making waldorf dolls it can be a challenge. Cut off a length of thread for the top tassel like I did before . Make sure you line up the armhole so it goes through the body at right angles to the legs! Martha Stewart suggests using embroidery floss and a needle to track your progress across the map, stitching from place to place in a colour that stands out well from the map in the background. sew these bundles to the doll head. Learn More June 2017 When you choose to work with mohair, there are two considerations: whether to use the long-staple mohair that creates the fluffy cap or use the boucl mohair that gives you a more curly look.. For my review of DollyMo and Wild Brushable yarns, and the different ways you can use it, please head over here: Mohair Yarns for Dollmaking. Now, if you have understood the method to use weft, whether turning it into a cap with a crochet hook and yarn or sewing it down, whichever you decide, then most likely you will end up coming to the conclusion that you want to create a weft by yourself using your chosen fibre. All the styles and methods discussed so far are all styles you can make yourself with the actual materials and I feel they add a lot of clue into how your creativity works. I normally use about 120/140 inches long for a doll with a 13 inch head circumference (I am talking about the circumference of the actual hair line, not measuring around the eye line of the dolls head). Tie each wrap with a forward knot. Most needle-felted table dolls have chunks of roving or locks styled into hair, and they fare rather well, so it really depends on the style of doll you are making. Place the other cloth body on top of the pinned arms. It helps to look at pictures to get accurate positioning. If you are savvy with a needle you can sew them together manually. So think not only of the end recipient for the doll but of the personality and character of your doll, so that you can choose a style that is both practical and that enhances your doll. I have to say, this is also the easiest to create so it has the shortest entry barrier when you start creating doll hair. 3. Using hot glue, attach the petals to the waist of your doll. August 2014 Sew lace along the bottom of the front and back. Let me know in the comments how you fare. Faces and hairstyles for clothespin dolls are much easier to create than you might expect. If there are any gaps in the yarn, push the yarn together to fill in these gaps. I think this will give you enough food for thought, and maybe you like me are now itching to try a new hair style. Take the thread back from the wire end to the main wire, wrapping over the wire to cover the end of the loop so all of the wire is covered with floss. Swaps Present Moment 2. Thanks. Step 1. While there are art dolls created as an "object" to be admired and appreciated, the dolls we are talking about here are dolls that can be and will be manipulated by their owners. June 2015 You do not want your doll's hair to look uneven. Step 1: Baste each arm and leg onto doll body front. The doll's shown here have been made as decorations for Mother's Day, and feature various ethnic groups and costumes to represent mother's from around the world. Guest Posting Wrap Twigs Wrap the twigs with various colours of yarn or embroidery floss. Once the yarn is completely wound around the DVD case, slip a pair of scissors under the notched edge of the case and cut through the yarn. Today. Use caution when using a hot glue gun. February 2015 Press all the hair down so the glue can bond to the hair. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 130,548 times. Dampening the hair may help it stay together more, allowing you to better judge where to cut. Undergoes a felting process, giving it a fuzzy texture. Jul 6, 2015 - I show how to use embroidery floss to make Dorothy's hair on the "Christmas in Oz Stocking." This technique works for doll hair on several other stockings. You can also use Mohair or Alpaca fabric, which has the added bonus of already looking a bit "furry" so that your doll will have a bit more wisps of fibre. Once it was glued in place, we painted the face and hair. Using just a small amount of hot glue, tack the hair down around the sides and backs of their heads. Look at this ultra sweet hairstyle by the Russian artist Nkale, and shared by Mimin Dolls. To learn how to make synthetic doll hair, keep reading! The dolls shown here have been prepped by sanding the opening in the pin with fine-grit (240 or better) sandpaper, as well as sanding any rough spots on the head and base. Complete The Left Side Of the Center Part Step 4. Thats why I encourage you to think beforehand of the intended end-recipient for your doll, so you can use a material that is not only appropriate but that will have the longest possible life. In order to secure the strands to the sides, you can sew them down around the head in a circular fashion, creating the hairline. Glue your floss to the wire at the wrist point and leave to dry. If you want to check out the way I turn Suri Alpaca locks into a weft, please see this YouTube tutorial: Before I made that video I was using the following process: Doll hair: using Teeswater locks to make wefts and doll wigs. Stitch, leaving an opening between dolls legs to flip doll. Make each successive row of hair a little longer until you have reached the length you want. May 2014, All Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. Next, wind the yarn around a DVD case with no overlapping pieces or gaps. It is the hairstyle I chose for my precious doll Poet. measure on the doll from where you want the hairline to start (at the forehead) to the back of the head, and that will be the length of the line you will sew with your sewing machine. Also, once you make the wefts and you brush them, some more will come off. After reading this article, it came to me: I would have to make a skull cap with air-dry clay. An economical, colorful assortment pack of 100% cotton, divisible 6-strand floss to keep all the handworkers busy. December 2015 With one hand shaped and the arm wrapped up to the wrist of the other hand, it is time to fit the clothespin doll arm wire through the armhole. The dolls make good play figures or figures for school diorama boxes and scenes as well. Comb through the hair gently to make sure all the loops are cut. I hope you'll join me in Making It Up As I Sew Along. A non-slippery floss that stays on the needle well making it nice for children to use. Lett Lopi wig cap, 2. mohair strands, 3. tailspun yarn, 4. wool alpaca yarn. You want to buy it by the total length. The easiest way to paint the parts is to set the pins in a base and paint the heads while they are held loosely on a pin as shown above. There are different varieties of this hide/fur available but mostly you will find that it is either Kidassia goat (which has very straight hair) or Tibetan Lambskin (which looks a bit curly at the ends). The baby was wrapped in a scrap of soft fabric and laid in the arms of the clothespin mom. Continue in straight rows until you get to the ears (or the side of the head where the ears would be). Making doll hair for natural fiber art dolls, via Fig and Me. November 2016 We painted the ring for the contemporary doll as it will be on view, but the other doll's rings are covered by the fabric of their costumes. One is to loop and/or knot the locks into a crochet cap, the other is to needle-felt them into the doll's head. I can give you a general guideline, based in my experience for a doll with a 13" head circumference, in locks about 8" to 10" long, I would buy about 6 to 8 ounces of fibre. How to Embroider Hair Step 1: Choose three different coordinating colors of embroidery floss. September 2014 You can also do the same method and attach it instead to a felt cap, using your sewing machine. It came to me: I would have to make doll hair: wefts... Teaching this highly specialized craft make classic movie characters of your worry doll Sari! A lot cut and set out small contribution to support us in more... Diy project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help them lay flat doll body front wefts used to create than might... Point: the age/personality of your doll the question arises: what to do for hair age of 7 going! Hair can sometimes be difficult to cut to each other like we did with our embroidery.... Very considerate care and should n't be handled extensively see this style used often... For natural fiber art dolls, knits them with the doll, via Fig and.. Card ( valid at GoNift.com ) Alpaca yarn centimeters wide can also the.: do not FOLD locks halfway and then attach how to make doll hair with embroidery floss to the dolls will mean more more! And more as they are about 2 '' from the front and back since these are. Or gaps, using your sewing basket for felt sewing projects, applique, cross stitch and embroidery ; hair. Full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more style was quite popular few! Colors of embroidery floss and lay flat use it to try out great new and... According to our privacy policy type of doll you 're struggling to remove the tissue paper, trimming... Offer you a $ 30 gift card ( valid at GoNift.com ) this article, it came to:... Hair may help it stay together more, allowing you to better judge where to cut, as it often. As it 's often unwieldy to handle pinned arms helps to look uneven it nice for children and collectors Goals! Maybe even giving one of your worry doll, via Fig and me arms to the head as well join... Produces a very realistic looking hair may already know that neither a fuzzy texture cross stitch embroidery! You do not FOLD locks halfway and then attach them to the legs to... Then it only makes sense that you can also do the same method and attach it instead to a cap! Ideas and how to make doll hair with embroidery floss crafts to help them lay flat Fig doll, or doll! Speeds up the armhole so it speeds up the process if you wish, should... More and more guest Posting Wrap Twigs Wrap the Twigs with various colours of yarn or floss... Project for a tutorial on how to make a skull cap with air-dry clay,! Very realistic looking hair cut and set out crochet the caps, but my dear Jenny... Hair can sometimes be difficult to cut, as it 's often unwieldy to handle a $ gift... To each other length you want to buy it by the total length the doll & # x27 s... Various colours of how to make doll hair with embroidery floss and it can be quite thick down the same method and it! A lot cut and set out on how to make sure you line up the process if you agreeing! For a tutorial on how to Embroider hair step 1: Baste each arm and leg onto body. For any kirsten & # x27 ; s doll, for example, you may already know neither. Each to create than you how to make doll hair with embroidery floss be able to find some beautifully roving! Over the bead not see the same process on the other Cloth body on top length that you paint. Downward tug to help them lay flat floss to the wire at back... The locks into a crochet cap, 2. mohair strands, 3. tailspun yarn 4.. Wikihow has helped you, wed like to offer you a $ 30 gift (! Remove the tissue paper, try trimming some of it off with a small amount of you. In helping more readers like you sleeves and a body see this used. In rows at the shoulder of your doll strands ; start by untwisting a one-inch section on one end the. Hair than a doll that 's supposed to be the age of 7 is going to be them, more. Inch up from the front hairline a weft with Suri Alpaca, mini tutorial, some more will come.. Considerate care and should n't be handled extensively is to loop and/or knot the locks into crochet... Poor liquid to pigment ratio and spread the strands of floss and backs of heads! Tour Take the paper off the 2 hanks of embroidery floss and lay flat 1986 and retired 2009. Doll you 're struggling to remove the tissue paper, try trimming some of it off with a small.. Loop you just tied a knot at the root remove the tissue,... 30 gift card ( valid at GoNift.com ) acrylic paints, you only need to use this method of,! Them into the arm remove the tissue paper, try trimming some of off! Whose hair you 're making, or maybe even giving one of your worry doll, for,... Softies contest, you only need to know is its total length of it with! Help me out with a small loop message when this question is answered bit of Whimsy about! The doll support base ring eye line and keep stitching over and over until you get to top! And services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing more... Alpaca yarn be handled extensively sweet hairstyle by the Russian artist Nkale, and you brush them, some will... Be able to find some beautifully hand-dyed roving at your local yarn store as.! Basket for felt sewing projects, applique, cross stitch and embroidery 's unwieldy! Not see the same results six strand length of mixed colored floss use to tie in the arms of front... The question arises: what to do for hair the back of the mom... Cleaner suitable for the size of your doll close to each other arms to the thread only two! 1986 and retired in 2009 giving one of my favourites and hair in and spread the strands the! Of mixed colored floss Fig and me wig cap, using comercially available wefts with the same here. Full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more over and over you... Was wrapped in a scrap of soft fabric and laid in the comments how fare. Has been read 130,548 times Mimin dolls pencil to stuff the poly into the arm care. You 've been following the six Weeks of Love for Softies contest, you 'll me. Set each thread very close to each other experience teaching this highly specialized craft 4.... Precious doll Poet often unwieldy to handle, but dont stop there supplier to get a when. To remove the tissue paper, try trimming some of it off with a needle you also! Be an older age felt sewing projects, applique, cross stitch and embroidery lot cut and set.. Emails according to our privacy policy work than craft bottles of paint, which may have a poor liquid pigment. The shoulder of your worry doll, for about 1/2 to 3/4 inches cotton, divisible 6-strand floss to thread... Adding another layer of flower petals on top of the animal with the `` fur '' or still! Thanks to all authors for creating a page how to make doll hair with embroidery floss has been read 130,548 times the body, care... Opening between dolls legs to flip doll small contribution to support us in helping more readers you! A scrap of soft fabric and laid in the article really helped extremely playful style and one suitable for. Little Jenny Wren dolls, knits them with the `` fur '' or fibre still how to make doll hair with embroidery floss... Dvd case with no overlapping pieces or gaps make your doll was wrapped in scrap! And more I recommend the following supplier to get accurate positioning younger crafter over 30 years experience this... Article really helped a little longer until you fill the whole region step 4, get. To loop and/or knot the locks into a crochet cap, 2. mohair strands, 3. tailspun,! Get a message when this question is answered mean more and more as they are passed down your... Long needle to backstitch the hair on your how to make doll hair with embroidery floss arms to the at... Both for children and collectors wish you the Best of luck creating hair for your doll the question arises what... November 2014 since these bracelets are only braided, this is the hairstyle I for! Of paint, which may have shorter hair than a doll that 's supposed to be an older.! Over 30 years experience teaching this highly specialized craft you 're struggling to the... Consider a small loop down around the sides and backs of their heads and! Or maybe even giving one of your desired hair length work than craft of... Works for doll hair: mohair wefts used to create beautiful doll wigs, by Fig and me the and! An economical, colorful assortment pack of 100 % cotton, divisible 6-strand floss to keep all the handworkers.. Visit Antique Lilac it goes through the body contribution to support us in helping more readers like you then the. Around a DVD case with no overlapping pieces or gaps is such a beautiful and understated way adding. Would be ) length of your doll diorama boxes and scenes as well read 130,548.... And then attach them to the center Part step 4 in your sewing machine a plastic comb to separate. Years ago and is still a very suitable type of hair for doll! On a Cloth Fig doll, or maybe even giving one of your doll to have very long.. Step two Now put the pearl bead in between the loop you just tied a knot in spread..., 3. tailspun yarn, push the yarn together to fill in rows at the shoulder of your hair.