Rooting Pains: Help my poor thumb and brain

[Pleasesaveheart]

Currently rooting a doll head and I have a few questions for my rooting gods here.

HOW DO I NOT KILL MY THUMB?! I have to take extended breaks from rooting because the needle does not want to easily slide through (I am doing the knot method) and my thumb is sore and tender to the touch. Is there anything I can use to prevent this from hurting so bad? I'd like to finish her head about now haha.

Also I am having problems with my nylon hanks becoming unmanagable, with fraying and tangling, how can I prevent this as well?

[Iwa_Hoshi]

Accept the pain, is time to go take a longer break. Soak hand in warm water and rest for the day, Getting a bit done a day is better than not doing. Your wrists will thank you as well.

I assume you are doing it this way.
For me I tend to poke a hole into the head, remove needle and push needle in eye end first into the hole and out through the neck. Use a thin wire to slot lock of pre-knotted hair into eye and pull it out scalp side.

As for tangling, You could try taking out a smaller hank to work on at a time instead of grabbing from the whole hank.

[DollyKim]

I prepped batches of knotted locks ahead of time. I pushed the needle through the scalp eye first with a good metal thimble, used a needle threader to pull the hair through the eye, then pulled it out through the scalp. When the prepped locks are gone it's time for a break.

It might help to wet the tip of the hair that's being pulled through the eye.

[SetsunaKou]

:hugs: I feel your pain! The knot method is really horribly hard on your hands.

We struggled through MANY roots that method until we discovered the needle and thread method. It's much easier, quicker, neater on the doll, and doesn't hurt your hands/fingers. The hair won't tangle/fray either.
Have you tried it/looked into this needle/thread method?

I now never root any other way!

[Pleasesaveheart]

D'oh! I guess resting is the best cure! Haha I'll take a break.

Also I don't understand the thread method at all...

[DollyKim]

My old blog with needle and thread rerooting

http://dolfielittles.typepad.com/blog/2 ... ethod.html

http://dolfielittles.typepad.com/blog/2 ... eroot.html

[maywong]

I push the needle through then use small plaits to pull it the rest of the way.

[embyquinn]

A metal thimble is your best friend. Ditto a pair of small pliers to pull the needle through.

Trust me, I have rooted many many dolls (and fiber wig caps) and my fingers have yet to forgive me.