Dollieh Sanctuary

Good news: I got Holloran (my Dollzone Nina) restrung all by myself!

Bad news: She is even floppier than before now

Did you try using less elastic? Hot glue suede?

Alopecia No Hime wrote:Did you try using less elastic? Hot glue suede?

The problem is definitely the elastic... I thought she just was floppy cause she's old (I got her secondhand), so I put new elastic in her... Apparently that wasn't problem. She's just strung too loosely, and the new string must be longer than the old one.

Although now that I have successfully restrung her once, I know how to do it, for the next time... I will probably invest in a second hemostat before attempting another restringing, though.

I heard you could also use chopsticks too.

I use up to 3 hemostats while restringing, even if I have 4. One I rarely use because it's huge. But restringing really isn't scary, just tedious at times. I once got rope burn for 3 days from restringing an old delf body.

I've always thought (because I used to make porcelain dolls) that you should string dolls as tightly as possible, so that's what I've always done. The problem with that, though, is that they kick you, and the arms and legs want to snap into unnatural positions. I'm wondering now if they won't pose better if they're not so tightly strung--not quite as floppy as Bobobies, but somewhere in the middle. What do you all think?

I've restrung just about all my dolls...and I prefer them kicky at first because then the elastic will relax over time. Once they get so floppy they can't hold any sort of pose, I'll restring them again. I think the tension depends on the owner, though, and what they really like.

Did you get elastic made for dolls, or did you use elastic you can buy at the store? That could be your problem. The kind of elastic you can buy at Joann or fabric stores is not designed for use in dolls - it's very very springy. You need to buy elastic from a doll supplier so you get the less springy stuff that will hold tighter.

Been there, done that myself which is why I know.

Greyhaunt wrote:Did you get elastic made for dolls, or did you use elastic you can buy at the store? That could be your problem. The kind of elastic you can buy at Joann or fabric stores is not designed for use in dolls - it's very very springy. You need to buy elastic from a doll supplier so you get the less springy stuff that will hold tighter.

Been there, done that myself which is why I know.

I got the MSD string kit from Junky Spot. Supposedly it was already cut to the correct size.

Lamia of the Dark wrote:

Greyhaunt wrote:Did you get elastic made for dolls, or did you use elastic you can buy at the store? That could be your problem. The kind of elastic you can buy at Joann or fabric stores is not designed for use in dolls - it's very very springy. You need to buy elastic from a doll supplier so you get the less springy stuff that will hold tighter.

Been there, done that myself which is why I know.

I got the MSD string kit from Junky Spot. Supposedly it was already cut to the correct size.

That's good elastic then - you probably just need to pull it tighter. It takes a few tries to get it the way you want it usually. When it says "right size" that just means you are going to have enough to string a standard MSD type doll, but it doesn't mean it will be the perfect length for your personal tastes. Just untie your knots and give'm a good pull until you are happy with the results