A Newb's Question About Doll Hair Types

[DollyKim]

There are rules? The half and half guy was my first reroot and going outside in just made sense to me. It makes planing stripes and patterns a lot easier. You can start from anywhere on the head. Don't skimp on the thimble, get a good thick one.

Another place to get hair is party supply stores, or the party supply aisle at Target. I picket up 6 piece clip on neon braids at Target, I guess 12-18 braids per Barbie depending on length and up to 24 for a Monster, and have used the little clippies to help keep the hair out of the way. I haven't figured out how many of the cheap extensions at the dollar store you'd need.

After awhile you'll be able to grab a bunch of hair and estimate if it's enough for your project.

[WhiteDove01s]

Don't skimp on the thimble, get a good thick one.

I've never really used a thimble before, so, yes, I'll definitely have to add one to the shopping list. I take it from the comment about thickness that they're not made out of metal any more?

After awhile you'll be able to grab a bunch of hair and estimate if it's enough for your project.

I'm starting to get something of a feel for that already from de-hairing the back room barbies. I usually get three decently fat braids from each head, so I figure rerooting would use half the same in diameter due to being doubled over. I intend to overestimate for safety tho until I really get the hang of it.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Don't skimp on the thimble, get a good thick one.

I've never really used a thimble before, so, yes, I'll definitely have to add one to the shopping list. I take it from the comment about thickness that they're not made out of metal any more?

I had a metal one that appeared to made out of little more than tin foil - if I used it with anything remotely tough the eye end would go through the thimble instead of the pointy end through the fabric

[DollyKim]

You can find good thimbles with a bit of a search, it's a get what you pay for thing. With the needle and thread method you can pinch the needle to push it through eye first, I just like to push it with my thumb on the point. If the doll already has holes you can dull the point for use.

[WhiteDove01s]

I found an old thimble in the bottom of my sewing box that I'd never used, and tried to poke a hole in it. It's undamaged, so I guess I'm good to go there. The longest needle I have would barely work if I used tweezers to grab it, so I'm going to hold on that and get one of the extra long doll needles. And I'm going to have to hunt around for either my good cotton quilting thread or that spool of silk thread I got but never got the fabric I was going to sew it with. Cheap dollar store polyester thread snaps sometimes when I'm sewing with it normally or on the machine (note: have not used the machine in some years and not sure it still works at this point), so I don't really want to use it for rooting. Seems too risky I'd go to brush and it'd snap.

[DollyKim]

I use the sewing thread that comes on cones, sometimes called Overlock because it's for those multi thread machines, it holds up nicely. It's all over the craft store and you won't run out any time soon.

The needles are specifically called Doll Needles, they're nice and long and sturdy.

[WhiteDove01s]

I use the sewing thread that comes on cones, sometimes called Overlock because it's for those multi thread machines, it holds up nicely. It's all over the craft store and you won't run out any time soon.

No regular access to a craft store, which makes some things hard. I have no car and there isn't one in my very limited walking distance. I'll be out near one maybe sometime in August though, and will have a look then if that isn't in Amazon. I still might give my silk thread a try if I can find the spool. Silk is really strong stuff, and I doubt I'll have any other project that needs it any time soon.

The needles are specifically called Doll Needles, they're nice and long and sturdy.

I've seen them on the Dollyhair site and they're on my list of things to order once I've saved up enough for that.

Any idea how long it normally takes for samples to arrive from there? I requested some not too long before starting this post, and there's been no word. I'm starting to think the email didn't send.

[DollyKim]

Give her a good week to 10 days to get stuff out. She might be the only one working there.