Changing a Custom

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

*looks at question*
*looks at dolls*
*looks back at question*

So... I've got 7 dolls whose heads are on different bodies to the ones they started with. Of those, 1 has retained their character from the previous body (but not the one they were intended to be), 2 have grown into their characters better, 3 are completely different characters now (one of them has changed gender, too, and another their age), and the last I still don't know who they are (she's actually on her 3rd body now).

I've also recently updated a faceup and redone another to match their character better, and updated another to match their new character. Wigs change quite frequently as I find it hard to find the right one.

These are all characters I've made up, btw, although two are heavily based on characters from a book. One of the reasons I make the characters up is that it's easier to change things according to what feels best.

So yeah, I change my dolls

[DollyKim]

Thanks. Looking back at things when I was a kid dolls would change characters as needed, I was lucky to have what few I did, but with the customs everyone but the twins was bought with a specific character in mind so there never was room to change. Once I decided the first batch who had tarted as characters in a story were actors and it didn't matter if new dolls fit in that or not things were wide open. The twins were prize dolls and much bigger than everyone else.

Changing clothes to suit their moods helps stretch things too. Rian keeps a Greatest American Hero costume in his closet for those moments when he's feeling super.

[werepuppy]

@ShortAndCuddlyAm Wow, that's a lot of changing! It is interesting to hear about though, and I have to wonder was there any factor that lead to the changing, or just something making you think that it was time?

@DollyKim Ooh, yeah that sounds like a cool way of doing things. And the outfit thing makes sense too. Hm; maybe I should keep a couple of spare outfits on hand.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

@werepuppy - there've been various factors. The short list o' reasons are:
Poseability of the original body.
Body not matching character.
Not being happy with character or body.
Not being happy with character and looks
Not being happy with head and body

For all of them there's been a niggling feeling growing over time that something wasn't right. Having taken the plunge to do one of them made it easier to do the others.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Not quite the same style, but I've just seen a pattern from Requiem Art for a frock coat for EAH and MH which might work with adjustments to size.

(edited to fix the link )

[DollyKim]

Do you need just Monster High patterns or ones for different types of dolls? I have solutions for both.

[MeltedCaramel]

WOW this is a late reply, sorry werepuppy! Just PM me whenever you feel like it! I'll definitely try and guide you through Etsy's minefields of 1/6 seamstresses!

[werepuppy]

And again I have to find myself apologising for not replying in a while.

ShortAndCuddlyAm, that frock coat looks perfect! I wonder what sizing I would need for a 27cm slim male obitsu. DollyKim, she who is a great creator, do you have any solutions that would be of help? And MC I'll likely PM you within the next few days, or as soon as I get my paypal to actually verify (it keeps saying I've done it, then I keep getting emails to tell me to go and verify...)

[MeltedCaramel]

And again I have to find myself apologising for not replying in a while.

ShortAndCuddlyAm, that frock coat looks perfect! I wonder what sizing I would need for a 27cm slim male obitsu. DollyKim, she who is a great creator, do you have any solutions that would be of help? And MC I'll likely PM you within the next few days, or as soon as I get my paypal to actually verify (it keeps saying I've done it, then I keep getting emails to tell me to go and verify...)

Don't worry about it werepuppy! I'm still here! I can definitely help you. It can be rewarding for some people to make their own clothes, and then there's people like me who like to just pay for them and go "Maestro! Do your magic!" I'll be able to help you break down prices/quality/etc, especially if you're able to give me a little more info/pics about the character via PM. (Clothing pictures I mean! It will help me know who to point you towards (and away from!) if you want to be lazy like me and just pay for amazing clothes to be sent your way. )

[DollyKim]

Totally glossed over the great creator thing, thank you very much.

It took some thinking for me to remember what I did for Kirnan my Slim before I drafted patterns. I had a pattern book for the Japanese Jenny doll and her boyfriend, Jenny #18 if you find a copy somewhere on the internets. I also played with some Barbie patterns we already had.

If you don't have an actual pattern you can make one by draping and pinning fabric to the doll to make a mock-up then use that to make a pattern.