by magkelly » Sat Mar 24, 2012 1:53 am
I used to use a needle and knots, still do around the hairline a bit, but sometimes I just use a very tiny crochet hook instead. I wet the hair, put the crochet hook through the original holes in the head from inside the head, grab the hair with the hook, twist it a bit, pull it through and knot it. It goes a lot faster than using a needle does and unlike with some methods I don't need to put glue in the head when I am done. You do have to be careful with older heads. I don't often do a vintage doll with this method because they can be a bit fragile from age. Also I find around the hairline that first row I prefer a needle but after that I will use the hook.
I've seen other methods, but I've never really liked the punch it all in method or the lock stitch method. Knotting just works for me but using a needle a lot makes me crazy so after that first row I will generally use a crochet hook. I don't actually like doing whole head roots much. I'm not very patient, laugh. I prefer to just add in more hair but I have done a few whole heads. I'm working on one now, older 80's Barbie. I'm rooting her in hot pink, purple and lime to match her eye makeup. I just can't do more than 4" per day on a whole head. I just get too bored and my neck hurts so a whole root usually takes me a while.
Might not be rooting anymore for a week or so actually. Hurt my neck a bit today. Some guy on a cell phone clipped me from behind while I was in the car at a stop light. 3rd darned time someone has done that me in the past decade. I really wish they'd outlaw the use of cell phones in the car here! It's not bad, only a little whiplash and a little dent above my r wheel now, but I don't think I need to be rooting doll hair and such while recovering from whiplash. ;P But I've got some pics to take of the recent re-roots I did, tomorrow maybe depending upon how my neck feels...