Felting and doll hair

I've never tried felting, Anne, but I've made many, many dolls!

My favourite hair material is faux fur. You can cut a T-shaped piece and stitch it to the doll's head (stem of the T pointing forward and the crosspiece wrapping around the head to end behind the ears). Comb the fur into a normal-looking growth pattern and then give the doll a haircut that suits. If you use the extra-long fur fabric, you can even make plaits or bunches or comb up a bun. The fabric can be expensive, but only 10cm will provide hair for a good-sized doll - in fact, for many good-sized dolls! Curly astrakhan makes a nice curly 'do' for dolly and is a lot easier to manage than the nasty saran-based stuff they sell for wigs. If the doll is smallish (say, the size of your average Barbidol), then you only need cut a circle of astrakhan and stitch that onto the doll's head. Fluff up the curls and she's good to go!

HTH,

I think it would work. I've used cotton fabrick as a backing for felting.

Because of the way a felting needle is constructed, you really don't want to use anything else. IIRC, they're not that expensive, about $1 each.

Elizabeth

That was an attractive price point. I found a set of felt works needles which only cost $2 with a coupon at AC Moore. Other local stores had clover refills which looked like what I saw online but the package said not to use them by themselves.

I now have 2 little Koman Kutie dolls who look like they're having bad hair days ;-)

I'm having trouble visualizing this. Is there a picture somewhere?

Oh cool! I've had a great time playing with needlefelting. It's very forgiving and I find it inspiring. I'm glad it is working for you.

Elizabeth

No, I haven't, sorry. :-( This is the best I can do for you:

Try cutting a square piece of paper to fit the doll first. You can use it as a pattern when cutting the faux fur.

________X_________ | | | | ------ ------- | | | | | | --Y--

The height of the T-shape (X - Y) needs to be the distance from front hairline to back hairline on your doll.

The length of the crosspieces (A - B) needs to be the horizontal distance around the head (ie where you want the hair to appear, so from the back of one ear to the back of the other).

A __________________ B | | | | ------ ------- | | | | | | -----

G - H forms the front hairline above the forehead. C - A and B - F form the side hairlines around the ears.

A __________________ B | | | | C -----D E------ F | | | | | | G ----- H

Folding C over to G, stitch C - D to D - G Folding F over to H, stitch E - F to E - H

Fit the (now cup-shaped) piece on the doll's head and see if you need to trim any of the corners to make it sit better. The corners at A and B will probably need rounding off a bit. You might want to put small darts or tucks in the A - B edge to make the piece fit into the head more neatly.

Next, stitch the piece on all around its edges and then brush the hair into shape. You can put a part in longer hair if you wish. Settle it with a bit of spray starch or even mousse.

Finally, cut the hair into a style. If you have a friend who cuts hair, ask for her help: this is surprisingly like cutting a real person's hair once it's on!

I've made lots of calico dolls and given them wigs based on this method: it works a treat! Only one of the dolls is still with me, sadly, (Joshua Jones, bless 'im) and he's getting on in years. His wig is now rather matted owing to many tears and globs of ice-cream and dog-licks. I'll try and get someone to take a photo of him so you can see how the hair works.

When I'm making dolls, I'll often get a bit of paper or plastic bag and wrap it around the form to get a pattern. I just hold the paper on and draw cutting lines with a felt tip pen. Adding a generous seam allowance (say, a centimetre or half an inch) gives enough ease for movement. Calico (muslin) dolls are easy for this, because you can pin the paper to the body, thus leaving both your hands free for pinching darts and drawing lines.

I've got an ancient pattern that was meant for fur teddy bears and over the years I've modified it umpteen times to make Joshua Jones, Fireman Sam (his shiny boots were a nightmare!), Elvis Cridlington (whose nose nearly drove me mental), Postman Pat (got lucky and found reddish brown faux fur for his hair), a bunny rabbit and a little girl with woollen ringlets and lace pantalettes. LOLOLOLOL! Anyone'd think I was a miser! Doll-making's huge fun, especially when it's a particular character and the challenge is to make it 'work'.

Of course, having an appreciative child as the giftee helps too. I sat finishing Elvis Cridlington as DD recovered from her adenoidectomy in hospital. She'd had a pretty rough trot and the finished Elvis helped her through a bad patch. Fireman Sam was a gift for a little boy who didn't believe in playing with dolls, but who nearly *died* when presented with his very own Sam, complete with helmet and brass buttons! Sigh. It'll be years and years till I get grandkids...

I have no idea if there is a photo anywhere because I don't make dolls. Does this help?? -- put the BOTTOM of the "T" shaped piece along the forhead then lay the piece over the crown of the head going back to the nape at the neck. Now bring each of the sides of the top bar of the "T" around the base of the head and up towards the back of each ear. Make a bit more sense now :-)? CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

When I posted, I hadn't seen that you had already posted more detailed directions. As for triping over your words -- you need to get in line behind MOI -- LOLOL! Everyone knows that, when I get going on a topic, some is good but more is always better :-). ciaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

snipped and saved

Thanks much.

Soft Dolls and Animals magazine had 2 wordy and imnsho poorly written articles about needle felting hair. The finished heads were shown but not the steps that led up to that point. I wish there was a local "how to attach stuff" seminar or an illustrated web site. When I asked the friend who turned me on to doll making how to attach feathers for use as hair like she had done, all I got was just sew 'em on.

It didn't hurt ;-) Anytime you're heading north on I-75 and want to give me some one on one tutoring, I'll feed you well!!

"They" say one must hear something 3 times before it sinks in. You could edit your post and maybe, just maybe, the light bulb would go off for me!

I HAVE got to try it - just saw some cute kits, with needles, at AC Moore. (and a 40% off coupon makes it very attractive to try - like I have the time).

Cheryl

My initial exposure to needlefelting was traumatic -- I won't bore you with the details -- so I was hesitant to try the hair attaching technique.

I should make some heads to practise on. It's quite likely that my styling techniques with wool will be as bad as my use of a curling iron on my own hair. If anyone comments negatively on the hair styles, I will be snooty and say "ah, that's artistic and just what I wanted, dahling"

UMMM, where are you located? I'm always ready for a meet & greet. If you're more than a day trip away and if you have any sort of LNS or LQS wort visiting in the area, then I'll just make DH take me for a long weekend :-). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at