floppy heads
Hello Babe-Knitters -
I posted a babe way back in July and now I have taken on the crazy project of knitting babe-maids for my wedding (in August). I am making seven "babes" and two "animal-babes" (tbd). I have two questions.
1. The complete babe that I have has a weak neck, so bad that she basically folds in half if she isn't proped agains something. I was given the suggestion of using a wooden spoon/plastic spoon for support. I was wondering if anyone has done this or if there are any other suggestions.
2. As it is now May and I have only five bodies completed I wondered if anyone had a suggestion for quick, cute dresses that care simple to make.
Thanks!
posted by andinut @ 11:11 AM
7 Comments:
Hey, that sounds like a fun, if busy, project!
About floppy necks--I spent a lot of time shopping for wooden spoons that would fit in the doll. I never did find a spoon of a satisfactory size. What I do is insert a "backbone" using a 1/4" wooden craft dowel. I find that if I break the dowel in half, it fits the doll perfectly. I stuff around the backbone so that it's not noticeable when you lovingly squish the dolly.
As for speedy dresses, I find that dresses that are strapless, or at least have that straight-neckline shape, with a ribbon or crocheted strap, sew or knit up a lot faster than dresses with a shaped neckline. And I love dresses and tops cut from engaging recycled fabrics.
Good luck!
I solved a problem with a floppy-necked doll that I had already finished this way - I cut the corner of a hanger so that both sides would run nearly the length of the doll and folded it into a tight u-shape. Then, I inserted it through the bottom of the doll and pushed it up into the body of the doll. My daughter plays with it frequently and has had no problem with it poking through. I suppose ideally, I would encase the hanger in cloth and put it in before sewing up the bottom. Good luck
i wonder if you could put a (biodegradeable, of course) "noodle" inside right at that portion? (the ones we sometimes call, "peanuts" and use as packing filler.
good luck! sounds like an ambitious but fun and very thoughtful project. congratulations and happy wedding!
best wishes,
joan
For a firm neck I used 3-4 plastic coffee stirers (starbucks or McDonalds). Wind them all together with the same yarn you used for the body, tie it off and stuff the body, insert the stirers in the neck , stuff around the stirers and then finish stuffing the head. Voila! NO floppy neck! It really does work a treat!
I once used a bamboo skewer broken in half to support a floppy neck.
Thanks for all of your comments. I ended up using one of those foam paint brushes from the craft section. It seemed to work really well. No floppy heads. Also, my cousin happens to be a secret seamstress so she helped (actually she did all the work) me with the dresses. They have faces, hair and clothes but no arms and legs. When they are finished I will post pictures.
Thanks again,
andrea
Tried it all, a wooden spoon, foam tube, a paint brush handle. I remembered that for a little one that it had to be washable. For Roni's Chemo caps kids I simply rolled felt and added a few stitches to keep in a shape that would fit in the neck. Absolutely perfect, the neck stay upright and yet has a natural soft flexibility to it. Best of luck!
Post a Comment
<< Home