Help

This would be the place to ask questions or share information concerning all types of doll making, re-doing, etc.
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georgeanne
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Help

Post by georgeanne »

So I have decided that after 10 years of being a rooting procrastinator and frankly missing seeing babies with rooted hair I am going to bite the bullet and start rooting again. Stupid, dumb, assinine question which I should already know. When rooting a doll head that has a small hole at the neck how the heck are you getting a heated rice sock in the head. Do you use an exacto knife and make the hole bigger or what? My MS has made me have difficulty controlling small things with my hands and I am kind of afraid I might inadvertently gouge a big hole in the head. Any tips or advice is very welcome.
BRONX & COLT BORN 10/16/2015 Our Grandbabies, Forever in Our Hearts.

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Tracy Lorraine
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Re: Help

Post by Tracy Lorraine »

Wish I could help, but I have no clue. I'm sure the right person will come along with the answer soon.
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georgeanne
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Re: Help

Post by georgeanne »

Thank you Tracy, I hope so to.
BRONX & COLT BORN 10/16/2015 Our Grandbabies, Forever in Our Hearts.

"When you can't look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark." Alice in Wonderland
Julie56
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Re: Help

Post by Julie56 »

Poppet had a small opening in her head and I ended up cutting a bigger hole with scissors,
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cookielover
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Re: Help

Post by cookielover »

Don't know how small the hole is but when I do this I put the rice in a hose very loosely leaving an empty area inside. I tie off the top end. Keep most of the rice at this tied off end. Then put the other empty "toe end" in the hole... then slowly move the rice down inside the hose as I move the hose inside the head. It actually goes pretty fast. Then put the extra hose inside the head and more material etc.if needed to keep the rice pack there. Reverse to get rice bag out. Hope you find an answer. Hugs, Ruth
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Brooke
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Re: Help

Post by Brooke »

What Ruth said! It work's great. The secret is to use a thin sock, like a trouser sock, and use the whole long length so you can just get the empty toe part of the sock deep inside the head and then let the rice funnel down into the toe and sock slowly. I usually fill the head up with rice before I put it in the sock to measure how much I need, and then dump it into the sock. Works every time. Even on tiny mini babies. Oh, after heating you may need to use a hot pat or something to hold the rice end while you are funneling so it isn't too hot on your hand (if you are sensitive to heat).
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georgeanne
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Re: Help

Post by georgeanne »

Thanks Ruth and Brooke, I do that, but we are talking about a very small hole. Might have to put in one kern of rice at a time (lol) and go from there. This is why for the last 10 years I have been painting hair or leaving the baby bald.

Brooke an aside, I bought 2 of the MG rooting tools one with one rooting needle and the other with 2. I have failed to get any hair to grab using the 2 needle tool and occasionally can with the single needle tool. I just remember you mentioning your experience with the MG tools. I always have to try new things myself and learn the hard way that other methods I use are still the best. The compact needles are Tinkerbell are the best for me.
BRONX & COLT BORN 10/16/2015 Our Grandbabies, Forever in Our Hearts.

"When you can't look on the bright side, I will sit with you in the dark." Alice in Wonderland
Brooke
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Re: Help

Post by Brooke »

If you are still stumped, I suggest pouring some rice into that small hole, one grain at a time, and then stuffing something in the neck so it doesn't fall out and the head doesn't squish when you poke the needle in. Maybe a bit of wadded up tissue. Then make yourself a rice pillow and heat the head from the outside. HA HA, a rice pillow is just a rice sock heated up! Put it on a pillow on your lap and then set the head on it. When that side is warm root there, then the other side will be ready for rooting.
nanaslilblossoms
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Re: Help

Post by nanaslilblossoms »

I have often cut the hole larger if I need to warm head. I can also set the head in front of our fireplace and warm it up. Vinyl does get harder if it's cold.
So rooting with my 46 needles does become harder for me during the winter.

Hugs,
Nancy J.
Nana's Li'l Blossoms, rooting specialist
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