how is this waldorf hair done? (deconstruct this picture for me) - Page 2

[E.V. Lowi]

Try it and see if you like the way it turns out. That is how most doll makers do their thing.

[sarah_bella1050]

Sounds like a correct theory, but I would do one layer sewn down to bottom hairline and then add the parted hairline at top.  Make the top section nice and thick, then just sew the bottom layer of it down.

[BethSLP]

FINALLY SOME PICTURES! ;)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=244376&id=678131794&l=898aaada39

Please let me know if the link works.

Obviously, the hair needs trimmed, but I want to play with it a bit before making any cuts.  I think once its trimmed, the buns will look a little less gigantic ;)

The final result I got looks very similar to the Tumbleberrys IMO.  What I did was sew the first layer of hair at the center part, then around the head at the eye line.  Then I did a SECOND sewing line on the first layer of hair further down but skipping the first four strands of hair on each side.  I basically started the lower sewing line right at the seam where the ear would be.  With my chunky yarn, this worked out to be exactly four strands of hair, but with thinner hair it would be more.  This creates the little point above the hypothetical ear that sweeps up into the ponytails.

I sewed another layer at the center part, but it wasn't enough hair to cover the first sewed to the head layer.  So I sewed a third layer at the center part.  That is when it really filled in and looked "right" to me.  

I think the two buns look crazy huge right now, but I think once the hair is trimmed a bit shorter, they will be less bulky.

Now I just have to do arms, wings, and shoes.  My mom will do the dress (and a matching one for DD).

Would love name suggestions if you've got ideas.  Should obviously be something earthy/hippie/fairy.  DD will have final say of course, but if I don't at least give suggestions this doll will probably be another "Chloe" like every other doll in this house :lol

XOXO

B

Edited by BethSLP - 11/16/10 at 6:27am

[benandmarensmom]

She  is beautiful, the hair looks perfect. You daughter is very lucky.

[E.V. Lowi]

She is a delight! Bravo!!

[BethSLP]

updated pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=244376&id=678131794&l=898aaada39

Dolly now has arms and is borrowing clothes from DD's other waldorf doll I made two years ago.  I also included a picture of them together.  You can see the first doll has a pretty dirty face.  Lots of love ;)

Thanks so much for the kind words.  Once I finish the wings and shoes, I'm gonna have to sit on my hands waiting until Christmas for the big reveal ;)

XOXO

B

[omamasmama]

way to go mama! thanks for sharing your experience. I'm going to make my first doll for my little one for her birthday in January. I was looking at the starry sheep pattern and your tips are really helpful. how much yarn did you use? more than one skein? the doll is adorable.  

[BethSLP]

Originally Posted by omamasmama 

way to go mama! thanks for sharing your experience. I'm going to make my first doll for my little one for her birthday in January. I was looking at the starry sheep pattern and your tips are really helpful. how much yarn did you use? more than one skein? the doll is adorable.  

awww. thanks.  I didn't use a whole skein of yarn.  If I had to guess, I think it was about a half a skein?  maybe 3/4?  (I've wondered this actually because its a bit hard to tell, but I think I have enough to make another doll hair if I went a bit shorter....).  

best wishes!

XOXO

B

[BethSLP]

Omamasmama,

I just copied and pasted this from a PM I sent someone about the amount of yarn used as they were wondering how to tell if they had enough.  I sent a PM but now I think it might be useful for others??

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just now was reading back through the thread on making a waldorf doll with tumbleberry-ish hair and realized I hadn't answered this.  I didn't know the answer until I finished the hair last night ;)

I think it depends on a lot of factors (bulk of yarn, length of hair, etc.)

I used this yarn:

http://www.yarn.com/webs-knitting-crochet-yarns-malabrigo/webs-knitting-crochet-yarns-malabrigo-rasta/

I pasted pics of my dolls finished hair in the original thread if you want to see how it looks.  The specs of the yarn on that page give the yardage, etc.  but truly the bulk matters (as thats what covers surface area of the head). 

With the Malabrigo Rasta yard, I used about half the hank.  And you can see I went quite long and full (3 layers of hair total).  I wrapped the yarn around a book (as instructed by the starry sheep tute).  I chose the book by sitting the doll next to a book standing on its end to find one slightly taller than the doll.  I wanted the hair to reach her butt when she was seated.  Then I pushed the yarn (that was wrapped around the book) as close together as I could at one end but in a single layer.  When that edge (that was snugly pressed together) reached 4.5 inches, it was wide enough for the wig (for a 14 inch doll). 

I suppose if you have your doll in front of you, you could find a book that measures how you want the hair to be length wise, and wrap the yarn around it.  See how many inches across the end you can achieve with the yarn you have.  I would say you would need 13 inches across the book end if your doll is about 14 inches and you want to do 3 layers (4.5 x 3).

If what I'm saying doesn't make sense, check the starrysheep tute.  it will probably become clear.  Instead of a book, they use a CD case as their hair is shorter.

In the thread I explained about how I sewed down each layer (as I think I figured out how to achieve the Tumbleberry look (it has to do with two sewing lines on the initial layer (one at the eye line and one slightly below the eyeline but back further (with the hair that is in front of the horizontal seam of the head not sewn by the lower line).  What it does is create this kind of point above where an ear might be.  It looks cuter when pulled up into ponytails.

I found that with the bulky yarn I needed 3 layers of hair to do the trick and look full enough.  With two layers, too much of the sewn to the head parts were showing.

The starry sheep tute is excellent, but only for hair that will remain down (as sewing around the eye line is not low enough on the head for pulling into a ponytail).  If you pull up the hair on that doll, it will look weird in the back and kind of halfway bald.  There may be another solution than sewing the two lines but I'm skeptical.  My only other thought was to sew the first few bits of hair at the eye line and then swoop way down lower at the back of the head, but I vetoed that because I thought it was a long way down to have that as the only place to anchor the hair to the head.  In my mind, you could easily grab a strand and yank it out if its going from center part seam to base of neck with nothing else holding it in place.  Hope that makes sense.....

XOXO

B

[BethSLP]

pictures updated again.  she now has her dress and wings. will probably make shoes, and need to figure out a way to strengthen the neck (see other thread I just posted on floppy neck).  but otherwise she's done.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=244376&id=678131794&l=898aaada39

 

 

XOXO

B