Floppy arms and legs! Help!

[mjbcmom]

Hi there,

I am making waldorf dolls for my three girls for Christmas. I bought a Joy's 16" button jointed child pattern from weir crafts. So far everything looks great, but I am trying to attach the arms and I am following the directions well, but no matter how tight I  pull the threads, the arms are still floppy... meaning that if I put her hand up, it falls right back down.

A friend who made a DRD doll last year recommended covering the button with fabric, which I just did, but it didn't make much of a difference. It seems that a button with four holes would make it a bit better, but then I'm not sure how you would still be able pull the thread all the way through the body after attaching the second arm. Anyone else have this problem??  Certainly I could put the buttons on the outside, but it doesn't seem like I should have to, as I've seen the button jointed dolls in a lot of cataogs and such with the button in between the arm and the body. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[BethSLP]

I wish I could help you (as I know you are on a time crunch) but I've never done a button jointed doll.  How old are your daughters?  Have you considered just sewing the arms on?  DRD recommends this for younger kids because they hold up better over time.  I think its difficult to get the button joints stiff enough and to stay that way over time and not get floppy.

Good luck!

XOXO

B

[mjbcmom]

Thanks anyway!

My girls are 5 (twins) and 3. I finally just put the buttons on the outside of the arms and legs. I really didn't want o do that, but I tried it and the buttons that I got are clear and so it really doesn't look that bad and, better yet, the arms and legs are really tight now... I can even get them to stand up on their own! If anyone else has a thought, though I would still appreciate hearing it, as I have A LOT of materials left and will probably make more in the future!

Megan

[BethSLP]

Megan, 

you might try doing fabric covered buttons on the outside.  You can just take a circle of your skin fabric and stitch around the outside edge and then cinch it tight over your button.  It makes a flesh colored button cover.  The button is still on the outside of the arm, but it blends in more.  DRD has that on its button joint instructions.

XOXO

B

[BethSLP]

oh, I see someone told you about this already ;)  should have re-read the OP.

XOXO

B