Waldorf doll hair not using a crochet wig?

[Saramomofmany]

I'm using the Dancing Rain Doll kit/pattern, but having major issues with the instructions on wig making...Anyone have any ideas on how to attach the hair without using a crochet wig? I'm making 3 dolls for Christmas presents for 3 of my children. My son's is a smaller doll. I didn't know how to crochet, but my Mom showed me how to do the chain stitch, so I crocheted a really long chain stitch and then hand sewed that onto the head. Then I tried to add his hair to that and I couldn't crochet it onto the doily thing I crocheted. So I'm curious how I could add hair without crocheting it in?

Then for the other two dolls (12" & 16"), I haven't made them the doily hair thingy, and kind of thinking that maybe I wouldn't if there was a way to do the hair without it. I don't want to go through all this work and have crappy hair, but the whole crocheting thing is just stressing me out. I have tried to look online and such, but can't figure this out. They are all complete except for hair and arms getting sewn on(last step on Dancing Rain instructions).

Thanks!! Sara

[Yo Becca]

I would throw yourself on the mercy of your mom and have her crochet the caps. In the meantime, go ahead and attach the arms (it's not necessary to do the hair first). Once you get the crochet cap on, it's just a matter of pulling the hair through - you don't really "crochet" on each strand, you just pull it through a hole in the cap with the crochet hook, pull the ends of the hair through the loop, and tighten. Attaching the hair to the crochet cap is REALLy easy - way easier than sewing each peice to the head. ANd it's easy to attach the crochet cap to the head b/c the stitches don't show.

You don't want to crochet a chain. The pattern calls for "half double" crochet, but you could also do single or double, which are pretty easy to figure out (or for your mom to figure out). Good luck - i just finished 2 of DRD's mermaid kits, and it was a FEAT!

[Adele_Mommy]

The Weir and Magic Cabin kits have a way to make long hair for a doll that does not involve crocheting. It probably does not look quite as good, but for long hair, with or without a ponytail or braid, I think it looks fine. The disadvantage is the child cannot style the hair on the top of the head, though dc can play with and style the part hanging down. Basically what you do is:

1. Wrap your yarn around and around a piece of cardboard that is the length you want the hair to be from front hairline to end.
2. Cut the yarn along one end of the cardboard so you have a bunch of strands all twice as long as the hair should be.
3. Measure the length of the front hairline.
4. Sew a seam (with matching color thread) across the middle of your yarn that catches all the strands and is as long as the hairline measurement.
5. Fold the yarn over at the seam and sew it to your doll along the hair line.
6.Adjust the hair so it lies over the head the way you want and then tack it down at the neckline, and possibly one or two other places across the head as well.

Here are some pictures of dolls I made with hair using variations of this method (the Magic Cabin kit, which I used for the Nita doll, does it slightly differently so the seam in the yarn makes a part in the hair).

Nita
Mermaid

[5terre]

So is the 'half-hitch' described in the pattern really simple? I looked online for info and I only come up with fishing and hunting websites. is it kind of like latch hooking (I think I did that when I was about 6 and I still remember it!).

To the OP, I do know how to crochet and had some trouble with the cap. It was really hard to see what I was doing with the wispy mohair (rather than a crisp yarn). it doesn't really matter how well you crochet it, just that it covers the head! At least that's what I'm hoping!

[counterGOPI]

im right there with you mama. ive tried for a wek now to crochet the cap for my dd's waldorf doll. i can knit but i can NOT crochet :

[Saramomofmany]

Originally Posted by Yo Becca

I would throw yourself on the mercy of your mom and have her crochet the caps. In the meantime, go ahead and attach the arms (it's not necessary to do the hair first). Once you get the crochet cap on, it's just a matter of pulling the hair through - you don't really "crochet" on each strand, you just pull it through a hole in the cap with the crochet hook, pull the ends of the hair through the loop, and tighten. Attaching the hair to the crochet cap is REALLy easy - way easier than sewing each peice to the head. ANd it's easy to attach the crochet cap to the head b/c the stitches don't show.

You don't want to crochet a chain. The pattern calls for "half double" crochet, but you could also do single or double, which are pretty easy to figure out (or for your mom to figure out). Good luck - i just finished 2 of DRD's mermaid kits, and it was a FEAT!

Yo Becca,

Thanks for your suggestion of having my mom crochet the caps for me. She did one for my smallest doll yesterday and I started putting the hair on the cap last night. I was actually enjoying that part!! She's working on the other two caps and is supposed to have them done for me tomorrow so I can have Sat. to finish the wigs. Pweh!!

Thanks!! Sara

[Saramomofmany]

Originally Posted by Adele_Mommy

The Weir and Magic Cabin kits have a way to make long hair for a doll that does not involve crocheting. It probably does not look quite as good, but for long hair, with or without a ponytail or braid, I think it looks fine. The disadvantage is the child cannot style the hair on the top of the head, though dc can play with and style the part hanging down. Basically what you do is:

1. Wrap your yarn around and around a piece of cardboard that is the length you want the hair to be from front hairline to end.
2. Cut the yarn along one end of the cardboard so you have a bunch of strands all twice as long as the hair should be.
3. Measure the length of the front hairline.
4. Sew a seam (with matching color thread) across the middle of your yarn that catches all the strands and is as long as the hairline measurement.
5. Fold the yarn over at the seam and sew it to your doll along the hair line.
6.Adjust the hair so it lies over the head the way you want and then tack it down at the neckline, and possibly one or two other places across the head as well.

Here are some pictures of dolls I made with hair using variations of this method (the Magic Cabin kit, which I used for the Nita doll, does it slightly differently so the seam in the yarn makes a part in the hair).

Nita
Mermaid

Adele_Mommy, thanks for your help too!! Your dolls are so cute!!
Sara

[Saramomofmany]

Originally Posted by counterGOPI

im right there with you mama. ive tried for a wek now to crochet the cap for my dd's waldorf doll. i can knit but i can NOT crochet :

Hugs!!! I hope you can get it figured out. I cheated and am having my mom crochet the caps for me. Maybe someday I'll figure out how to do it, but not while I'm trying to get them done by Christmas. Good luck!!

Sara