MAKING BETTER HANDS IN CLOTH Lots of people talk with their hands. (Especially those of us of Italian descent!) But did you know that your doll is speaking with its hands? Although it can't move a finger, it is telling the world what kind of dollmaker you are. "She gave me a pretty face, but just look at these yucky hands!" Don't let them talk about you that way. Take a good look at your doll's hands and see if they are saying what you want them to. If not, it's time to take some steps toward correcting the problems you see. Problem #1: A wrinkle across the base of the fingers. Analysis: The real problem is seam allowance that wasn't clipped properly. Check your pattern, and your stitching. Chances are that you sewed a U-shape at the base of the fingers, between each finger. Like any curve, this needs to be clipped all the way to the stitches to allow the fabric to be turned completely inside out. Any seam allowance on the curve that hasn't been clipped is pulling on the fingers, and causing the pucker. Solution: Simply clip your curves, cutting all the way to the stitching. Or, sew a V-shape instead of a U-shape between the fingers. Take only one stitch across the base of each finger gap, and cut all the way to the stitching. Don't leave a single thread of fabric to pull on your fingers. This allows the fingers to turn without interference from the seam allowance. (See also problem #6.) Problem #2: Very wide hands. Analysis: You are probably drawing a pattern that uses parallel fingers. In order to leave a gap between fingers to allow for seam allowance, you are adding unwanted width just to separate all the fingers. Solution: Make a pattern with splayed fingers instead of parallel fingers. The seam allowance will become almost nonexistent at the base between each finger, but a drop of flexible fabric glue, rubbed into the fabric before cutting will keep it from pulling away from the stitches there. (Be sure to use a tightly woven fabric on small hands, or this won't work.) Now you have four separate fingers on a narrower palm. Problem #3: Hands too small. Analysis: You wanted dainty-looking hands, so you made them smaller than they should be. Solution: Measure the hands against the face of the doll. The hands (from the heel to the tallest finger) should be the same length as the face (from the chin to the hairline). The tallest finger should be half of that length. The hands should be about half as wide as they are long. For daintier hands, taper the fingers and reduce some width at the heel of the hand. Problem #4: Fingers rip when you try to turn them. Analysis: You are applying a lot of pressure against a tiny area of fabric. Solution: Use the proper turning tool. Do not use any tool that has a sharp edge. Do not use a tool that is the wrong size for the finger you are turning. And push, don't pull. Buy different sizes of brass tubing at the hardware store, so you are sure to have one that fits snugly inside any finger. Use a file or emery board to smooth and round the edge of the tube. Twist it as you insert it into the finger, so that it goes all the way to the top. Use another tool with a notch in the end to push the finger into the tube. Place the notch over the seam, so the stitching (which is strong) absorbs the pressure, instead of the fabric (which is not as strong). Gently but firmly grasp the finger along the seam and ease it up the outside of the tube as you push down with the smaller tool. Your fingers should all come out intact, since all pressure is on the seam, and it is spread out over the whole finger, instead of one small area. Problem #5: Fingers are lumpy. Analysis: It is always difficult to pack stuffing evenly into fabric tubes, and especially hard when packing it into tiny fingers. Solution: Don't even try to pack stuffing into fingers. Make a wire skeleton instead. You can use pipe cleaners, or larger chenille stems as your skeleton base. The chenille on the twisted wire creates a nap which will hold polyfill stuffing in place. Just wrap polyfill around the wire, from the base all the way to the finger tips. Hold it tightly between your fingers as you twirl the wire, wrapping the polyfill as you would wrap floral tape around a flower stem. Keep it tight and even, tapering slightly toward the finger tips. Place a drop of fabric glue at the end of the wire, and squeeze the stuffing together to cover the wire tip. Finally, insert the wrapped wire into the fingers. No more lumps! Problem #6: Hands look puffy. Analysis: You are stuffing the hands the way you stuff the rest of the doll body; shoving in all the polyfill the space will hold. This causes the hands to expand in all directions to accommodate the stuffing. Solution: Don't overfill. To keep hands wide and flat, use the finger skeleton in #5 and wrap a piece of felt batting around the wires from the wrist to the knuckles. Sew the felt around the edges to keep it in place. Then insert the whole unit into the hands. You can add extra stuffing, if you desire, into the palm side of the hand. This will make the back of the hand look bonier, and the palm fleshier. That is the natural shape for hands. Problem #7: Thumb doesn't look natural. When it is positioned to oppose the fingers it creates an unnatural dent in the side of the hand. Analysis: You are trying to make the hand in one piece, and then positioning it in a three dimensional pose. Solution: Make the thumb separately. Redraw your hand pattern, without the thumb. Then draw a separate thumb which starts at the heel of the hand, and reaches out to the arch shown. Let the base form the "lifeline" on the palm. Cut a hole in the palm side of the hand fabric to allow the wrapped wire for the thumb to come through. Then slip on the thumb. Add enough stuffing to fill out the shape and pose the thumb in its final position. Turn the edge of the base under, matching the back edge to the side seam of the hand. Cut away excess fabric there. Pin and hand stitch the thumb to the hand. If you can recognize and correct these problems before displaying your dolls, you will get a much better response from the viewers. They may even speak with their hands, in a language which we all like to hear - applause! Back to Workbook Forward to next Article URL:hand.html