Make Your Own String Doll!

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  Step 1

  create a base to make your string doll's body on. use Styrofoam and glue a guide on top so you know where to put your pins. the measurements for where the pins should go is in the image.

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  Step 2

  now we begin to make the head. this is the brand of yarn/string I use, but anything you think will work can work. just be sure that your string isn't too thin, or your project will take twice as long to make and look half as nice!

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  Step 3

  to start wrapping the head, it's easiest if you take a pony-bead and tie the string in a knot through it.

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  Step 4

  now start wrapping around the bead, forming the head. make sure to wrap it tight and secure so it doesn't unravel! (I should know. It's a pain in the behind.)

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  Step 5

  keep wrapping until your ball of string is a little less than an inch wide. Then, cut the string about a foot and a half or so away from the ball. add two seed beads of your choice and continue to wrap the head until it is about and inch wide.

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  Step 6

  secure the end of the string to the heat with a dab from the hot glue gun, then cut off the access when the glue has completely hardened.

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  Step 7

  set the head aside. Now we begin on the body! :D get out that pin board you made earlier. start wrapping your string around the pins until there are 3 or 4 loops around each pin.

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  Step 8

  LISTEN UP! Here is where everything starts to get confusing!
  once finished, loop the string near the white pin on the board around each of the groups of loops (heh heh that rhymes!). Then tie that string and the string attached to the ball of yarn together. DO NOT CUT ANYTHING! the string attached to the yarn will be used to build up the rest of the body! remove the loops from the pegboard, like in the picture. see how it looks a pit like a person?

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  Step 9

  we are starting by wrapping the leg. wrap the leg with the loops tight together. do this until you reach the end of the leg.

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  Step 10

  now start wrapping back up the leg, with the loops tight as before. congrats! You've just completed the first leg! (No pun intended!)

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  Step 11

  loop the string twice around the waist of the doll.

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  Step 12

  Now wrap the other leg as you did the first leg. Yay! Now you've completed leg two!

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  Step 13

  wrap the string twice over the opposite shoulder of the leg you just wrapped.

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  Step 14

  wrap the same arm as the shoulder. You've probably got the hand of it by now! ;) then loop the string twice over the opposite shoulder.

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  Step 15

  wrap the final arm.

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  Step 16

  now wrap around the legs to create the torso.

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  Step 17

  cut the string a ways from the body and thread your blunt needle. at the back of the body, draw the needle up under the tors you just wrapped. this kind of keeps it from unraveling. secure the string with a drop from your hot glue gun, then trim the access string.

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  Step 18

  now grab the head you made earlier and secure it in the loop for the head.

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  Step 19

  pull the head back and dab a bit of hot glue where the head joins to the body.

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  Step 20

  once the glue hardens, turn the doll around and push it's head forward, repeating the step before except for the back of the head.

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  Step 21

  now to further secure the head, dab glue around the top and sides of the head loop so the head doesn't unexpectedly pop out. (Trust me on this! it's pretty freaky, i'm saving you of a heart attack!) Yay! you can stop here if you want, but if you totally want to embellish your doll keep going!

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  Step 22

  to make hair for our doll, loop crochet thread around three of your fingers.
  (Hint; more fingers to wrap around= longer hair)

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  Step 23

  pull the loops off your finger and cut a string that's pretty long.

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  Step 24

  tie the string into a knot around the loops.

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  Step 25

  now cut the loops so they look like this.

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  Step 26

  I can't really explain this next step, so use the picture as guidance. you sort of lay the strings flat so that they are radiating from the center.. does that make sense? :/

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  Step 27

  maybe this picture explains it better?

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  Step 28

  anyway, glue the hair to the doll's head. make sure all of the 'hairs' are thoroughly glued down. you don't want any flyaways.

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  Step 29

  now just cut and style how you want! I gave the doll bangs in this picture.

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  Step 30

  for clothes, wrap crochet thread around the body as you did the limbs. secure the thread in the back with dabs from the hot glue gun. then, add a keychain, a jump ring, whatever! just make it yours! ;D

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Posted by

isobel.l

Posted by

Ysabelle G.

Posted by

KozmicBlues

Posted by

KozmicBlues

Comments

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Julianne K. 30th August 2013

Mine came out a bit tubby! I will try again though. Thank you, it's fab!

Jenevieve E. · 8 projects 31st August 2013

no prob!

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toyswill m. · 3 projects 8th July 2013

Thanks for your article.http://www.toyswill.com/angry-birds-c-8_106_9.html

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isobel.l · Basingstoke, England, GB · 61 projects 26th June 2013

I made one, and shes very cute! after 2 days of crafting her, im happy with the results! thank you!

Jenevieve E. · 8 projects 27th June 2013

no problem! I'm glad someone enjoys making these as much as I do!

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DarkAshHurts · 119 projects 24th June 2013

I always thought there was wire in those, guess I was wrong. :p This is awesome!!!!!!!!

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Ysabelle G. · Nabua, Bicol, PH · 14 projects 22nd June 2013

OMG! This is soo cute! I'm gonna make some for my friends soon..
((Just a quick question though. How did you put on the eyes? did you insert them in the crochet thread or did you glue gun it into place?))

Jenevieve E. · 8 projects 23rd June 2013

in step five I will usually insert the eyes onto the crochet thread. I used to glue them on, though, and you could certainly do that If you were using googly eyes or something!

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Call me Buddy · 15 projects 22nd June 2013

The headi striations dontmake any sense!

Call me Buddy · 15 projects 22nd June 2013

Sorry for my last comment I got frustrated

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Call me Buddy · 15 projects 17th June 2013

I love this thank you for posting!

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Sophie T. 15th June 2013

Socute!! I swear it looks exactly like Danger Days Gerard Way...

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Jenevieve E. · 8 projects 14th June 2013

I know how you feel, you guys! I found tons of ways o make these online, but they never worked! I eventually came up with this after careful study of a string doll my dad bought on vacation. You know, the same system can be used to make lots of things. I've made mermaids, zombies with missing limbs, and even a chicken leg before! The object is to just play around with it and have fun!

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Cupcake_Warrior =) · 82 projects 14th June 2013

I've looked all over the place to find out how to make these, but never found anything. Thank you for sharing!!! ^-^ I'm never going to pay $10 for these again!

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