Replacing neck strings- Anyone done this?

[Southpaw22]

Hi all!

Has anyone replaced neck strings in their dolls? Where can similar strings be purchased? Will AG just send you strings? How do you thread it through? What is the best way to remove the zip cords without damaging the head? OR Would it just be best to send my two dollies back to AG?

I'm just frustrated. They sent me return labels two boxes instead of one, I don't have two usable boxes, and don't want to split the two dolls up. I don't want to wait another 10 days for new labels, and really don't want my dollies to be gone another month! So sad! [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]

[Ashley1972]

I went to Hancock fabrics and found string in the draperies department. I think you only need about half a yard. Can't remember exactly. Other board members recommend cotton cording but I couldn't find it so I got polyester. Don't use the elastic stretchy cord. I also got a teeny, tiny safety pin to tie at the end and pull the string through the neck. It's so easy. I don't know about cutting the zip ties. I think I would use skinny scissors like hairstylists use. Pull the string really tight or else you'll have a gap in the neck where it meets the cloth body. Have fun! [img]smile.gif[/img]

I'm sorry AG couldn't do it right the first time OR the second time!!

ETA: the skinny scissors probably wouldn't be strong enough. I think I would use the scissors that came with my kitchen knife set.

<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ April 30, 2006 10:50 AM: Message edited by: Ashley's Mommy ]</font>

[vew-tori]

I also replaced some strings. I got the cording at Walmart. It is all cotton but a little thicker than what AG uses. I also just used a little gold safety pin to thread it. DH used wire cutters to cute the zip tie. It was all very easy and painless.

Edited to add: American Mommy and I must have posted at the same time. Walmart has just about everything doeasn't it?

<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ April 30, 2006 10:19 AM: Message edited by: vew-tori ]</font>

[American_Mommy]

I bought some of the nylon cord from Hancock Fabric too. I kept wishing I could find something that looked just a bit more similar to the original cord.
I decided to check the ribbon/lace/trim rack at Walmart, and they have some cord that looks very close to the original in size, color and texture.
I bought a yard or two, but I can't seem to locate it to take pics right now. I believe it was about 51 cents a yard.I will keep looking. If you can't find it, and my store still has it, I can send some to you.
If it were me, and I found the cord, I think I would take the cord out of two other dolls and put that with the LEs, so they would be fully authentic. I would put the replacement cord on some newer girls where it might not matter so much, but that is just me.

[Ashley1972]

Good idea, American Mommy! I would put the replacement cord in the other dolls rather than the LE's.

[American_Mommy]

I found my cord. It is just a little bit brighter white than the original cord but it has the same texture as the real cord.

If the color bothered you terribly, you could stain the cord with a little hot tea, then hand wash it thoroughly, and let it dry before you put it in.

It is a little thicker than the cord on the newest doll I have, and thinner than the cord on the oldest doll I have. Here is a pic. That is PM cord on the top, the Walmart cord in the middle, and 2005 Kit's cord on the bottom.

[kikilives]

The bottom pic looks kinda like a shoelace doesn't it? My DD's Kit has the plastic zip tie (we got her last summer at AGPC) and I would love to change it but I wonder what AG would say if we ever had to send her to the hospital? Probably not a big deal. Thanks for posting this thread, I had been thinking about this lately.

[American_Mommy]

You are right.A shoelace would work just great.I do not think the hospital would notice or care. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]

[Southpaw22]

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions!! Thanks for the pics, Anna! I may definately go the route of putting original neck strings in the LE's, tea staining the Wal-mart cord, and putting it in my today girl necks. Could someone describe in more detail how exactly the safety pin helps thread it through? For some reason I'm having trouble visualizing this.

Yes, Wal-mart does have EVERYTHING! [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[robin0850]

The Walmart cord looks great to me--and it's really SO easy to replace the cord yourself! I've used shoelaces, too--the little plastic thingie at the end makes it easier to work around the casing.

I wonder if AG would have us believe a lot of simple repairs are harder than they really are, just so they could have the business at the AG Hospital--though it seems they lose much more in paying the postage to fix their plastic-tie issues. [img]confused.gif[/img]

P.S. AG4Alison--just fasten the safety pin onto the first 1/4" or so of the cord, and use it to push it around by,through the neck casing--kind of like a needle and thread. (Hope that makes sense to you!) [img]smile.gif[/img]

<font color="#33CCCC" size="1">[ April 30, 2006 11:31 AM: Message edited by: AsianAG ]</font>