String-a-Limb- UPDATED

[jennifermarym]

Hello!
I need some help...
I have an older Samantha doll (89) and her leg is falling off. I don't want to surrender her to the doll hospital even though I live about 15 minutes away from AGPNY.
I read about "refurbishing" dolls, but I don't remember if I saw anything about restringing the limbs. Anyone have instructions on how to do it?
Thanks so much!

Thanks for the replies so far...
I should be more specific about the "leg problem." The plastic socket, if you will, is literally unstitched from the cloth body. I will add a photo later if I can figure out how, but in the meantime I wil try to describe further...

If you look where the leg and body come together you will see that the plastic leg is sewn onto the cloth. The whole inside of her thigh has become unstitched so I can now see the stuffing.

Do you have any suggestions for fixing that? Do you think I can sew through the plastic if I get a strong enough needle?

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ April 21, 2005 01:28 PM: Message edited by: jennifermarym ]</font>

[wicksasc]

There is a lady on e-bay who sells restringing kits for $3.00. She says she will include instructions if you tell her what kind of doll you are restringing. This kit is item #5548792091. There is also a site that has restringing kits for $10.00 that look like they include a tool of some sort. That is located at:
http://dolllady14.tripod.com/id3.htm


I personally have never done restringing, but looked into it after my daughter's Molly was at the hospital for just over 3 weeks(this included shipping to and from). She was so worried and prayed every night for Molly to come home soon. If her limbs come loose again I think I will try to fix them myself. If I remember correctly, the ebay lady says to unpick the side of the AG dolls and stitch them back up after restringing. I personally would take off the head first and try to do it through the neck opening before I would unpick the side of my dolls. Again, I have no personal experience with this, but I hope this has been helpful.
~Stacie

<font color="#051E50" size="1">[ April 21, 2005 11:12 AM: Message edited by: wicksasc ]</font>

[SunnyGirl]

TaffyCheerful has a detailed website with pictures!!!

I will try and find the post.

[wicksasc]

I went looking and found Taffy Cheerful's guide. It is really quite informative. I think I will definitely try it next time I have a loose limb. The url is:
http://www.justmagicdolls.com/articl...estringing.htm

~Stacie

[American_Mommy]

I like to reroot My Little Ponies.Sometimes the vinyl is pretty tough.I like to use a canvas needle that has a spade like tip.I use bent nose pliers to push the needle through the vinyl.For reattaching a dolls leg I would use a good strong thread, maybe upholstery thread in a tan shade.It should be do-able.Good luck!

[TaffyCheerful]

Not necessary to punch holes in the vinyl to reattach a limb. The limbs are held in place by a piece of elastic cord that is run through the center of a ball and socket joint. Each joint has its own short length of elastic cord. The cord is secured on each end by crimping a short length of metal tubing.

Oh, a hair dryer will soften the vinyl to make it easier to get the "cup" that goes into the limb out and put it back. It is the length of stretched cord within the space created by the cup that allows one to "pose" the doll.

Taffy

[jennifermarym]

Taffy,
I sent you an email with a picture of the leg. Let me know if you get it.
Thanks!
jen

[TaffyCheerful]

Yes, and I did reply.

Essentially, the seam in the body that ends at the socket part of the leg joint has come undone. It needs to be restitched.

Taking the doll apart will give easier access to the seam and allow it to be stitched tighter. It should not be necessary to remove the limb to restitch the seam.

Taffy

[TaffyCheerful]

And it is very easy to do...

The nicest benefit to doing it yourself is that you will feel much more confident about your dolls. You will be able to "treat" them yourself when they become injured...

Taffy