Im making my first reborn secrist louise, Im pleased with my paint work, but i have started to attempt rooting and i feel im messing it up ive followed the dvd, you can see the holes in her head where ive put the needle, Ive used the correct equipment, mushroom vise 38 gauge needle and mohair, all from a secrist supplier in the uk (dollkits.co.uk), Please help, Im getting myself in a tiz
With most guage needles you will be able to see the holes where you have inserted the needle into the head. Especially if its a darker color mohair. Is the needle leaving the hair in the hole or are you having empty holes where you root? Sometimes the needles do not "catch" any hair going into the scalp, leaving an empty hole. I did reply here in the rooting section on how to close holes in the head. Take a look at that and see if that helps.
Usually the larger guage needles will leave a hole mark. It stands to reason as it is a larger needle. Also if you have more than 3 barbs on your needle that could be the culprit also.
Do you use a rice sock to heat the head, if you don't have one you can easily make one. I didn't think I needed one as I started with Secrist dolls but I was advised to use one and I have never looked back.
Yes, some people use the rice sock with ALL their babies no matter if its Secrist or not. Even though our vinyl is soft it makes it even softer and I think (IMHO) that if you do use the sock and warm the vinyl it may help to close the vinyl around the hair once you remove the needle.
Also, if you're not getting hairs all the time (with a 6 barb needle) you may not be inserting the needle far enough into the head so all the hairs are inserted, then pulling it out and leaving only some. Some people don't realize that you must make sure the needle goes into the head farther than just to the barb. Some needles have high barbs and they must go in past the top of that last barb. KNIM?