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newbie · Member

help!

Tina W. · Guru

It's not essential but I always do just incase. Most poeple just use a pouch of some sort for the poly pellets in the body. Something to contain the pellets in so they arent loose inside the body. They are just used for weight.

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

I use old knee high heavy stockings to put poly pellets in. Just fill the stocking with the amount you want, then cut and tie it off. I use it inside the poly fill. I wash all my doll kits. I don't know if it's essential or not, but I don't want to take any chances! Hugs, Melinda

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Per the company, there is no need to wash a Secrist doll kit. However, I wash them anyway because I want to make sure the vinyl is free of dust and particles. I live in the desert so dust is a constant issue.

Like Melinda, I use knee high stockings to contain the pellets and surrounded by polyfill. I use the pellets to give the body some weight to add to the realism.

Poisonivy14 · Senior Member

smile I use old panty-hose or tights. You can get about 4 to 6 little fillers per pair, i think knee-highs will work great too. I always wash my kits before I paint, i'm not sure why, but I do, you don't have to though!

newbie · Member

thanks everyone, finished her in a day and a half!

Play Days Dolls · Guru

I'm glad we were able to help. Congrats on finishing your Zoe.

newbie · Member

Thanks, I am very happy with her and proud of myself! I didn't add eyebrows or hair, as I think she looks better without both.... I think Zoe was meant to be bald! Very happy for my first go.

Buffington · Guru

Congratulations on finishing your little Zoe. :)

I use the nylon stockings (or pantyhose) too for the pellets. I used to put the pellets into the bottom of the bodyslip and then pack with stuffing but with the reborns I like to select where the pellets go so I do the stocking thing. Although in the head I usually just pour them in and pack with stuffing, more at the back of the head as that is where the majority of the weight of a babies head is (thats why you support the head).

I always do the internal wash but only on my Secrist & AVDW doll kits (and some of the German vinyl kits). The other kits don't have the translucency that Secrist kits do.

As far as the washing the kits, I don't usually if its a Secrist but do for all the other brands. But you may just as a general rule so you don't accidentally leave a kit out that needs the first bath lol.

mbgreen3 · Member

Filler

Tina W. · Guru

RE: help!

Buffington · Guru

Absolutely NO FOOD of any type in dolls. Yes you WILL eventually get bugs but it also becomes bio-hazard as soon as you put them into a doll or anything like that. Not to mention disease or illness it might cause.

And I wouldn't recommend a zip-lock bag either. I know some do it but it can become brittle and fall apart. You can however, use a small garbage bag and tie a knot in the end. They are soft and don't crinkle lol

Hope this helps

jburle · Senior Member

When I make my babies I always use new knee highs that I put aside just for that... I fill them with the desired weight that I want using pellets.. Then I pack the fiber fill around my knee high filled poly pellets.

I didn't want to just leave the pellets loose in the heads because I thought to myself what happens if the head should ever come off the body then I or another person would have them all over there floors. And I know it's probably over kill, But I place some pellets in a knee high and place them in the limbs. But I think it adds a little more realism....

Jodie

Play Days Dolls · Guru

I have repaired dolls, and you wouldn't believe what I've seen.

Absolutely no ziploc baggies should be used in the doll, and I don't like rubber too much either. These materials can degrade and become brittle as mentioned. Sometimes certain types of rubber becomes sticky. I've run into this problem, for example, when trying to get a plastic or rubberband removed from an old doll's hair. I don't know if it's the age or the temperature that degrades the material.

Anything that is tightly sealed is also a potential problem if there is a hint of moisture sealed inside. The effect is mildew/mold that can leak out and actually discolor the vinyl.

Food is a gigantic hazard. I guarantee it will eventually degrade and draw insects.

I would use the plastic pellets and/or the glass beads, and put them inside knee-hi stockings as Jodie described. If you need plastic pellets or glass beads, I think I have them listed on my website or you can get them directly from Secrist.

Hope this helps.

Linda

Liselle · Guru

Ok, here's a really newbie question. I keep seeing people talking about washing the dolls. What exactly are you supposed to wash them with? I am REALLY new to all this, and don't have the first clue.

sage brush nursery · Guru

liselle, we wash the babys to get any oils left over from being made off-- a lot of us use dawn dish soap (has degreaser) i then give them a nice soak in a baby shampoo bath. it makes them smell like a sweet baby. i'd also go to the to the dollar tree and get at least 3.00 worth of cosmetic wedges, you'll use them alot. sage aww

Liselle · Guru

Ah, ok. That's cool. Guess I'll be making a trip to the Dollar Store tomorrow! What about removing factory paint, such as the hair color (not rooted, but painted) and lips? I see people using acetone. Just regular nail polish remover? Then a bath??

sage brush nursery · Guru

i use just regular nail polish remover,not the one for fake nails. also the round cotton makeup remover pads (dollar tree) to get the paint off. and then a bath . sage aww

Liselle · Guru

Ok cool, I'm making my dollar tree list now!

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Some people wash the kits in the dishwasher. If you try it, I would use the top rack.

Linda

Buffington · Guru

You can use nail polish remover (not the stuff that has color) with acetone (they make several kinds). Soak a cotton ball/pad in it then gently wipe across the area to remove the old paint. DO NOT use goof-off as it is a carcinogenic chemical and can also cause other health issues and leaves a non-removable residue as the vinyl will absorb it.

Be careful removing the old paint, do not rub as it can cause areas of the vinyl not to take paint. Take one pass then use another area of the pad and go again. You may have to use cotton swabs to get at the tight/small areas.

As was said above, wash in hot sudsy grease-removing dish water.
I usually don't wash my Secrist kits but do wash all others.