Doll Customising: Easy Beginner Projects - Acrylic Yarn Wigs

Getting Into Doll Customising 

Regular readers of my blog will have noticed that I have been busy creating a number of custom outfits for Monster High and other dolls over the past months. I have to confess, by now my interest in doll customisation has become a bit of an obsession, judging by the time I spend marvelling at the many fantastic custom creations available on the web. 

Though I have been aware of the existence of custom or ooak (one of a kind) dolls for a number of years, especially since many Blythe doll collectors roaming the craft scene are very accomplished knitters and crocheters. Yet, I didn't feel confident enough to launch into my own custom projects for a long time. 

What's more, doll customising sounds like a bit of an obscure past time, especially for grown-ups. For this reason, I felt reluctant to admit to myself that I actually felt intrigued by it. So intrigued in fact, that I would want to give it a go myself.

Despite its growth over the past decade thanks to social media platforms such as Tumblr, Pinterest and Youtube, the community of doll customisers is still comparatively small and the number of  tutorials and readily available information on techniques, tools and materials is consequently rather limited, especially when compared to mainstream crafts such as sewing, knitting, or crocheting. Due to their familiarity with materials and tools in use by doll customisers, all those familiar with model-making are likely to have an advantage when branching into the custom doll sphere. For a knitter like me, doll customisation is entirely new territory.

Monster High Acrylic Yarn Doll Wig

The Logistics: Custom Doll Supplies

Added to the above obstacles come a number of logistical hurdles. Before you are able to embark on your first true custom project, the number of essentials required for a doll repaint, for example, makes for an extensive shopping list, including high quality water colour pencils, chalk pastels, acrylic paint, brushes, acetone, sealants (Mr Super Clear appears to be a favourite amongst customisers) as well as rerooting tools, doll hair, let alone materials to create custom outfits, doll stands or those required to alter facial and other features of the doll (polymer clay, resin, sculpey). 

Even though not all of these items are required or suitable for every project with every type of doll, depending on what you want to achieve, the list of essential tools and specialist materials, which - considering your location! - may or may not be readily available in your local craft store, is sizeable and comes with a price tag. One thing is for sure, you don't just jump into doll customisation from one day to the next. Getting into this hobby requires careful preparation, planning and logistics.

Add to this another barrier to entry: skill. I would consider doll customising a true multi-craft. The ability to draw and paint on a 3D surface combined with a number of other crafts (carving, sculpting, jewellery making, sewing, knitting, you name it) is absolutely essential and potentially the biggest obstacle to entry into the world of doll customisation for all beginners out there. 

Suppose you have loaded up your shopping cart with all of the above-mentioned essentials only to find that your drawing abilities are not up to scratch? The risk of being stuck with a stash of supplies you are unlikely to ever use for other craft-related endeavours is high.

Monster High Custom Acrylic Doll Yarn Wig 

Beginner Custom Doll Project - Acrylic Yarn Wigs

With this in mind and still reluctant to commit fully, I was looking for an easy doll customisation beginner project that wouldn't involve a face-up, a repaint, a lengthy planning process or having to wait for supplies in the post. As a result, I settled for investigating custom wigs and rerooting in more detail. These seemed the most straightforward projects for a complete newbie.

Whilst I was researching wigs, I came across the possibility to make a custom doll wig with brushed acrylic yarn. (Yes, knitters you heard that right. A wig made from acrylic yarn.) No fancy wool blends, it has got to be cheap and cheerful acrylic yarn. 

Being a knitter with a moderate stash that contains the odd ball of acrylic, I was excited to discover that I had all of the materials to make a yarn wig in my craft stash without having to spend a single penny; and I could get started there and then.  As an added bonus this project allowed me to use up odd bits of leftover acrylic, which had been lingering in my knitting cupboard for several years.

Monster High Custom Doll Wig Cap

Custom Acrylic Yarn Wigs - List of Materials

There are essentially two methods for creating doll wigs. One method calls for sewing the wefts to the cap and the other involves glueing the wefts to the cap. For my first wig, I opted for the latter. Making a glued yarn wig is straightforward and chances are you already have most of the required materials at your disposal. The list is as follows:

For the wig cap:

• PVA glue
• a doll head (hair removed) 
• fabric (stretchy, such as nylon tights)
• elastic bands 
• cling film (to protect the doll's head)

For the yarn wefts: 

• acrylic yarn (bulky 3 ply works well) 
• a carder or pet brush
• PVA glue
• plastic sheeting / parchment paper
• hair straighteners

In comparison to information on other doll customisation processes, there are a number of in-depth tutorials and articles on acrylic doll wigs available online. Amongst others, I found AkameruKawaii's videos very helpful: 

 

With all this in mind, and if you are looking for a beginner doll customisation project, I believe that making acrylic yarn wigs constitute a low-cost, low-risk project, suitable for those finding their feet in doll customisation. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of my first attempt.

For a brief tutorial, including tips on how to minimise yarn waste when making acrylic yarn wigs, please visit this link.

Monster High Custom Acrylic Doll Wig