I was going to share a new recipe but it will have to wait… this is too exciting… AT LEAST TO ME! Now, I need to clarify this before I get started talking too much about this as I’ve only done 2 different dolls… Patsy Tonner and Ellowyne Wilde by Robert Tonner. I discovered something today and I am THRILLED to share it with you! Are you ready for more? I can’t wait to show you!
As you know my Patsy Tonner has been wearing “cardboard inserts” and a rubber band around her hips for a few years now..
…that’s because her legs were too loose for her to stand on her own without them. It was the only way to give her legs enough support for her to stand. I called the Tonner company and the lady told me there was nothing that could be done for her because of the way the dolls were molded and assembled. She offered to sell me a new body for $39.00 but I passed and used the cardboard. So Patsy has been looking like this underneath her dresses for a few years…
Her legs were pretty floppy and I really didn’t like having to always baby her when she was modeling…. plus she couldn’t sit down with those cardboard inserts!
Well, this evening someone asked me about the joints on my Ellowyne doll before she sold…wondering if they were all tight. I told her the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists and knees were all tight, but the legs were a bit on the loose side. I felt horrible because that was the one thing I totally forgot to mention. When I was describing her she was in her stand and I looked her over well and described what I saw… Because she was in her stand, I forgot to mention she had somewhat loose joints at the hips. Before today, I didn’t know any other way to fix them other than wedging something in that crack between her body and her leg. I told the lady she could maybe use some adhesive felt or maybe moleskin to see if it would take up some of the space.
This is how Ellowyne’s legs looked… more loose than I realized…(sorry I was so excited, I forgot to crop my pictures)
I tried laying Ellowyne down on her back having her legs extended off the box… this is what happened very slowly…
They fell all the way down…
So… what’s a girl to do? Google something, but what? I tried a few subjects and then I hit one that was just what I needed. I wish I could take credit for this, but I had help…just in time… I’ll post the link to the YouTube video at the end, but I can’t wait to show you how to fix the problem.. .Oh..does anyone have dolls with loose legs? I guess I should have asked first!
Okay, are you ready?
Yep! RUBBER BANDS! I tried this kind… the tiny clear ones…
But they were too fine… You need the kind like kids make those friendship bracelets out of… they fit around my finger like this… they are small and usually come in bags of 100 or so.
So this is what you do?
You take a rubber band and put it on your dolls foot and roll it up to her hip joint.. like this…
Then you push the rubber band into the hip joint until it disappears.
You can even do 2 at a time if you want…
At first you will think it’s not doing anything… but just wait… about 15 or 20 rubber bands later (depending on how loose your dolls legs are) …look what you have done!
And Viola!!! Patsy can stand on her own and her joints are tight! It doesn’t show and it doesn’t harm the doll in any way…
It’s the most incredible thing I’ve run across in a long time…
So…did I do Ellowyne’s legs? You bet I did! Just look what happened to her loose legs…
You can’t see the rubber bands at all…
If you’d like to see the YouTube video you can click this link… she shows it on a Barbie doll…and it’s only 4 minutes long.
How to fix loose doll joints ~ passionfruitdiy
Okay, now I’m wondering if there’s going to be a “run” on rubber bands today!!! Don’t go out for rubber bands if it’s snowing where you are! :o)
Is anyone going to try it? Let me know your results!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a slick trick, Jeanne! I did watch the video, and see that it can be adapted to different sizes of dolls–she used the clear elastics, doubled, on the Barbie, but I think your thicker ones would probably be more practical for dolls that are a little bigger (or at least have bigger legs). Thanks for sharing!
HI Charlotte,
I thought it was a neat trick too… and I’m going to look through my dolls and see who else could use an “adjustment!”
I hope this helped someone who was a little afraid to do the restringing on their doll…
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Is the Ellowyne doll designed to stand up on her tippy toes without shoes on? Her legs are firm but I don’t want to get frustrated with trying to get her to stand if she’s only supposed to do so with shoes on. That’s an amazing fix that anyone can do I don’t mean to be cynical, but no wonder the companies don’t want to share this simple fix.
About yesterday’s post, someone was worried about a car being cut up just for a decoration on a walll. Not to worry: They use the undamaged remains of wrecked cars.
HI Susette,
I’ve never heard of anyone who had their Ellowyne stand on her own just in her bare feet. I think she’s meant to wear shoes…
I was blown away by how quickly and easily it worked and was so cheap to do! I am still amazed!
Oh good on the Corvette… I sure hated to think of a new Vette being sawn in half! :o)
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Just have to love the companies that offer a fix but you have to pay for it even though the issue with the product is their fault and shouldn’t have happened.
I am going to give this a try. I have a Patty PlayPal with one wonky leg. It is loose and I really don’t want to take her apart to adjust it. Might have to wait until after the holidays though. A bag of large rubber bands just might do the trick and the cost is more affordable and easier.
HI Sandra,
I hope the fix helps with your Patty PlayPal doll… you don’t have anything to lose! You’ll have to let me know if it works for her.
Thanks Sandra,
Blessings, Jeanne
Very interesting! I’ll have to view the video later, but is this for strung dolls only or would it work for those with ball joints? I can see that this will be fun. Oh, off I’ll have to go to Joann’s for rubber bands and who knows what else. 🙂
Take it easy on the road for those of you with rain/snow.
HI Joy,
I’m not sure which dolls will only work for, but I figured if it worked for Barbie, Ellowyne should work…and she did!
We are supposed to get temps in the 40’s tomorrow, so most of ours will probably melt. We got maybe 3″ or so.
Thanks Joy… have fun at Joann’s!
Blessings, Jeanne
this is applicable to an American Girl or similar doll that you don’t want to take apart to fix. I have done both. The take apart doesn’t last long and you soon have loose joints again. But this allows you to go longer between fixes. Thanks for the reminder! I have the rubber bands, no need to venture into the ice and sleet we have.
Thank you April, for mentioning American Girl doll. I have a Pleasant Co. Samantha who is a little ashen colored in the face with loose legs but the most beautiful hair and I just love her. I was thrilled to find a YouTube video on tightening legs, but when it came to removing her head and unstuffing her body, I scrapped the idea. Too risky and I just knew I would never get her put back together properly, so she’s been stuck in a stand on a shelf for too long now. I’m going to try this. Thank you!
HI April and Linda,
I was wondering about the American Girl dolls and I think I’d like to try it one of mine who has loose legs. If it works that would be wonderful…. sometimes a quick fix is all you need…
Thanks Ladies,
Blessings, Jeanne
What a great blog entry. There will be loose-limbed dolls all over who will now happily be able to stand on their own. Maybe people will send you pictures of dolls that have been enabled to stand securely dressed in their best to celebrate.
Thanks Marilyn,
I’m glad you enjoyed todays post… I hoped everyone would. I know Patsy is thrilled and she’s still standing up! :o)
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, we woke up to a winter wonderland, and I bet you did too! You might want to take a picture of the same place you took one the other day with a dusting of snow. What a difference!
Well, I have no dolls with wonky legs, but this would be a good fix, if I did! Lots of people have older dolls that would probably need this kind of help. If I was a doll, I sure would need it at my age!
It certainly is a good day to stay in and I bet you will get some things decided about who is next to get a new outfit, and what kind it will be! Have a cup of hot chocolate while you are doing it!
HI Linda,
We did have a winter wonderland this morning and I snapped a few pictures of the snow… It was beautiful but it’s supposed to disappear tomorrow as the temps get up in the 40’s.
I wish fixing aching joints was as easy as a rubber band for us… :o) I’m right there with you!
I think I have decided who is next… but you’ll have to wait and see… :o)
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne…designer, cobbler, and now doll doctor!!!
Thanks for sharing this information. Who would guess that such a simple fix would do the trick?
There is a national doll doctors association, by the way. I met the president, Brian Taggerty at the Region 11 (UFDC) convention in Maryland.
I hope everyone, with snowy weather, is snug and warm today.
HI Dorothy,
I don’t know how it’s taken me this long to find this tip… but I’m glad I know it now… It’s worth its weight in gold to me!
So there’s a national doll doctor? Who would have guessed that? Not me… how fun that you got to meet him.
I’ve been snug in my home today… Rebecca went to work and mailed my Ellowyne doll at the Post Office for me on her way to work.
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne