The Basics of Rerooting

(Click on most pictures to enlarge)

The Basics of Rerooting

Please note before starting, that no two people reroot alike. By writing this section, I am not implying that this is the only method to do so. Nor am I saying it is the *correct method*. It is merely a representation of how I reroot my own dolls.

The pictures provided here are my own. I took them while rerooting a #14 cpk girl named Lucy Claire, and a #12 cpk whom I have since named Ginger. Ginger is featured in my collection pages.

PLEASE do not steal my photos for reuse!
I do not mind if you save them to your desktop so you can review them offline, but should I find anyone using my photos in any sort of gathered collection, in any manner of cpk reference book, or on anyone's personal website, I will contact your webhost to have them removed, and I will add you to my wall of shame.

Links and recommendations for others to view this page are welcome. If you wish to *exchange links* email me and I will gladly add you to my links section.

I always encourage rerooting. There are lots of poor, injured cabbies out there whom need the TLC. Should you have any questions beyond what is written here, email me! I will gladly help you in any way that I can!

UPDATED: 1/27/07 Want to know how to make popcorn curls? SCROLL LEFT -------------> for detailed instructions!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

<--- #16 yarn needles (any brand is fine)

A pair of purple jewelers pliars [to widen the scalp holes] ---> (available in the Wal-mart craft department)

A pair of needlenose pliars [used to pull the needle through the scalp]--->

At least 2 skeins of any color, 4 ply worsted weight yarn. (I prefer to use Red Heart)

Cut a 12 in long strand of yarn (no longer as it can get tangled), thread the needle with it, and tie a knot on the end as shown in the picture.

NEXT: Pick up your cpk and widen a hole beside one of the ears with the JEWELERS pliars. This will be your starting hole.

Now run the threaded needle UP through neck until it is sticking through the starting hole. Grab the needle on top the scalp with the *needlenose pliars* and pull yarn through until the knot is securely against the scalp on the inside of the cpk's head.

To create your first loop, widen the hole beside your starting hole with the Jewelers pliars. Push the threaded needle DOWN into the second hole, and grab it on the inside of the head with the needle nose pliars. Pull the thread until it comes out through the neck. Continue on to the next hole by going back up through the head.
(see picture) --------------->

NOTE: Use your thumb to correctly gauge your loop size. Your thumb should fit comfortably inside the loop, with no tightness or tugging.

Running out of the thread of yarn yet?

To tie off your yarn piece so you can rethread your needle and continue making loops, bring your needle UP through the scalp (as shown in the picture) -------->
then bring the needle back down into the hole BEHIND it (where there is already a loop) and draw the yarn down flat onto the scalp. It will look like a straight stitch.

NOTE: you may have to hold the loop in place when you backstitch/tie off, as the yarn strand may draw the loop down into the scalp with it. You want the loop to stay put as it is what *holds* the yarn strand inside the head so that it does not stick out.

Now turn the head over, and clip the dangling piece of yarn inside. It should be no more than an inch long inside the head. You are now free to rethread your needle and start fresh with a new knot!

HOME

HOW TO REMOVE THE HEAD

Now that you have removed the head and plug, you are ready to remove the hair...
Cut the hair as close to the scalp as possible. When you have done this, flip the head over and you will see that the hair is braided inside the scalp. Snip the "braid" in places with scissors, then go around and loosen it by prying under it with the edge of a butter knife or the point of an ice pick.

Next, using pliars, pull out the nubs of remaining hair through the neck opening. This may be difficult, as sometimes the hair is glued in. If it is too difficult to get out, soak the head in HOT water for a few minutes, then remove. Be sure to dry the head thoroughly. While braid is still damp, try prying it again with the ice pick/butter knife. The hair should be easier to pluck. Pull the hair nubs out with your pliars.

When the hair has been removed, you are ready to reroot.

HOW TO REMOVE THE HAIR

BEGINNING THE REROOT

NEW!!! Ready to try popcorn curls? Return to the top of the page and SCROLL LEFT for detailed instructions ! ------->

HOW TO MAKE POPCORN CURLS

What you'll need to get started.

Making the popcorns!

To create popcorn curls, you need either two dowel rods and a way to secure them, or a hairpin/broomstick lace loom, like the one shown on the left.

I prefer to use the aluminum looms because the yarn slides over it more easily. Most rerooters I know use dowel rods, but it's easier to keep your yarn stable on a lace loom. The red plastic bars you see slide on and off the loom and have several holes in them so you can adjust the thickness of the popcorns. The wider the aluminum wands, the fatter the popcorns.

Once you have tied a knot at the top of the loom to hold your yarn in place, snap the top bar back on to secure the wands.

Now take a matching color of sewing thread (indicated as a broken black line on my picture) and straight stitch up the center of the woven Figure 8s. Make sure your stitches are FIRM AND TIGHT. There should be no gaps in the yarn!

NOTE: I prefer to use quilting thread for this, as it is a stronger, and more durable thread, and doesn't cost much more than regular thread. If you don't know the difference between regular thread and quilting thread, ask the person in your local fabric store - he or she will know.

Once you have finished sewing up the center, knot off your thread around the end of the popcorn to make sure the ends don't stick out. Now take the top bar off your loom and slide the entire weave off loom. NOTE: The weave should slide off in a SOLID piece with NO GAPS, and have a LONG attachment tail.

Take the weave and gently twist it into a fluffy curl.

Congratulations! You've just made your first popcorn strand!

TO ATTACH YOUR POPCORN:

Thread the end of the yarn tail through a rerooting needle and run it down inside the cabbage head through one of the yarn holes on your dolls scalp. Using your needle nose pliars, catch the needle, and run it back up through the scalp and down a second time to secure it.

When you bring up the needle this time, knot the yarn at the base of the popcorn strand (on top of the head), and clip the remaining thread. This secures the popcorn so well, that if a child grabs up the doll by the popcorns and shakes the daylights out of her, that popcorn is going to STAY IN THERE! ;)

Take off the top bar on your lace loom and make a knotted loop with your yarn. Slide it on the wand of the loom and slide it to the bottom of the loom as shown in the picture. It should rest on the bottom bar.

Next, weave your yarn around and between both loom wands in a figure 8 pattern as shown. When you get the yarn running all the way up the wand, push it back down as far as you can, and continue weaving figure 8s until you have a thick weave of yarn on the loom. Tie off the end of your strand in a knot - the same way you did when starting. Leave a LONG TAIL of yarn about two feet long dangling at the end - this is what you will secure INSIDE the head and use to attach the popcorn.

Happy Rerooting! :-)