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xXSleepieXx — String Doll Tutorial
Published: 2010-08-08 04:49:46 +0000 UTC; Views: 97863; Favourites: 1035; Downloads: 2439
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Description
Edit 7/26/12: AT LONG LAST A VIDEO!: [link]Edit 7/11/11:STRING DOLL BASE for those of you who do not know how to get the pattern even. [link]
Edit 2/18/11: STEP 4: CLARIFICATION 2.0 [for those who still don't get it][link]
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Ever wanted a string doll but thought they were too expensive???
I did...
The one I actually bought was like $10 dollars....and me being stubborn and hating spending that much because I don't get much allowance decided that I'd make my own, and hey I found an instruction page.
....and it's not very clear, a bit confusing--> [link]
Well actually I was okay...except on step 4...IT KEPT COMING LOOSE!
Edit: As a brilliant alternative to pins you can use toothpicks! Idea courtesy of
So I did it, I created this tutorial out of sheer boredom, because I haven't made one in awhile, and decided to.
That and....I haven't seen very well explained instructions on how to make these guys on the the internet. 
If you people don't know what string dolls are...THEY'RE MAGICAL
No seriously, supposedly they are, each one of them has a magic power...or at least that's that it says here: [link] The site listed above can be used to look at so that you can try and make your own version of their products, if you wish to buy from the site, it's fine by me
Anyways, I've made four of these guys so far, and none of them look perfect, the first one looked like a deformed caveman. keep practicing and the better it will get.
Just so you can see ones that I actually bought that were hand-made in Thailand: (hence the title of the tut) [link]
If you have any questions please ask! I'm here to help.
(Also if the head strings seems loose, just dab some glue on the strings to hold them in place
)----
Edit: Also if anyone makes these or uses my tutorial please post a link, I want to see.
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Comments: 328
My brother is part girl so he's making one of those... Lol
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.....lol?
They're pretty cool for everyone.
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[link] <--She shows how to make the hair, look on the bottom.
I am not sure myself how to make it yet.
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ok........um........can you give the measurements for the pattern because i always make it either too small ( which makes the step 4 HARD) or too big (which makes step 4 HARDER).......thanks that and what surface did you place the toothpicks on??? THANKS!!!!! kinda wanted to make some character ones......
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I put it on cardboard, foam works as well....like the back of your mouse pad...lol that's where I put my pins.
I think I might as well post the pattern. Some people have trouble making theirs look even. The pattern itself should be no bigger than your average sticky note, as these dolls were made to be 2 inches tall.
I submitted it here you go: [link]
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THANKS SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!! ill post the finished product!!!! you are a god!!!!
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no problemo
Glad I was able to make it easier
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I love collecting these! Although, I always thought they could be a little expensive. I definitely want to try and make my own now-- thanks for making this!
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I followed your tutorial and after much time stuck on step 4, I finally got through and managed to make my first voodoo/string doll thing.
[link]
Thank you so much for making this tutorial! x3
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lol everyone gets stuck on step 4
You are very welcome 
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Yeah, it's so tricky. XD
Thank you!
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I just bought three string dolls for $3 at Hot Topic yesterday, and I really wanted to try making one. So, I've been looking for a tutorial but I keep finding ones that are way too complicated. So, thank you. I'll probably post a picture once I get around to making it.
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yay!
No prob.
Make sure to show me when you get the chance to make one
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I didn't have beads so some have no eyes and the ones that do I made their eyes out of wood and painted them with black nail polish. Instead of toothpicks I cut up some wooden skewers.
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No worries
Even though you made them out of wood they came out splendid 
Yeah some people don't have pins or toothpicks to use as the base, just as long as you were able to make them easily it doesn't matter.
Love them
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I finally made some. Here's a [link] to a picture that has the one's I made along with the one's I bought. I didn't have the patience to wait until I got crochet yarn so I just used some regular yarn I had. Some of them still need eyes, too, but like I said, I'm impatient.
Here's a [link] to one picture that only has the one's I made. Please let me know what you think of them.
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I got one with a cape from a quarter machine
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Yeah, I have the same exact one.
I have a yellow one with a red cape lol
Have fun
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Yes that's the one! XD I'm just hoping the store in my town has the right yarn olr I'll have to wait to go get some D:
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Omg!
I went to the Theatre today to see X-Men First Class, And we had time, So we went to the arcade, Which had all these little tattoo despencers, And little toys and stuff and I saw this one named.... Kamibashi!
Thats it.
It got me curious that a Movie Theatre had a Japanese sounding toy despencer, So I looked, And they were string dolls.
It costed 50 cents, And I had a dollar, So I went to the change thingy, Da-da-da-da-da, And got 4 quarters.
And I 2 of the same one!
I left one in the thing for a lucky little kid. ^^
I got a Yellow one with a Red cape, Named him Draco. :3
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Aww that was so nice of you to leave behind something.
Yeah the slot machine I got mijne from said "voo-doo-doll" lol
I have the yellow with red cape one too, it's hangin on my mobile with my other string dolls
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I'm confused on the step 4 part.
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did you look on the clarifications? 
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Yes, but I'm still unsure. So I tie it at the base on bottom ends?
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All of the knots should be near the center pin...if that is what you mean by base...
It would help if your description was a bit clearer.
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Well I've tried to get them as close as possible, but I'm not sure what to do afterwards. Do u remove the middle pin and tighten them again?
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Remove all the pins and begin making the arms and stuff, it doesn't have to be perfectly knotted near the center pin.
Don't tighten them again, the directions didn't say you had to. 
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Ok...I think I get it, it's just even after I tie them, it seems really loose when I remove all the pins
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The knots or the legs?
Yeah the legs are supposed to feel loose, until you wrap it around and add the glue is when they get a bit more secure.
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OH ok, thanks! Srry, it's just....I like making these dolls and want to make them as good as I can
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Nah don't be sorry its okay.
It's not going to turn out 100% perfect on your first try, practice makes perfect
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Yea, and now I got my friend into it X3
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thanks soo much I love string dolls, but have the same 'money' problem...
anyway thanks soooo much
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No problem.
The great thing about making them yourself if that you can make alot of them using only one ball of yarn.
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I love it!
Kept having a hard time tying the centre, any advice? One of the legs kept slipping out of the middle knot.... Urgh!
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If its slipping out for you tie the knots tighter...
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OH MY GAWD! I love these things! Thank you so much for this tutorial!
\ ( * 0 * ) / ~
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No problem
I lurv them too 
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Great tutorial! A way of making them that I hadn't considered. I've been scrounging the 'net all night to see how people make them. A friend of mine showed me how to do one with a pipe cleaner base, and with a foam ball as the head. I shall experiment!
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Hey iv read through the comment and im still lost on how exactly to do the hair![link]
I don't want to glue it on there do you know exactly how to do it without glue?[link]
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You can try sewing it on...
ah sorry with school and everything I don't have enough free time to try and figure out how to make the hair.
I really wish I could help, I might try experimenting over the summer. By then I should have posted a hair tutorial....if I figured it out.
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Thank you
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These things are so cute! Thanks for making this, I'm totally gonna try to make one
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No problem.
I know, they're adorable 
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