Before you stuff the parts lets make a “STUFFING FORK” if you don’t already have one. These are invaluable for stuffing fingers either with stuffing, or with Chenille Stems to make articulated fingers.

My stuffing fork was made about 20 years ago (pictured below) when I accidentally broke part of the eye off of one of my 12” long upholstery needles, that I used for jointing. I was momentarily devastated, until I realized what a wonderful tool it was now! I had been using a small Phillips screwdriver to stuff fingers with, because I could twirl the tip in a piece of stuffing to make a little “Q-Tip” type piece of stuffing to stuff one finger at a time. With the broken needle I could do the same thing, but it was thinner so I could use it for smaller fingers and it was longer, so I could more easily reach into longer arms with it. I could also guide Chenille stems down into fingers with it thereby solving the “bending Chenille stem” problem!

To make your stuffing fork, hold the eye part of the big 12” long needle with 2 pairs of pliers. One pair will be covering most of the eye and the other pair will be at the rounded end of the eye. Exerting great strength and pressure, break off the rounded tip. Some of you won’t have the strength to do this, so enlist the help of a hubby or friend who will be able to break it off. Another way is to cut the rounded tip off with a hacksaw, the way my sister did hers. I don’t own a hack saw, so breaking it off was what I did to make a back up stuffing fork. I also made a smaller one from an 8” needle but find I don’t use it. I am just really attached to the long 12” ones.

After you get the fork end done, you need to get rid of the sharp point on the other end. I cut just the tip of mine off with a wire cutter. You could also rub it hard on a file or cement sidewalk to blunt it.

Now to make the long skinny needle easier to hold onto, wrap it with masking tape to within about 4-5” of the fork. My 20-year-old masking taped needle still has its original tape on it! I tried floral tape, but it stays sticky, so my floral taped one has a masking tape “slip cover” on it. I’m sure it will now be good for over 20 years too!

After you follow all of the design lessons in the previous 4 chapters you will be ready for stuffing and jointing, (or stitching the limbs on) for the doll/dolls you have designed, sewn, and turned right side out.

Get lots of dolls ready, so you can do several techniques. I will also teach you the wonderful; miraculous “LADDER STITCH” that will let you close all of your dolls openings nearly invisibly!

One of my Grand Daughters is a master of the ladder stitch at only 8 years old, and she is left handed, taught by right handed me, so I know anybody can master this simple closing stitch, if you haven’t already.