Today when I was turning the fingers for my doll I thought that perhaps it would be nice to share the way I turn my tiny fingers with everyone. I know many doll makers have given this tutorial time and time again. Mine may not be a great one but I do hope it will help someone out there who has not seen a tutorial for turning tiny fingers. With this method I have turned tiniest of fingers and I thank my peers for teaching me so well. So here is how I do it.
First cut out the pattern for your hand and fingers
and then trace it onto the freezer paper. You will notice that I have chopped off the thumb. I attache the tumb seperately.
After ironing the freezer paper on to doubled fabric I sew all around the fingers carefully. I use number 1 setting in my machine to sew. I always take 2 to 3 stitches inbetween the fingers. It makes the cutting and turning of fingers easier. Then I cut all around the fingers carefully. I cut as close as possible making sure I don't snip the seams.
Then I take the turning tube that will fit inside the finger and isert it in.
I use a tube that will fit very snugly into the finger. Not too loose but that which fits snugly like so. After putting the tube into the finger I trim all around the finger again going even closer to the seam. I do this because it is much easier to see where the seam is when the tube is in the finger and you can go very very close to the seam. The seam will not come undone as I used number 1 setting for the stitches.
Now I take another tube or a thin rod in this case and insert it from the other end. I usually insert a couple of sizes smaller tube or rod to one inside the finger from the other end because it is easier to slide the fabric onto it. Now I hold the rod/tube steady with one hand without putting pressure on it and with the other hand I then slide the fabric onto this rod/tube. It should slide quiet easily. If you find the fabric is bunching up just go back and start again. If you look at the picture below where the rod is inserted in you will see how close to the seam I have cut the fabric. If you do not go as close, the bulk of the fabric will not allow you to turn the finger. Golden rule, never push the fabric with the rod/tube into the finger , always feed the fabric onto the rod/tube
Once all fingers are turned the hand should look like this.
With the heamostates then I turn the hand.
and walla! the fingers are turned!.
I then make a slit in the palm where the thumb should be after stuffing the hand and insert the stuffed thumb and sew it on or glue it on. I prefer to sew.
As you can see the fingers I turned are just between 3-4mm wide. You can turn even slimmer fingers the same way.
I hope this mini tutorial will be of some use to someone out there. Enjoy!