- Before you begin to cut out or sew anything always, preshrink the fabric trims and notions. Use a laundry bag or stocking to hold trims and prevent them from tangling. Use temperature setting on the maximum side of what would ever be used for the type of fabric you are using. For example, if you will be making a white doll blouse, be sure to preshrink in hot water just as someone would be apt to wash white clothes in hot water. Try to remember that the entire doll may need to be laundered and use fabrics that will all launder by the same method.
- Doll faces and yarn hair need to be protected when being laundered. Cover the face and hair with an old knee hi stocking which has already been laundered. The stocking allows the water and detergent to wash the face and hair but prevents it from abrasive action which could mat the yarn hair and eventually destroy hand embroidered features. You may even want to put the entire doll in a stocking so that it will not have the legs and arms pulled in different directions during the wash and spin cycles.
- Pre-treat stains before laundering the doll. Chap stick and lip stick are all a greasy mess on an embroidered face. Use your favorite stain pre-treatment before you launder the doll being sure to not exceed the time and amount in the directions on the pre-treatment.
- Leather and un-washable trim may be part of the doll body. If you are in doubt about any part of the doll being washable, take the doll to your local dry cleaner. They have thrifty plans that aren't going to cost you the heartbreak that ruining the doll will cost.
Quick Tips to Cleaning a Homemade Doll or Toy
Caring before and after you sew a homemade doll or toy!
By Debbie Colgrove, About.com
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