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** Insert the shameless plug, here, for Oxyclean (lol) **
Cabbage Patch Kids As for drying them, again many ways. But the best is allowing the kid to air dry on a couple towels for a few days. This prevents any damage to the head and eyes as well as any fiber breakdown.
Now new stitches are needed. Find yourself a thread that matches AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to the original. And copy the original method of thread pulling and fabric sculpting. This takes practice and I suggest just jump in and do it. It's easy once you get the hang of it. If you can salvage the original thread, please do so, if not, it's okay.
Face
If there are crayon marks, white marks, black marks, etc. use a rubber eraser and erase the lines. Might take a few attempts.
If the face has clear rubs and scratches or pox there isn't really much you can do. With pox using some Oxy acne cream and put on the spot. Set the doll in sunlight and let it sit for awhile. Come back and check to see if it needs another sitting.
If the face is shiny, I mean, REALLY shiny, wash it down with Oxyclean or other cleaners. What is happening is the oil is seperating from the plastic in the head. If allowed to sit, it WILL produce pox, so cut it off before it starts.
More on this later!
Hair
Now if the hair is yarn, first make sure the entire kid is clean, thus the hair is clean. Now determine the original hair style. This means look for a part if needed and do so. It's easier to fix hair if it is partially done. Now take a small pair of scissors (easier to yield than a large pair) and start looking for fuzzies. Clip as close to the yarn "base" as possible without hurting it and yet getting rid of the extra. Take your time and move over the whole in a methodical manner. One kid has taken 3 hours or more for this, so take your time, you don't want to hurt the "hair shaft". The only exception to this is boys' fuzzy hair-it's supposed to look like it's a head of fuzzies.
Now if the split ends are bad, you may want to clip them, but likely they are good enough for most people. All yarn naturally unravels a bit. Just make sure it is something that you (or someone else) can live with. Once the hair is cut it's gone.
And finish off the hair style, if needed. Use new rubberbands (regular hair ones work great and are plenty small enough) and place in the appropriate spots. Make sure the yarn stays smooth and in place. Tie each off with a hair ribbon (either cut from a spool, regular ones for hair available in the drugstore or original ones for CPKs). You may want to section off the hair ponies like they did originally, I suggest using only a ribbon for this as the rubberband tends to scrunch the hair.
Clothes
Some collectors and people in general think that you MUST have Cabbage Patch Kid brand clothes for each doll. Oh, hogwash. It's not neccessary. OAA came out with sewing patterns in the 1980s for you to make your own clothes...it was highly encouraged! They are children and even then there was no need to use the almighty dollar when you can make something more unique or original. For example, Dick Tracy would never be here if someone had not put the thought into his outfit. His clothes make him very unique...and wholly why he is an interesting kid. You would never find a leotard from the 80s (Coleco never made one) or a 50s poodle skirt or any number of things. If these kids are to be enjoyed, any clothes are fine, as long as they fit the kid!
Now how about shoes? I show all my kids with shoes, they do not all have shoes, most were borrowed from the others. Shoes are great, but again, it depends on what you are after. I have one that looks great in knit booties...and wears them frequently! Others who prefer socks and still others on the waiting list for certain types of shoes. Just buy them when you can and don't sweat the small stuff.
My Childs
The easiest method is a pillowcase, tied close. Now send the pillowcase through the wash (with a few towels as padding) with OxyClean or another type of laundry booster. This should clean it nicely. You can also just soak the kid in the sink with the same cleaners. Or do what I do with almost all of them...I mix Ocyclean with the proper amount of water and "spray" a steady stream on the spot that needs it. This usually works and you don't have to hurt the felt in anyway. There are many ways to dry these dolls. The best is, again just like CPKs, allowing them to air dry on a couple towels for a few days.
New stitches are ALMOST never needed, but occasionally. This is the same as the CPKs again, find yourself a thread that matches AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to the original. And copy the original method of pulling and sculpting. This takes practice and I suggest just jump in and do it. It's easy once you get the hang of it.
Face
Any prismacolor water-color pencil work perfectly for "touch ups" on the make-up. They can be found in any craft store. Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils by Sanford can be bought individually and you really only need 3 colors: Black, Orange, and Carmina Red. These 3 are prefect for almost all USA babies. These pencils also wash off with soap and water and you can start again if needed!
If you are missing felt on the nose (as some has rubbed off) you need to pop out the nose and replace the felt on it with something that matches and then pop the nose back in. Since, I have never done this, I can't be of service, but it helps to mention it.
If the face is squashed (during shipping for instance) you can "pop" out the face with your hands or try to melt the face a little by dry heat, then pop it out. Again, something I have never had to do.
Hair
First thing you do is make sure the the hair is clean. This just makes the rest of it easier to finish up. All you do is wash it will some "oily" type of shampoo...like Suave or something like that. It holds the curls better. If the hair needs to be defrizzed after that use the boiling water trick. Basically you fill a bowl with boiling water and hair conditioner (Aussie brand Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner is what I recommend). Dip the hair (head) into it repeatedly. Then let the whole mess sit for awhile. It WILL NOT HURT THE DOLL, as long as it is not curly hair! If it is curly it will just take the curl out.
Now determine the original hair style. This means look for an indication of what type of hair style it might have been, a part, fringe (like bangs, or bits of short hair), anything. Generally speaking, fringe all around indicates a curly piggy/piggies on top (or knots), fringe from ear to ear is a ponytail or puppy tails of some sort and no fringe indicates a boy or certain Aussie styles. More info on this later...
Part the hair as needed and style. In my experience after you have washed the hair (and know the hair style), use a small pocket comb (to avoid pulling out plugs) and start combing your way through slowly. The hair will dry while you do this making it even MORE difficult to get it done, so wet it down using a pump/spray bottle filled with water.
If you need to curl the hair, put in the correct size curlers where the curls need to be, do it just as you would on a human head. And then dunk it in another bowl of boiling water. Do let it sit a little. What this does is set the curls by basically "melting" the hair into a curl shape.
Finish off the hair style. Use new rubberbands (regular hair ones work great and are plenty small enough) and place in the appropriate spots. Make sure the hair stays smooth and in place. Tie each off with a hair ribbon (either cut from a spool, regular hair care ones available in the drugstore or original ones if you have them).
Clothes
Some collectors and people in general think that you MUST have the original brand of clothes for each doll. Oh, hogwash. It's not neccessary. There were (and are) sewing patterns available, even then, for you to make your own clothes...it was highly encouraged! I've seen pamplets about these kids that advertise this fact. If these kids are to be enjoyed, any clothes are fine, as long as they fit the kid! Replicas are wonderful as you can get a new product without a lot of money!! Be creative.
Now how about shoes? I own no MC shoes at all...maybe...but they are so frickin expensive!! I show all mine with CPK shoes. Magic Nursery Dolls also have shoes that look just like MC shoes...just buy what you can, when you can and don't sweat the small stuff. :)
CareBears
As for the smell I am positive baking soda and a trash bag will take care of that! Just put an open box of baking soda in a bag, place the animals inside and seal for a week or so. The soda will absorb all the smell!
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