Saturday 9 August 2014

Neck Peg replacement for Obitsu.

I thought I would do a tutorial that has been at the back of my mind for awhile. This is a tutorial for an alternative neck peg for obitsu bodies.
Supplies:
Pliers
Electrical tape
Obitsu
Button with metal loop shank.


Step 1: Cover the top of the button with electrical tape: This stops the shank wiggling about all over the place.
Optional Step: Bend the loop so it fits inside the neck of the obitsu but also so the metal pin still slips through. I put this as optional because some of mine have needed it and some of mine haven't, it depends how thick and round the loop is. (This is what the pliers are for and I didn't take photo's as this step was done before I decided to make a tutorial)

Step 2: Cover the Loop with electrical tape to keep the head from wiggling. (Again might not be required if the loop fits snuggly inside the neck)

Step 3: Insert into the Neck and insert the metal pin to hold in place. (It can be a little tricky to get the pin back in, patcience is the key. A thick needle or other object usually helps to push the pin in or to check the holes are aligned.)

Step 4: Slide inside the head. (For some of my newer dolls, loosening or removing the eye-mechanism was needed for this step, remember to tighten it again, if you had to loosen it.)



Step 5: Put the Doll back together and you're done!

Advantages of this method is that the metal shank on the buttons is a lot sturdier than the obitsu neck pegs, I have had my dolls on these for almost 2 years and none of them have needed altering or fixing, whereas a lot of my obitsu neck pegs have snapped from the weight of the dolls head. 

Disadvantages of this method would be if the loop needs bent with the pliers to fit and this can require a lot of strength and patience and it is very easy to bend too large or too small. 

Buying the buttons: I found these in my Grandmother's old sewing kit but you can buy Similar buttons here