The Hand Problem..................

Cloth doll hands can be a real problem - often they are the one feature that will let down an otherwise fine piece, because they are clunky, or unnatural looking. It took me quite a few years of experimenting to come up with a cloth hand that I was happy with - the biggest breakthrough was using the idea of a separate thumb - I was able to locate the thumb in a much more natural relationship with the rest of the fingers, rather than having them all on the same plane. Here's how I do it:

Arms/hands sewn and turned; small hole nipped where "thumb bone" would be.

                    Pipe-cleaner framework made to insert into hand - stuffs and wires in one go!

Frame-work inserted - note the wire protruding from the thumb hole.

           Hand and arm filled and a small piece of wadding wrapped around the base of the thumb.

Thumb covering slipped on - it will be ladder-stitched in place.

                                                                    Expressive hands!