As with most of you, I began with the mitt hand. My first venture into articulated hands made for some really Uncommon Folk in the beginning.
But, like most anything, practice, practice, practice, makes for great results with minimum effort.
Turning Hands in Words
I have learned that turning perfect fingers is all in the sewing. Ninety percent of the success you have with turning fingers comes from sewing the pattern or template correctly.
After you have traced the hands onto the fuzzy side of doubled doe suede fabric, my choice of fabric now, sew the arm from one side of the top opening, down the arm to the area where the thumb begins. Follow the traced template line to the tip of the thumb. Stop the machine, turn the fabric and take two to four tiny stitches, depending on your machine stitch length. Stop the machine, turn the fabric, sew up to the traced line where the pad of the hand is, stop the machine, take two or three stitches across this area, stop the machine and sew down the next finger, stop the machine...you get the picture!
The finger spread and the way you stitch the fingers make for easy turning always sew the fingers so that the tip is smaller than the top of the finger, it is very hard to pull a finger through to the right side when the tip of the finger is sewn larger than the base of the finger. Make sure that the finger is in proportion to the other fingers. Look at your own hand. If you want round fingers you square off the top. When you turn the finger, the tip will be round. If you want tapered fingers, then carefully sew around the tip of the finger following the drawn lines. This will give you nicely tapered fingers, suitable for attaching or painting on great nails.
Be sure to clip almost to the seam between each finger before you turn. This allows for spread, and the fingers will lie flat.
Turn the hand and arm to the right side. The fingers will still be in the palm. Insert the stuffing stick down the arm into the palm area. Squiggle the stick to open out the fingers in the palm. Then use the stuffing stick to push the fingers straight into the pal. Insert the hemostat into a finger, feel the hemostat grasp the fabric of the finger close to the tip, and GENTLY pull that finger to the right side. Work gently, you are not at war with these fingers, giving the fingers a yank will almost always result in a tear or a hole in the tip. Work gently. If you have sewn the finger straight, if you have taken the stitches at the base of each finger, and created a good finger spread then that finger will slide out, no matter how small the finger. You will be amazed.
