Making your own bathing beauty wig
One question I often get from fellow bathing beauty collectors is where
to buy new wigs to replace their treasured bathers' missing tresses. Although
these bisque belles look charming without their bathing suits, they do look
rather odd with bald pates. I have never found a source for suitable tiny
wigs, and over the years learned to make my own, using the original mohair
wigs from some of my Galluba and Hofmann bathers as models. So this month
I explain my wig-making technique.
You will need self-adhesive bandage gauze to make the
wig cap. I found my gauze in the first aid section of the local Walgreens.
Suitable mohair is harder to find, but via eBay I have purchased a good
quality imported English mohair that comes loosely woven around string.
The mohair has a silky sheen, a nice soft wave, and comes in a variety of
attractive colors. For this demonstration, I used blonde mohair and dark
brown thread so that the steps would be easier to see. For your wig, you
will want to a use thread that closely matches the color of the mohair,
making the stitches all but invisible.
The model is a beautiful half doll by Galluba. She
is 3.5 inches high. Start the wig cap by cutting a small circle out of the
gauze. Cut a slit in the circle from one edge to the center, then, overlapping
the edges of the slit, form a skullcap fitting closely over the top of the
pate.
Using small strips of gauze, build up the rest of the
wig cap. The cap should cover the top of the head, with the edges forming
the hairline. Even out the edges of the cap with sharp scissors.
Unraveling a strand of mohair, place it across the
front of the wig cap from ear to ear. You will want the strand long enough
to form a ponytail that, when doubled over, will cover the back of the head.
It is better to overestimate, because you can always trim off the extra.
You can fluff up the mohair by gently tugging on the ends or carefully separating
the strands a little bit. Don't overdo it, because you will end up with
a frizzy mess. Blonde does not really suit this half doll; I usually select
a color that best matches the eyebrows or complements the doll's complexion.
Form a center part by, starting under the wig cap,
stitching the mohair to the wig cap. Be careful handling the cap, because
the gauze with adhere to itself. The stitched mohair should cover approximately
the front half to third of the wig cap.
Pull the two strands back (but not too tight), and
tie them together at the nape of the neck, forming a double pony tail. Lock
the two strand ends together by fitting the waves into each other. Very
tightly and securely tie the ends of the strands together (you may want
to wrap the thread around the ends several times before tying), trimming
off the excess mohair close to this knot. After tying the knot, leave one
long strand of thread still attached.
Thread this remaining strand of thread into a needle
and pull the needle through the wig cap, just at the base of the pony tail.
As you pull the needle through, the pony tail will
fold double, bunching up to form a loose chignon. After pulling the thread
tight, secure it with a couple of stitches under the wig cap at the nape
and tie it off under the cap.
Hold the folded pony tail against the cap, so that
it covers the back of the head and meets the edge of the stitched mohair
across the front. Coming up from under cap, the secure the folded edge to
the end of the center part with a stitch. Still coming up from under the
cap, use a couple of more stitches as needed to hold the folded mohair in
place against the back of the head. The appearance should be that of a coiled
chignon. Using small, very sharp scissors, carefully trim away any fuzzy
hairs sticking out (but be careful not to cut the wig itself). Using a needle
or pin, carefully pull down the mohair strands around the face to shape
and soften the hairline (but don't overdo it!).
Here's our model in her new auburn mohair wig, made
using this technique.
The back of the wig gives the appearance of a loosely
coiled chignon, similar to the style found on many old Galluba.
You will need self-adhesive bandage gauze to make the
wig cap. I found my gauze in the first aid section of the local Walgreens.
Suitable mohair is harder to find, but via eBay I have purchased a good
quality imported English mohair that comes loosely woven around string.
The mohair has a silky sheen, a nice soft wave, and comes in a variety of
attractive colors. For this demonstration, I used blonde mohair and dark
brown thread so that the steps would be easier to see. For your wig, you
will want to a use thread that closely matches the color of the mohair,
making the stitches all but invisible. 
The model is a beautiful half doll by Galluba. She
is 3.5 inches high. Start the wig cap by cutting a small circle out of the
gauze. Cut a slit in the circle from one edge to the center, then, overlapping
the edges of the slit, form a skullcap fitting closely over the top of the
pate.
Using small strips of gauze, build up the rest of the
wig cap. The cap should cover the top of the head, with the edges forming
the hairline. Even out the edges of the cap with sharp scissors.
Unraveling a strand of mohair, place it across the
front of the wig cap from ear to ear. You will want the strand long enough
to form a ponytail that, when doubled over, will cover the back of the head.
It is better to overestimate, because you can always trim off the extra.
You can fluff up the mohair by gently tugging on the ends or carefully separating
the strands a little bit. Don't overdo it, because you will end up with
a frizzy mess. Blonde does not really suit this half doll; I usually select
a color that best matches the eyebrows or complements the doll's complexion.
Form a center part by, starting under the wig cap,
stitching the mohair to the wig cap. Be careful handling the cap, because
the gauze with adhere to itself. The stitched mohair should cover approximately
the front half to third of the wig cap. 
Pull the two strands back (but not too tight), and
tie them together at the nape of the neck, forming a double pony tail. Lock
the two strand ends together by fitting the waves into each other. Very
tightly and securely tie the ends of the strands together (you may want
to wrap the thread around the ends several times before tying), trimming
off the excess mohair close to this knot. After tying the knot, leave one
long strand of thread still attached.
Thread this remaining strand of thread into a needle
and pull the needle through the wig cap, just at the base of the pony tail.
As you pull the needle through, the pony tail will
fold double, bunching up to form a loose chignon. After pulling the thread
tight, secure it with a couple of stitches under the wig cap at the nape
and tie it off under the cap. 
Hold the folded pony tail against the cap, so that
it covers the back of the head and meets the edge of the stitched mohair
across the front. Coming up from under cap, the secure the folded edge to
the end of the center part with a stitch. Still coming up from under the
cap, use a couple of more stitches as needed to hold the folded mohair in
place against the back of the head. The appearance should be that of a coiled
chignon. Using small, very sharp scissors, carefully trim away any fuzzy
hairs sticking out (but be careful not to cut the wig itself). Using a needle
or pin, carefully pull down the mohair strands around the face to shape
and soften the hairline (but don't overdo it!).
Here's our model in her new auburn mohair wig, made
using this technique. 
The back of the wig gives the appearance of a loosely
coiled chignon, similar to the style found on many old Galluba.