Sasha Doll Repair Restringing Cleaning Services

For several years I had a Sasha dolls website which became too cumbersome to maintain, so now I just have this cute little blog! :)

It was suggested to me to remind Sasha collectors and owners whose dolls are in need of restringing, that I do offer this service.

I have been restringing Sasha dolls since the mid 1990's.  I know the correct method to restring both the hook and bar dolls and the more difficult plug and ring assembly dolls made from the 1970's to 1980's.   Both of these methods should ensure the correct tension so as not to put undue pressure on the inner joints, which can weaken or stretch and become misshapen over time.  Also, too much tension on the cord can cause caving to the top of the torso and also results in an "hourglass" shape at the waist, as the top and bottom of the torso are pulled closer together.

It is important to keep your Sasha dolls out of heat.  Some dolls were too tightly strung at the factory, and these misfortunes can happen regardless of temperature, but heat only softens the vinyl and can cause caving and warping to the vinyl itself.  Sometimes a doll will even develop a "ridge" at the neck knob, where it has been pulled down into the neck hole.

Some of these issues can be repaired.  Part of my restringing service includes re-shaping (using heat) torsos which have caved and then stringing the doll looser than it was strung originally, in order to prevent it from happening in the future.

I also offer a cleaning of the doll for $5 extra in addition to the restringing.  It is important to clean a doll while it's unstrung, in order to allow the parts to sufficiently dry, especially the head, where the inner rooting can hold water.   A mild shampoo is used - for human hair wigs, a good strengthening hair conditioner is used.  I do not wash the hair on brunette dolls, as water can become a catalyst for "falling hair" reacting with the dark dyes used and causing extreme brittleness to the hair.  I am reluctant to even wash a an early redhaired Sasha's hair as it can happen to them as well, and I avoid that as much as possible.

Dolls which have a moldy smell are a challenge to every doll lover!  Fortunately, disinfecting methods can be used inside and out, and while the mold itself will be gone, the original odor has seeped into the vinyl itself.  Vinyl is a porous material and it will absorb smoke, mold, mildew and perfume odors.  And please, never put your doll in or near moth balls or moth flakes!  This smell is impossible to remove!   A strong odor of any of these kinds is considered "damage" to almost any collector, and affects the value very much, so it's important to avoid it.

Services are priced as below.  Cost of shipping to and from are in addition.
For any Frido or Trendon doll:
Basic Restringing $25
Cleaning with restringing $5
For 1960's Gotz dolls
$30 Basic restringing
$5 cleaning
(may require replacement of neck knob if it has been exposed to moisture and deterorated, as it is made of lightweight wood.  Neck knob replacement $15)

OTHER DOLLS (Composition, etc)  $20.  My Etsy shop contains dolls I have restrung/cleaned.  https://www.etsy.com/shop/suburbantreasure

American Girl Dolls Restringing:  $25

1990's and 2000's Gotz Sasha dolls.  These dolls are a nightmare for anyone to work on.  Due to child safety laws, they do not contain hooks, but instead have plastic inserts in the head, arms and legs and the cord is embedded in it.  These are a horror to remove, with extensive heat, time and strength required. I no longer work on these dolls unfortunately

Almost all of my custom Sasha dolls you see having sold (including Sunny above!) on these pages required extensive cleaning and restringing, so you can see some of my work in that way and references are available.
I may be reached at wenarskys@embarqmail.com