Hi there everyone! I finished up a cuddle baby head. She is the Realborn Patience sculpt. I made the mistake of cutting out the back of the eye sockets. I was having a hard time getting her eyes in. I used the recommended eye size eyes but they were from Dolls by Sandie and not Bountiful Baby. I am using moleskin to hold the eyes in. It was like the head wouldn’t squeeze for me to fit the eyes in or something. For my next open eyed doll, how can I get the eyes in easier and not cut the whole back of the socket? When I was cutting the sockets, I used an exacto knife. I use air dry paints.
Thanks,
Julie
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I only cut the back open about halfway and then at least there is still a piece of the vinyl there to hold the eye in place
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I also do what Paige does and only cut a flap about half way. I put a popsicle stick in from the front and push it tight against my tummy to stretch the vinyl for safe cutting.
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In case of stiff vinyl you can warm it up with a hair drier or if you use Genesis with your oven and it would be squeezable and bendable.
Some kits manufactured in Europe come with the round eye socket whose backing needs to be punched out, but because of the perfect round shape they hold eyes tight.
I had a different problem with Patient. In my case one of her eyes didn’t flash. I was told by this forum that oval glass eyes fit her better.
BTW, I love Dolls by Sandies Polygalas eyes - they are the best.
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I also cut the back open halfway with an x-acto blade. I do it from the inside so I don’t cut the lids or edges of the eyes. I use 12" forceps to insert them. Once they’re in the position I want them I glue the edge of the flap with a little bit on the edge of the eye so they don’t move once it’s dry.
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Not sure if any one motioned it yet but Patience’s eyes are a little difficult. I found the oval eyes seemed to fit best on the ones I did.
I use cosmetic wedges behind the eye and glue the flap down
I read more and see lovely Yelena mentioned it 
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When I insert eyes from the inside I use a long wooden skewer to help me move the vinyl. It is gentle enough not to damage the eyes.
I use my popsicle stick from the front to open the flap so I can maneuver the eye in from the inside… that way I only have a finger to deal with through the neck opening.
Do you have Hemostats? I go thru the front as Pia does with some sort of stick then hold the eye with hemostats. Sometimes I wind up cutting almost the whole flap out then push it back in place and cover with moleskin.
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No I don’t have hemostats. I’ll have to get some. I was able to get the eyes in. I hope that all open eyed dolls aren’t like this.
I am confused why both of her upper eyelids has cuts. Did you cut her backing from the front?
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I tried cutting from the back at first and then I tried cutting a little front the front trying to see if that would work better.
Oh No! The straggle is real!
If you use the heat set and have vinyl putty you can try to repair those front cuts.
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Yeah I hope I do better with the next open eyed baby. Thanks for the tip! I use air dry paints.
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Every mistake is a learning opportunity. Unfortunately that kit is not easy with those eyes.
But like I mentioned, try to soften the vinyl with a hairdryer for the next time it makes the neck softer and bendable and you can reach the eye sockets thru the neck.
Also, as weird as it sounds, I can only insert eyes with my eyes closed. Somehow it makes my concentration better where to guide those eyes. For the empty round eyes I made small cotton balls and glued them into the spheres. That helps the flap to have more surface to be glued to.
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I could NEVER install eyes with my own closed. Bravo! You are awesome!
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This means you are really good with sensory in your hands/fingers. You can see with them, in a sense. 
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Glad to hear someone else does it with her eyes closed! Between holding the head in one hand and sticking my other hand halfway in her neck, I can’t even see inside unless I take my hand out. I don’t reborn enough to justify buying hemostats when I could buy more eyes or other reborning stuff or more paint for acrylic paintings…
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