Many of you have been asking for more gymnastics stuff for McKenna and your gymnastics loving dolls. The American Girl gymnastics equipment set (that has been on backorder all year) comes with grips for McKenna’s hands when she does bars, but because they are made with an extra clip to hook onto the bars, they aren’t really like actual grips. I went through Megan’s gym bag and pulled out her old grips to use as a pattern. These ended up being so much easier to make than I ever thought they would be.
McKenna is ready for her bar routine! She has her new grips on and even secured them with a rubber band like the big girls do.
To make McKenna’s grips you will need:
- White fun foam or felt
- Duck tape
- Self adhesive velcro
- A few small rubber bands
Step 1 - Cut two pieces of fun foam that are 3/4″ wide by 2-3/4″ long. Round out the corners on the top and you can trim the sides to make it 1/2″ wide at the wrist.
Step 2 – Because the AG dolls middle two fingers are permanently together, cut a slit near the top to put her two middle fingers through. (See photo #1).
Step 3 – Cut a piece of duck tape 4-1/4″ long. Next cut it lengthwise so you end up with two narrow pieces.
Step 4 – Place the grip in the center of the duct tape so that you can fold the tape lengthwise and secure the fun foam grip inside (photo #2 & #3)
Step 5 – Place the self adhesive velcro on the ends of the wrist guard to keep the grips on her hand. If you don’t have velcro, roll a piece of duct tape so the sticky side is out and use that as your closure.
Step 6 – Place the grips on your doll’s hands and then take a small elastic band and wrap it around the wristband. The big girls do this so that the velcro on their grips does not get caught on something and come off during their bars workout or routine.
And she sticks her landing!! Woo hoo McKenna!
In case you missed it, here are the other gymnastics equipment crafts we have featured:
- How to make a balance beam for your dolls
- How to make uneven bars for your dolls
- How to make a folding mat for your dolls
- How to make a gymnastics vault for your dolls
- How to make an awards podium for your dolls
- How to make a folding mat for gymnastics plus printable score sheets for a doll gymnastics competition
I hope your dolls like this activity! It really was not hard to make and I think they look more realistic than the AG version!
Firstie!
cute!
Wow! This is amazing!
secondie!!!! yay!!! the first time I’ve been higher than 5thie!!!! This is so cute!!!
Cool. Do they keep them on the bars? I made the uneven bars.
i didn’t know you got her performance leo!! but those grips are so cute and realistic! they look just like mine!!
No, they will not keep her on the bars but they look realistic
i am so making this!!!
Cute!! And Char my Mom ordered me the Mckenna doll!! I will be sure to send in pictures in a few days when she arrives!
These are awesome! i used Sharry’s idea for the grips to stay on and attatched that to these grips! They actually work!
Everyone always says they have MAG 15 or another number. How do you find a MAGs number?
Nina, AGPlaythings, American Girl Wiki, YouTube, and at the AG store.
Cute. Now McKenna and Ivy want grips. Thanks for posting this, Char.
Hi everybody! really cute craft!What are grips for?
Melody – the grips that gymnasts use do two things – they help them get a better grip on the bars as they swing and they protect their hands from the friction that swinging on the bars produces – which produces blisters and skin rips. Ouch.
GUESS WHAT! CAROLINE COMES OUT IN A FEW DAYS! I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED! I CAN’T WAIT!
Im thinking of starting gymnastics… Oh and char, I’m going to have McKenna by Wednesday!
Oh awesome. McKenna and Samantha will be happy.
You can by Caroline’s books at the store now. I say Meet Caroline and another one at Meijers today
Hey great, Claire! I’m so glad it worked for you!
Thank’s Delany! Mary’s JLY #22!
No, wait, #23!
made the super easy doll end table today! it looks so cute! my mom loves it!