diff --git a/doc/users/whats_new.rst b/doc/users/whats_new.rst
index 381dbd1f1ef6..15fd2465d781 100644
--- a/doc/users/whats_new.rst
+++ b/doc/users/whats_new.rst
@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ and Emf backends.  See :ref:`changes_in_1_3` for a complete list.
 To give your plots a sense of authority that they may be missing,
 Michael Droettboom (inspired by the work of many others in
 :ghpull:`1329`) has added an `xkcd-style <http://xkcd.com/>`_ sketch
-plotting mode.  To use it, simply call `pyplot.xkcd` before creating
-your plot.
+plotting mode.  To use it, simply call :func:`matplotlib.pyplot.xkcd`
+before creating your plot. For really fine control, it is also possible
+to modify each artist's sketch parameters individually with
+:meth:`matplotlib.artist.Artist.set_sketch_params`.
 
 .. plot:: mpl_examples/showcase/xkcd.py
 
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/path.py b/lib/matplotlib/path.py
index 6f45774ead94..1e0d1a43afd7 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/path.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/path.py
@@ -433,10 +433,10 @@ def cleaned(self, transform=None, remove_nans=False, clip=None,
         Path instance with cleaned up vertices and codes.
 
         """
-        vertices, codes = cleanup_path(self, transform,
-                                       remove_nans, clip,
-                                       snap, stroke_width,
-                                       simplify, curves, sketch)
+        vertices, codes = _path.cleanup_path(self, transform,
+                                             remove_nans, clip,
+                                             snap, stroke_width,
+                                             simplify, curves, sketch)
         internals = {'should_simplify': self.should_simplify and not simplify,
                      'has_nonfinite': self.has_nonfinite and not remove_nans,
                      'simplify_threshold': self.simplify_threshold,
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
index fd9a5c6b0c91..c287bb7100e6 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/pyplot.py
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ def setp(*args, **kwargs):
     return ret
 
 
-def xkcd():
+def xkcd(scale=1, length=100, randomness=2):
     """
     Turns on `xkcd <http://xkcd.com/>`_ sketch-style drawing mode.
     This will only have effect on things drawn after this function is
@@ -259,6 +259,15 @@ def xkcd():
     For best results, the "Humor Sans" font should be installed: it is
     not included with matplotlib.
 
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    scale: float, optional
+        The amplitude of the wiggle perpendicular to the source line.
+    length: float, optional
+        The length of the wiggle along the line.
+    randomness: float, optional
+        The scale factor by which the length is shrunken or expanded.
+
     This function works by a number of rcParams, so it will probably
     override others you have set before.
 
@@ -282,7 +291,7 @@ def xkcd():
     try:
         rcParams['font.family'] = ['Humor Sans', 'Comic Sans MS']
         rcParams['font.size'] = 14.0
-        rcParams['path.sketch'] = (1, 100, 2)
+        rcParams['path.sketch'] = (scale, length, randomness)
         rcParams['path.effects'] = [
             patheffects.withStroke(linewidth=4, foreground="w")]
         rcParams['axes.linewidth'] = 1.5