Creating a fillable shape from mutiple pen tool lines

howdy. i've solved before it's been years , i've since forgotten how. i've come close finding answer in other posts not quite here's i'm trying do: create line drawings using pen tool set to- outline black, no fill. draw several individual lines want join create single object can fill color (pic 1 below). tried selecting of lines using pathfinder > merge didn't work tried pathfinder > unite didn't work. both resulted in pic 2 below. tried pathfinder > outline looks until fill color , gives me same result merge , unite. appreciated. in advance!

 

pic 1. individual lines positioned in desired shape want fill color.

pic 2. same lines after pathfinder > merge. (unite yields similar result.)

use join command : ctrl + j

More discussions in Illustrator

adobe