CORN DOLLY
The corn dolly is an ancient harvest custom, still widely practiced throughout Europe. In ancient Europe it was customary at harvest time to leave a small portion of the grain in the field, often twisted or tied into the shape of a man or the symbol of a god or goddess. Sometimes, it was even dressed in men’s or women’s clothes, kept in a cradle, or hung atop a pole.
CORN DOLLY TUTORIAL
You need:
-10 Dried Corn Husks
(You can peel from fresh corn & dry them yourself, or buy a pre-packed from
the grocery).
-Scissors
-Twine or heavy
weight braided string
-Large Bowl of water
(able to fit the husks)
Steps:
1.Dampen straw to
make pliable.
2.Gather the husks
with your string at the smaller end. Tie it as tight as possible in a knot.
3.Divide the husks
in half & flip them over around the tied off section. Tie that section off
in a knot to make the head.
4.Pull out a section
from the side of the doll and divide it into 3 sections
Braid the strips and
tie them off at a desired length. Trim the husk near the end to make the hands.
Repeat on the other side of doll.
5.Similar to tying
off the head, tie off another section below the arms to make a waist and define
the body a little more.
6.To cover your
string, tear off a long strip of husk and tie it around the exposed parts.
7.Trim off any
unevenness on the bottom of the skirt with scissors.
Lastly, “fluff” the
skirt by gently separating the folds of husks.
