Instructions for Making Corn Husk Dolls
A long-standing tradition of both Native and Colonial America is the corn husk doll. The doll was originally crafted as an offering of brotherhood and contentment from the Native American Iroquois tribe. Interestingly, the dolls are made without facial features. According to legend, the dolls were once very beautiful, but they became so vain that their faces were taken away by the Great Spirit. Corn husk dolls are easily made from a combination of corn husks and string, and they can be a wonderful project for families to enjoy.
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Materials
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In order to make a corn husk doll, you need to gather the right materials. Most craft stores and grocers have corn husks that are already prepared in bags.You will need approximately ten corn husks per doll, a bundle of string, a pair of scissors and a pan of water to soak the corn husks.
Head and Shoulders
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Begin by soaking the corn husks in a pan of water. Soaking the corn husks will make them pliable enough to work with. The body of the doll is made by layering four or five corn husks on top of one another and tying the ends together with string. The head of the doll is constructed by taking four corn husks and folding them over a piece of string. The folded section is then secured by tying it around the husks into a knot.
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Finishing the Project
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The arms are made by flattening out two or three corn husks, rolling them in a cone shape, and tying each end with string. Once the arms have been fit into the body of the doll, additional husks can be draped across the arms to create shoulders. Additionally, a layer of husks can be tied around the waist to form a skirt for a girl doll. If you are making a male doll, roll and tie corn husks in the same manner as the arms were made, insert them at the waist and tie them with string to keep them secure.
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