How to Make Corn Husk Dolls

There is an Iroquois legend that corn, one of the Three Sisters, made little people out of corn husks. These little people were to roam the earth bringing brotherhood and contentment to the Iroquois people. Corn made one of these children especially beautiful, but this beautiful child became very vain. The Great Spirit warned this child of her vanity, but the warning was ignored. The corn husk child's punishment would be to roam the earth forever with no face, and no way to communicate with her people or nature. Now you can make your own little piece of folklore.

Things You'll Need

• Corn husks (from crafts store or supermarket)
• Scissors
• String
• 1 Bucket or large bowl of water

Instructions

make Corn Husk Dolls

1. Place the corn husks into the water. The husks will become soft and bendable as they soak in the water. Separate the corn husks as they become soft. You will need at least 10 pieces of corn husk for each doll you plan on making.

2. Choose four of your husks that are very close in size to each other. Lay the four pieces on top of each other and use the string to tie the pointy ends of the husks together near the top. This creates the body of your doll.

3. Take two husks in each hand (of the four you tied together). Fold the husks down over the string so that the string isn't visible. This is the start of the doll's head.

4. 

   Tie a string around the end that is forming the doll's head. The first knot you made holding the four husks together should still be on the inside of the doll.

5. Take another husk and smooth it out completely flat. Trim the pointed end of the husk with your scissors until it is straight. Roll the husk into a tube lengthwise. The tube should be tight.

6. Use your string to tie each end of the husk tube in place. Place the tube between the husks of the body, below the head. Make sure the ends are coming out of the body to form the arms.

7. Tie a piece of string around the body below the arms. This will not only form a waist for the doll, but also keep the arms in place.

8. Take another husk and wrap it around the back of the doll's neck. Criss-cross the ends of the husk over the doll's chest. Tie the husk into place the doll's waist. This forms the shoulders.

9. Leave the doll as it is and you'll have a husk doll with a dress. Or you can separate the husks under the doll's waist. Use the string to tie the two husks together on each side of the doll. This will form legs for the doll.

10. Leave the doll's face blank, as this is usually how husk dolls are left. Of course you can do whatever you want with the doll. Some place red dots on the doll's cheeks once it dries.

Tips & Warnings

• Corn husks can be used to make clothes for the doll, and corn silk can be used for hair.