How to Make Apple Dolls
Pioneers in the early days of America made dolls from anything that could be found on the land or recycled. Apples were among the materials that these settlers used when they wanted to amuse their children. Apple-head dolls also became a cottage industry for women in the early 20th century when homemaker Mary McAboy created her "Skookum" dolls. These dolls began as apple-head creations but were later made with plastic, wearing Native-American dress. Many of these dolls are now considered valuable antiques. You can create your own apple dolls.
Things You'll Need
- Peeler
- Pan
- Salt water
- Lemon Juice
- Dish cloth
- Paring knife
- Oven
- Food Dehydrator
- Trays
- Scrap fabric
- Black dress pins
- Needle
- Thread
- Wooden dowel
- Cotton batting
- Hot glue gun and glue
- Felt
Instructions
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1
Peel large, firm apples without bruises or other marks, one per doll.
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2
Place the apples gently into a pan filled with salt water. The water should cover the apples. Add 4 oz. of lemon juice to the salt water. Let the apples soak for 30 to 45 minutes. Pat the surface dry with a dish cloth. (The salt-water-lemon mixture keeps the apples from turning dark. Let the apples dry naturally if you want dark-skinned dolls.)
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3
Carve the apples with a paring knife to create a head, which is round in back with flat sides. Carve out areas under the eyes so that a portion is left for the nose. Cut a slit for the mouth and curves for the chin and ears.
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4
Dry the apples in a food dehydrator or oven. Set a food dehydrator to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. If you use an oven, set it to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, place the apples on a tray in the oven and leave the oven door slightly ajar for four to five hours. Frequently check the drying apples.
You can also air dry apples in dry, sunny areas (rain or moist weather conditions will rot the apples). To air dry, place the apples on a screen or tray in a warm area, but not in direct sunlight. This process takes two to three weeks.
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Make doll clothes while the apples are drying. Use scraps of material, cutting dresses for female dolls and pants and shirts for males.
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Assemble the dolls' bodies after the apples are dried by pushing wooden dowels into the apples. The dowels should stop midway through the apple heads. Use black-headed pins for eyes.
Other alternatives include using store-bought doll bodies or making stick-figure bodies with heavy wire and pliers.
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Thread the other end of the dowels into the doll clothes. Cinch the clothes at the top of the dowels by sewing the cloth securely underneath the apple-head necks. Hot glue cotton-batting hair to the dolls' heads. Add felt hands at the clothing sleeves and felt shoes at trouser cuffs for male dolls. Decorate the dolls with spectacles, miniature walking canes, or other items.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit apple image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
