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Charming corn husk dolls are an American Indian invention
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photo and project design by Gretc
Native American Indians invented cornhusk dolls centuries ago. They are usually made without facial features; an Iroquois myth explains why. According to legend, one corn doll became increasingly taken with her own beauty, which displeased the Great Spirit. She was admonished to refrain from such vanity so she tried to be more humble. But one day she was passing a stream and could not help but admire her reflection in the water. The Great Spirit sent an owl to snatch her reflection from the water and from that day forward, she could no longer see her face.
Cornhusk dolls may be modest, but they are also charming!
To make your own, save husks shucked from corn-on-the-cob and dry them in the sun for a few days. Or purchase a bag of trimmed cornhusks, used for making tamales, from a Mexican food market. You’ll need about 15 husks for each doll. Soak them in a bowl of water for 10 minutes to soften, then blot dry with a kitchen towel. If you want dolls in different colors, simply add around twenty drops of food coloring to the soaking water.
Cut thirty or forty 5-inch lengths of yarn or raffia for the hair; tie them together at one end with a piece of twine. Wrap five or six husks around the raffia and tie tightly with another piece of twine about an inch from the top.
Peel the husks down to create a head and expose the raffia hair (which will be sprouting up). Tie the neck tightly with twine.
Split a husk into six lengths and braid into two arms. Tie both ends of each arm with short pieces of raffia and then tie the two arms together (as in photo). Push the arms up between the husks, under the neck. Roll up a third of a husk and put beneath the arms, creating a torso. Tie the waist tightly with twine.
To add a skirt, wrap four to six husks around the waist and tie with twine. Occasionally, packaged cornhusks become a bit crumpled. Don’t toss them out! The wrinkles give the skirt a lacy look. Fold a one-inch wide length of husk in half and tie around the waist, creating a sort of cummerbund.
You can style the hair into braids or tie a piece of husk around the head like a headband, which will help tame unruly hair.
To display your doll standing, simply set her skirts over a small, heavy object.
photo by Gretchen Goetz
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