How To Make Mexican Corn Husk Dolls

Every twelvemonth in belatedly summer and early fall, the fresh corn that'southward harvested makes for delightful meals. But, the husks were in one case saved for a variety of uses. They could be woven to make a sort of dish scrubber, used every bit filling for mattresses, used as wrappers for steamed foods similar pudding or tamales, and they could be soaked in water and made into dolls. In the days when almost farming families had petty to their names a fabric doll might have been out of reach (and certainly a china doll would have been out of the question). Resourceful mothers of the past reached for what they had on paw to brand toys, often saving their precious fabric for mending or quilts.

To make a corn husk doll stale corn husks are soaked for about 10 minutes and and then dabbed with a towel. You need near six-8 pieces for each doll. The bigger the husk pieces the amend since they can e'er be torn smaller merely are difficult to piece together. Then the husks are folded to make a body and head.

Some directions call for twine or thread, merely in the old days fifty-fifty this would have been seen as a waste. Instead the head, limbs, and waist were all tied off with long, thin strips of dampened husk that were tied extremely carefully. If done also roughly they will interruption quite easily, so this role can be very fiddly. Information technology's just one more than aspect of the craft that gets easier with do.

Next the husk clothes were made. Skirts were most certainly easier to brand since you just drape them downward over the legs and tie them up at the waist. Other items made of husk for the dolls could exist bags, bonnets, or tools. A broom tin can easily be fabricated from husk and a stick. Some corn husk doll designs use sticks for arms instead of husks. Other creative designs chosen for an acorn for the head. Sheep'due south wool, horsehair, or dried cornsilk could be used for the hair, although braided husk was as well a common hairstyle for the dolls.

Modern designs sometimes telephone call for craft felt, which is a great way to add colour and design without spending too much time sewing tiny wear.

A multifariousness of designs are possible with this arts and crafts. With practice one could become skilled at making fairly elaborate designs and accessories like bustles or strips of "lace" made from husk. In the days before settlers took to raising corn, a farming skill that they learned from Native American, it was the Haudenosaunee people (known more than ordinarily equally Iroquois) that create corn husk dolls.

Traditionally these dolls had no faces in remembrance of a morality tale. I of the Three Sisters had fabricated a very beautiful corn husk doll which later came to life. But, when she coaught her reflection she realized how pretty she was and began to human action vain and mean. She was punished by the Great Spirit and he took her face away. To this 24-hour interval, many corn husk dolls have no face on them, as is customary.

Seneca corn husk doll, circa 1870-1880. Via/ Wiki Commons

Pretty much any culture that now grows corn makes corn husk dolls, from Botswana to Hungary to Mexico. Corn husk dolls play an important part in Mexican crafts today, with brightly-dyed dancer dolls representing the culture of folklorico dancers and their extravagant dresses.

If you lot're looking for a fun, inexpensive, and educational fall arts and crafts so traditional corn husk dolls might exist just the ticket. Have a look at how to brand them using store bought dried husks in the video beneath.