Making Corn Husk Dolls

Materials

• Cornhusks
• Pan of warm water
• Heavy thread-buttonhole thread or embroidery floss works well
• Scissors
• Stuffing wool or cotton and material scraps for clothes, optional

What To Do

1. Soak the cornhusks in warm water for about 1/2 hour.
2. Tie 12 husks together tightly at the top.
3. To make the head, tie a neck a short way down from the top. You can stuff a little wool or cotton in here if you like.
4. Separate three husks on both sides, and tie them halfway down for the arms. Trim the excess.
5. To make the body, tie the remaining husks just above halfway down.
6. Make legs by tying three husks on each side, a bit up from the ends. Trim the ends.
7. Add clothing--scarves, hats, shawls, skirts, jacketed.
8. Make cornhusk children by starting with shorter husks.

Related Books

Corn Is Maize: The Gift of the Indians by Aliki
Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault
My Navajo Sister by Eleanor Schick

--Carol Petrash, Reprinted from Earthways