Corn Husk Crafting – How To Soften And Preserve Husks
Posted by Karen Bastille - 13/10/09 at 03:10 pm
Florists, museum display experts, and those in the business of preserving plants know the value of glycerin as a plant preservative. If you have ever used rose water and glycerin on your hands you know of glycerin’s softening quality. It works on corn husks, too.
For making dolls or wreaths that are only to look at, it doesn’t matter if the husks dry and become brittle. But a corn-husk article that will get more use will last longer if it does not turn brittle. Also, husks soaked in a glycerin solution are easier to braid and fold.
You can buy glycerin in any pharmacy. It’s not expensive. Add 2 or 3 teaspoons of glycerin to a large mixing bowl of water in which you are soaking husks. The glycerin will permeate the husk so that, as it dries, the husk retains some of the pliability it had while fresh.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:12 am
Hi Karen,
I’m in the process of making a tamale wreath. How long do you let the husks sit in the solution of water and glycerin? and can I pat dry and start the project immedidately?
Thank you in advance
Mary Lou
December 6th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Hi Mary Lou,
I’d go “by feel” when deciding how long to soak the husks – not less than 1/2 hour, after that you could soak them as long as you like (they won’t “over-soak”)
If they feel softer and more pliable to you, then they’re ready.
I’ve dried mine by folding them in a towel and blotting them dry, patting them would work too, I’m sure.