For this modern corn-husk doll, the hair was made from unravelled twine.

With a few variations in method you can make a corn-husk doll that is not as stiff-looking as the basic doll, one that actually conveys a feeling of motion and grace.

Begin by making the head as for the basic doll with six husks laid on top of each other. Put two of the whitest husks you have in the middle of the stack, because these will become the face. Gather and tie the husks an inch from the top. Trim the ends into a rounded shape for the head. Pull the husks, banana-like, and tie the neck.

Pull two husks up over the head to be used for the bodice later. Pull one husk to each side for the
arms. And leave two husks straight down for the legs or skirt.

To make the hand, take a narrow husk and roll it between your thumbs and forefingers so it will twist. When you fold this twisted piece in half it will twist further and make a loop to be used for the hand. Lay the hand in the arm husk which you have trimmed.

Fold the shortened arm husk around the hand and wrap it tightly with a narrow strip of husk from wrist to shoulder.

Tie it at the shoulder. Make the other arm and the legs exactly the same way.

Puffed Sleeve

To make a puffed sleeve look at the picture below as you put a husk, broad end toward the body, under the wrapped arm. Gather the husk around the arm and tie it between the elbow and wrist. Pull the pointed end of the sleeve husk up toward the shoulder, puffing and rounding it into shape. Tie it near the shoulder. Do NOT trim it.

It should look like this when finished.

Next, fold a piece of husk into a small package, enough to fill out the chest of the doll. Lay it under the doll’s neck and wrap the ends of the sleeves you did not trim over and around the chest filling. Still holding this in place, bring down the two husks that have been pulled up over the head to cover the chest and back. Tie these securely at the waist.

Finishing

Put on the doll’s skirt as you did the basic doll’s. When you trim the skirt be careful not to cut off the legs. You can pin the skirt to look as though the wind blew it.

If your doll will spend the rest of its time sitting on a log, or kneeling to pick a flower, or flying on your Christmas tree as an angel, or ice skating, now is the time to decide. While the doll is wet you can turn its head, bend its arms, legs, waist, or knees.

Take a piece of wood or whatever will be the doll’s base and place the doll on it. Looping string around the figure, tie the head, arms, and legs into place, pinning where necessary. In a day or two when the doll is dry, remove the string and pins. If you don’t like the way it dried, dip the doll in water and begin again.

The Little Extras

The variations you can make on a basic doll are what make this hobby fun. For an angel, cut wings from graceful-looking corn husks and add a bit of tinsel for a halo. If you want a more frilly angel, shred the skirt. While the skirt is wet, take a needle and pierce the husk, pulling the needle quickly downward with the grain of the husk. Do this all around the skirt until it is finely shredded. When it dries, the skirt will be very curly and fluffy-looking.

Glue on corn silk or unravelled twine or yarn for hair. Or make tiny braids of corn husks to use for pigtails or a matronly bun. Add an apron, a bonnet, a scarf or a hat. Put a bunch of miniature dried flowers or a tiny corn husk baby in the doll’s arms.

For one of the most unusual gifts you can make, try corn-husk figures to illustrate your friends’ hobbies or professions. Put a corn-husk teacher behind a small dollhouse-size desk with a pointer in one hand, a book in the other. Make a corn-husk grandmother who will sit in a small rocker as she knits.

Time is well invested when you make corn-husk dolls because they will last longer than your lifetime!