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How to Make a Corn Husk Dolly

In locations where corn was a major crop Native American and Colonial American children used corn husks to make toys. Specifically, they would create little dolls to play with. The corn husks can be fashioned into girl or boy dolls. It was believed that the dolls would watch the children play and keep them safe. In addition to being used as a toy, some tribes used these dolls for special ceremonies, such as a healing ceremony to banish evil dreams.

Things You'll Need

String
A bucket of cold water
Corn husks
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Soak your corn husks in warm water until they are soft and malleable.
- 2
  Place one corn husk with the flat end facing away from you on the table. Place two more corn husks side by side directly on top of the first husk. Lay an additional husk in the middle and directly on top of those two husks.
- 3
  Tie the corn husks together tightly one inch from the flat edged top with a string. Cut off any loose ends of the string.
- 4
  Hold the short end of the husks in one hand with the long ends on top. Pull the long ends down and around the short ends.
- 5
  Tie a string about two inches from the top around the newly formed "head."
- 6
  Take another husk and roll it into a tight cylinder. Secure both ends with string to create your dolls arms.
- 7
  Put the arm cylinder in between the corn husks under the string you tied for the head. Secure a string under the arms to create the waist.
- 8
  Drape an additional corn husk horizontally around the top of the arms and down over the chest in a criss-cross pattern to create the "shoulders."
- 9
  Tie four or five corn husks around the waist to form a skirt. To create a boy, separate the husks under the waist into two sections. Tie the ends of each section to create pant legs.
- 10
  Use markers or paint to draw a face on your new doll and add color to their husk clothing.

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