How to Make Inca Dolls

Make a cold porcelain Inca doll body

• 1

  Mix 1 cup glue, 1 cup cornstarch and 1 tablespoon mineral oil with a few drops of either lemon juice, witch hazel or clove oil as a preservative. Place the mix into an old pot and cook it on the stove over low heat for about 10 minutes--stirring consistently--until it binds together to create the porcelain clay for your Inca doll's body.

• 2

  Allow the porcelain mix to stand until it's cool enough to be kneaded. Work the material with your hands until it starts to solidify and pull away from the pot. Encase the porcelain in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator overnight.

• 3

  Remove the clay from the fridge and shape a head, torso, legs and arms---all of the pieces you'll need to form your Inca doll. Cover your hands with mineral oil if you find the porcelain sticking to your hands. Use bits of the clay to join the appendages to the Inca doll's torso.

• 4

  Reinforce the Inca doll body with crafting wire while the porcelain material is still malleable. Allow the doll to harden for 24 hours. Expect the doll to shrink about 25 percent once it's dry.

• 5

  Paint the doll's body with an olive-colored paint. Add black eyes plus nose and mouth details. Purchase a black synthetic doll's wig or make hair of black yarn. Glue the hair in place, but don't braid or cut it; Inca women always wore their hair parted in the middle and hanging straight down the back.

Make an Inca outfit for the doll

• 6

  Cut two rectangles of felt, each of which is a bit wider and longer than the body you created.

• 7

  Pin the two pieces of felt together at the shoulders and at the sides, as authentic Inca dress had no ties, zippers or buttons, relying instead on pins to hold tunics together.

• 8

  Tie a sash around the doll's waist. Wrap a matching headband around her forehead. String necklaces to place around the doll's neck. Make or buy sandals to complete the doll.