Corn Husk Doll

[johninfla]

My eldest daughter (Joanne) is a CRAZY Laura Ingalls Wilder fanatic. She has read all of her books and every biography she comes across. She asked me yesterday, how to make a corn husk doll. I told her I didn't know but if she wrote me a note in my planner, I would look it up at work . Anyway, I will look it up but I was wondering if anyone on here had experience making a corn husk doll.


John

[mnjrutherford]

I have no experience but there is a doll maker up here in NC. She, and her family who work with her, were featured in a PBS program about it.... I'm not sure which program it was, "NC Now" maybe? I'll see if I can't find it for you.

[johninfla]

Thanks,

I found a couple of websites, printed them out and she went to it. They recommend waiting for the shucks to dry.....but my daughter is just like her old man (impatient) and went ahead with green shucks. The funny thing is the doll shrunk up so it looks like a voodoo doll now (especially with the silks she used for hair!)

John

[mnjrutherford]

Experience can teach patience... ;o)

[12540dumont]

John, about 15 years ago, I taught doll making at our local community night school.


The dolls I made were made from muslin, tea dyed, button eyes, homespun yarn hair. We scrounged as a class at Goodwill and found some gingham curtains (well worn). We made the clothes from old curtains. Let me know if you'd like me to send your daughter out a pattern.

For a gentlemen who's daughter collects dolls, I handspun all the yarn and wove clothing. I saw that young girl (who's now a mommy of her own little girl), she's all grown up and told me that doll was her favorite. She named it Laura Wilder.


www.nativetech.org/cornhusk/dollinst.html this is a good site for corn husk dolls.

[johninfla]

Holly,

that is an awesome site! Thankyou for the link. Yes, please send the pattern...Patty is teaching the girls to sew and I'm sure it would be a hit!!

Thanks,
John