Simple Corn Husk Dolls

This weekend we picked up a huge bag of corn for just $10.00 from a local farm.  I was in the kitchen putting some of them away when I looked over at Earl doing something with the husks that we were going to throw away.  He was making corn dolls. I immediately sat down to make one as well.  He learned how to make them several years ago from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians several years ago.  They are remarkably similar to yarn dolls that I use to make with my Grandmother when I was little.  They are super easy and fun to make.  You just need some twine and scissors and the corn husks.  

You want to start by gathering the husks that you want to use.  Choose the outside husks from the corn as they will be firmer to work with.  You can tear them in half to make thinner strips of husk for you to work with as some of them can be quite large.  The longer the ear of corn you are working with the easier time you will have.  Ours are a bit small but super cute. 

Arrange them on a flat surface in a bit of a star formation.  When you make your doll the center of the star will be the head of your doll.  Pick it up from underneath pinching it in the center.  Fold down all the strands so that you have the folded part at the top.

You can see in this picture how I folded it over.  Tie a piece of twine over the fold to form the head.  The rest of the husk will be hanging below that. 

You then want to pick up a few pieces on each side to form the arms of your doll.

Tie a piece of twine around each of the arms to help form the arms and keep them together.  Then tie a piece of twine below them to act as the waist.  It’s helpful if you tie all your knots on one side as this can be the back of your doll.  You can trim off the extra string when you are all set.  

From here you can either make legs similar to how you made the arms or you can make her a skirt by fanning out the husk.  Given time they will dry to the tan color that you are likely familiar seeing corn husk dolls. 

Have fun!

Much Love and Many Blessings,

Jasmeine Moonsong