I took a walk in a local cornfield recently and found some really nice corn husks. Corn husks, sometimes referred to as corn shucks, are the dry leaves that cover the mature ears of corn. In this field the farmer had harvested the corn. The dry stalks and husks remained in the field to become humus and enrich the soil.
I brought home a few of the husks for a fun project. In a tradition from the past, here are steps to make simple corn husk dolls. In the fall during the years I was a little girl, my mom and I would make families of corn husk dolls for Thanksgiving decorations. A couple of times we made versions of smaller corn husk dolls and corn husk animals to be the people and pets living in the cookie dough scenes we baked for Christmas.
These are simple corn husk dolls; not complicated, not fancy. They reflect the joy of the people who make them.
Corn Husk Dolls
Time: 20-30 minutes
(Includes soaking time)
When you are ready to make dolls, you will need: Scissors String Corn Husks (presoaked and patted dry with a towel)
First, you need to gather the corn husks. If you live near a corn field, ask the farmer if you can have a handful or two of corn husks.
If no corn field is next door, many stores will have corn husks available. Why? Because corn husks are used for delicious tamales for cooking. The purchased packaged corn husks for tamales and other tasty dishes work just fine for this project.
Directions
Here are the written directions for making corn husk dolls. Because it’s a craft shared at home, these instructions are not exact. Give yourself grace to enjoy the process as you create each unique corn husk doll.
I noticed some videos on YouTube for making corn husk dolls, if you prefer. I didn’t investigate the videos. I put my phone away before making these dolls.
The pictures of the finished dolls will be helpful in understanding what the dolls look (sort of) like when they are complete. 1) soften corn husks in warm water with a drop or two of dish soap added. Soak until bendable and soft. Then dry lightly with a towel or paper towel. They will still be damp and easy to bend.
If these are “field” corn husks, you will trim off the really thick, drier parts of the corn husk from where it was attached to the ear of corn. Then the ends of the corn husks will be easier to work with.
2) choose 4 separate softened husks and place in a stack. They will fit together a little like stacked potato chips
3) estimate 1/3 and 2/3 of the length of the stacked leaves
4) bend the pointy end of the top 1/3 of the husks down about one inch, making a sort of rounded top to resemble the head
5) tie ends of the turned down piece snuggly with a piece of string to make the neck part.
6) take a single piece of another single leaf and firmly roll it into a tube shape. Trim to about 3-4 inches. Tie a piece of string at each end to make hands. These are the arms of your doll
7) lift up about half the front corn husks and place the arm piece about half an inch beneath the head of the doll
8) tie a second string at the 2/3 point of the husks, below the arms. This makes the waist of the doll.
9) at the very bottom of the doll, trim the corn husks evenly. Trim only as necessary.
10) to have the doll wearing shoes, divide the bottom of the husks into 2 legs. Tie each ankle with string
11) if the doll is to wear a skirt, trim the bottom of the husks and leave them undivided
The visuals of the dolls help you see what the finished doll look like.
Basket Instructions:
There is a small basket made of a corn husk between the dolls. Make the basket by tying a knot down from the pointy end of the corn husk a little less than half way on a single corn husk. Loop the pointy end to the rounded end of the corn husk. Fit the two ends together and tie with a piece of string.
IDEA: Put 5 kernels of corn or small acorns in the corn husk basket. Take one at a time out of the basket. Say out loud 5 things you are thankful for.
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