Corn Husk Dolls

When I was first married I learned how to make these corn husk dolls.  They had a beautiful display of these dolls by the State Capital in Salem, Oregon.  I saw them while we lived there when Megan was about two years old and Marshall was working for the American Cancer Society.

The corn husks are found in the Mexican food section of most grocery stores.  Look for wide smooth ones without flaws.

You also need thick thread or thin twine, bendable wire 18 gauge, 1 1/2 inch Styrofoam balls, and pliers.  Helpful items are fabric, scissors, sewing pins, and hot glue.  Also any additional accessories you want the dolls to hold, or hair for under the bonnets.

Start by soaking the corn husks in warm water until they are soft and bendable.  Shake the water off them and blot them so they do not drip.  Take a small husk about 3 inches wide, or tear a piece this size off a large husk.  (Be sure to set aside the best husks to be the top most layers of the skirt.)

Tie the corn husk in half, place the ball inside and wrap the husk ends down around the head to cover the head, and tie the husk ends tightly around the neck.

Take two or three husks and place them under the neck husk to form a body and tie again, making sure to firmly tie the body to the neck.

Make the arms by cutting a wire the length you want your arms to be and bending the wire under on the ends.  Wrap this with a piece of corn husk to make a tube and tie in the middle.  Cut off husk that extends past the wire, although wire should not show.

 Lay a piece of corn husk about 2 inches wide over the hand end of the arm.  Tie the husk at the wrist and then bend the husk back over to make a puffed sleve. 

Make puffed sleves on both arms and tie the husk in the middle.

Slice open a hole from one side of the body to the other and insert the arms through the body.  Tie firmly under the arms to form a thin waist.

Now you are ready to make the skirt layers.  Raise the dolls arms up by her head by gently bending the arm wires. Take three of the best corn husks and lay them over the dolls face with the narrow part of the husk at her waist.  Wrap the three husks so they over lap like rose petals.  Tie these three husks tightly at the waist.

Now use many layers of the other corn husks to layer over the first three but tie them down farther on the body so they will be a longer, fuller skirt layer when flipped back down. Tie these additional layers very well.

Start flipping down the tied layers to make the skirt.  Smooth each layer down and shape them one by one.  Be extra careful not to rip the corn husks.  They should still be damp which will help them not rip.

This is what your doll should look like at this point.  Shape her skirts and tie a string around to hold them in place until they are dry.  Layers of skirt can also be gently pined into place.  Corn husk can also be glued together with hot glue after doll is dry if the layers spread apart and show gaps. Bend her arms carefully down.  Corn husk can be dyed or painted with color.  Real material can also be used for bonnets and aprons.  Corn husk bows can be pinned into place by skirt back and under dolls chins to make a bonnet tie.  These are great to decorate a Thanksgiving table.