Crafts and Games-
Cornhusk Doll

Pioneer boys and girls couldn’t afford to buy fancy dolls. Instead, they made their own out of whatever materials were at hand.  One kind of doll  was made out of cornhusks.

You’ll need:

• 10 dried cornhusks
  
• a small Styrofoam ball
  
• string
  
• pipe cleaners
  
• a pan or bucket
  
• paint, markers, string, fabric, and other items for decorating your finished doll

1.  Soak the cornhusks in water to soften them, up to one hour.  Keep the husks moist while working by covering them with a damp towel.

2.  Place three husks together.  Wrap them around the Styrofoam ball and tie a piece of string under it.  This is your doll’s head. 

3.  Make the doll’s arms by wrapping a corn husk around a pipe cleaner and tying it at both ends with a piece of string.

4.  Cut a piece of husk 3 inches wide and 4 inches long.  Wrap it around one  end of the arm piece and tie it.  Pull it back to form a puffed sleeve and tie it to the arm piece.  Repeat on the other side of the arm.

5.  Center the arm piece under the head and tie the husks under the arms. This is your doll’s body.

6.  Turn the doll upside down and tie four husks around the waist.  Turn the doll right side up and pull the husks down to form a skirt.

7.  If you want your doll to wear a skirt, leave it as it is.  If you want your doll to wear pants, divide the skirt husks into two sections.  Tie each section at the bottom near the ankles.

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