August is the perfect time to celebrate the early harvest (grains and berries), and August Fairs are traditions throughout many cultures all over the world. The Native American craft of creating corn husk dolls is a wonderful activity to allow you and your family to create together and to really focus on the gift of corn! I tried my hand at two different techniques for their creation and will share them both below:
First, courtesy of Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, I used these instructions, and here was my sweet creation:
These directions worked well (I used the first, slightly more elaborate set provided.). They suggested using dried corn husks that have been soaked, but I opted instead to use green, moist husks as many other sites had suggested. My doll came out about 6 inches long. I easily dressed her in no-sew rectangles and triangles made from the wonderful selection of cotton fabric quarters available at Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts. The colors I chose reflected the focus of this festival: grains and locally harvested berries (in my case, blueberries, among others).
In the end, she looked like this:
I also tried a second set of directions courtesy of a joyous and celebratory Native American Blog, The Nest Of Snowwowl (not a typo). With my first creation to inspire me, I laid out my materials & got going!
Below are some of the pics of her evolution:
First Tie:
Creation of Head:
Arms:
Waist:
Shoulders and Skirt:
Nice easy no-sew dress and apron (Dress is a large rectangle with a cross snipped in the center.):
And here she stands with two of her friends!
Overall, this was a super fun and fairly easy craft! Perhaps the biggest thing to note is to shuck your corn with care, so your husks are not all split.
This craft would be a fun way to share some quality time with loved ones on any Sunday afternoon and would add a special appreciation for a fresh ear of corn with dinner!
It will be our main activity at our August Fair. We will also be dying fabric with natural berry dyes. These fabric remnants will then also be used to embellish the Corn Husk Dolls. Click here for more details.
Wishing you a wonderful August early harvest season, some delicious corn, and a closer connection to this wonderful plant and all it has to offer!
