If you’ve got a few cornhusks leftover from your dinner, learning how to make a cornhusk doll is a great way to put them to use.

You will need:
Dried cornhusks
Thread/string
An acorn or other small round object
Wreath wire (optional)

One of my favorite parts about summer is of course sweet corn (who doesn’t love that?) and the leftover husks (ok, a little less commonly sought after than the sweet corn, but still loads of fun). Most of our leftover husks go to the cows, as husks are like a cow’s version of desert, but I always save a out a few to make cornhusk dolls. They’re cute little folkart things that are fun to make, and the best part is, if anything gets messed up during the creation, there are plenty more husks where those came from.

Cornhusk Doll Lore

Cornhusk dolls have their origins in Native American culture. The dolls were made as toys for children as well for more serious ceremonies. In later years, the pioneers also borrowed the tradition from the Native Americans and made dolls for their children out of cornhusks.

Traditionally cornhusk dolls have no faces. This is due to an old legend about a cornhusk doll who had such a beautiful face that she grew vain. She ignored her duties and responsibilities, choosing only to stare at her own reflection. The Great Spirit saw this and punished her by removing her face. This is why cornhusk dolls are made without faces, but you can always paint one on if you desire.

Get Creative With Your Cornhusk Doll

Cornhusks have to be dried before they are made into dolls otherwise they will lose their shape and fall apart. To dry the cornhusks, leave them out in the sun for a day then store them in a dry place until use. Just be sure to soak them in water to restore their pliability, right before you begin making your cornhusk doll

Once you get good at the basic cornhusk doll, you can go all out using scraps of cloth for clothing, or giving them brooms to turn them into Halloween witches.

Video tutorial by Amber Reifsteck, The Woodland Elf

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