Corn Dolly Making

	Way back when, making Corn Dollies was a popular tradition between Lammas & Samhain, the time of the harvests. It's a very old tradition that is dying out these days as not many people make them. The term corn dolly refers to any number of simple or complex shapes created through the braiding of a harvest grain such as wheat. Traditionally made from the last of the corn harvest, many cultures believed that the spirit of the corn resided in those final stalks, and they were typically made into a dolly or braid which was used to represent that spirit until the next growing season.
Around the time of Lammas last year we went to a re-enactment event at Donnington Le Heath in Derby, there was a lady sat in the corner of a room making corn dollies, I watched her for a while, intrigued by the dexterity and the speed she plaited and twisted the corn stalks. She asked me if I'd like to have a go, so reluctantly at first (I thought I'd tie my fingers in a knot lol) I tried my hand at making a corn dolly. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, in next to no time I'd made the dolly below, it felt liked I'd done it before, even though I hadn't, and the lady commented that I was having her on and had done this before. These dollies can be used magically to great effect, allowing a witch to be reminded of the spirit of that which grows during the dark periods of the year, to give thanks to the Goddess for her care and abundance asking that she grants the cycle to start anew. When you make a corn dolly yourself, which you can do with the guide below, you can infuse it with the growth of this season, and hang it in your kitchen as a reminder during the dark	periods, burying it in the ground after use, or simply keeping it around as a constant reminder of the light growing periods to come. Inspired by this craft of the wise, I invested in a book with many different Corn Dolly configurations, which I plan on trying my hand at as part of my Mabon celebrations.
Four Steps To A Four Straw Plait 1. Tie 4 straws together close to the ears (the grain bits). 2. Start by folding the straws out so they look like a + and holding the corn ears fold the stems one stem over the other as follows 1 over 2, 3 over 4, 2 over 1, 4 over 3 Note: 1 & 2 are always worked vertically 3 & 4 are always worked horizontally. If you find it tricky practice with 4 strips of paper. 3. Each time the straw being folded passes over a stem, it is then left and the one at the last corner is picked up and used in its place until the round is completed. The pattern you create is like a concertina. 4. When completed, the ends are tied to the starting point below the ears with some thread, making a decorative circle. Then add a ribbon to finish off your Corn Dolly simply tied round it.	Lammas 2004, chatting about this article whilst out Simon decided to have a go himself! 60 Seconds later he had the beginnings of a dolly. He later went on to try his hand at weaving 5 corn stalks and made the beginnings of a super basket, although the pictures don't show it very well, he and I will both have another go and put photos and instructions here soon.

Courses, Suppliers & Information

For anybody that fancies weaving their own corn dollies one of my customers has recommended the following place to get wheat straws for the process. Corn Craft based in Ipswich. They were very helpful when telephoned and the corn arrived 3 days later (£7.50 incl. p&p for 200 prepared weaving straws). Corn Craft is a unique business based on a traditional country craft, selling both gift and decorative craft items and the raw materials to make them. The have a gift shop and a tea room as well.

You can also find more information via these links:- The Threshing Barn is a marvelous place, there you can obtain supplies and tools for many country crafts and they also run courses throughout the year, covering a wide variety of crafts. Set in the Staffordshire moorlands, in a lovely 17th Century, grade 2 listed farm they have a farm shop selling some wonderful produce as well.

On the Guild Of Straw Craftsmen site you'll find a book list and a list of suppliers who can provide materials or tools and equipment. Please note that straw suppliers may not be able to supply to places outside of the United Kingdom due to import restrictions of the receiving country. Straw objects can be made of wheat, barley, oats, rye and even rice straw. Although, in the UK, we do not use corn husks or rice straw we still have information on how you can work them. We aim to have information for both the beginner and the enthusiast covering all aspects of straw work.

If you'd like to see corn dollies being made for yourself or maybe try your hand, keep an eye out on local craft and heritage fairs see if the Living Heritage Craft Show site has anywhere near you and go see for yourself.