CORNHUSKS DOLLS FOR FUN AND PROFIT

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Your doll now appears to be standing on a hot air register with her skirt flipped up over her head. Gently turn back the two parts of the garment, one at a time, so that they fall as they should. Then find a long, thin strip of scrap husk and pin it loosely around the bottom of the skirt-without actually piercing the "fabric"-to hold the pieces in position while they dry.

HAIR

Remember that corn silk you saved? Select a small hank (about as much as you'd get from one ear of corn), tie a piece of thread around the center of the bundle, dunk the silk in water, and lift it out at once. Then drape the wet wig over your lady's head and use a straight pin to anchor it to the husk covering until it dries. You can let the hair hang down the doll's back, form it into a bun, or make a separate braid (which you tie on around the neck before adding a cap) and tuck the rest under the bonnet.

CAP

A becoming bonnet will cover the sides of the cornhusk lady's head and help keep her hair in place. Choose a good clean piece of husk about 2 by 3 inches and wrap it from shoulder to shoulder over the head, holding it together at the neck. At this point, of course, the cap material will be sticking straight out behind the doll . . . so you should hold her in your left hand-with the headgear still, pinched together under her chin-and with your right hand crease the "fabric" (as if you were wrapping a package) to fit the back of the doll's head. You can put a pin in each side of the bonnet, if you wish, to hold it in place while you form and tie it. A bow for the front or back can be made from a wisp of husk (measuring about 1/8 by 4 inches) and attached at this time.

ACCESSORIES

The following extras are pleasant finishing touches for cornhusk dolls:

Apron. A protector for the tidy housewife's dress can be made from a piece of flared husk about 2 by 2 or 2 by 3 inches. Such a garment is fastened on just as the skirt was: positioned with the gathered edge at the waistline and the wider part extending up over the bodice . . . then tied, and flipped down. I've seen dolls wearing aprons of the dark red husk from Indian corn, and others with fancy calico jobs.

Broom. Pampas grass seed heads make good brooms . . . or try tying pine needles or thin dried grass to a small twig. A somewhat heavier sweeping tool can be made from a dried corn tassel. Look around your yard, hedgerow, or woods for other possibilities.

Churn. Start with the dasher-a thin stick-and roll a 2-inch-wide piece of husk around it to a thickness of about 5/8 inch. Tie the wrapping near both ends. Then cut a husk ribbon 1-1/4 inches wide and continue to wrap the barrel, this time just at the lower end, until it reaches a thickness of about 1 inch. Again fasten the roll near both its top and bottom. Tie or glue the dasher to the doll's hand, or leave the churn freestanding.

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