Corn dollies and straw plaits were not particularly high on my list of skills to master but, given my love of learning new things, and not wanting to miss a good opportunity, I signed up. I was a little apprehensive about coming home with a wicker effigy but I needn’t have worried. The tutor, Heather Beeson, explained that the word “dolly” probably evolved from the term “idol”. She told us the story behind this evolution. I can’t remember her exact words, as good as they were, so I will borrow a passage from The Guild of Straw Craftsmen:
“It was thought that the Corn Spirit retreated before the oncoming reapers at harvest time, taking refuge in the last of the standing corn. These last few stalks would be fashioned into a Corn Dolly, a receptacle in which the Spirit could rest during the winter. In the spring, the Corn Dolly, together with its incumbent Corn Spirit, would be returned to the fields with the new planting. By giving the Corn Spirit a home during the dark and cold winter months, it was hoped to ensure that the forthcoming crop would be a bounteous one.”
We made three different types, all from long stalks of Maris Wigeon wheat that had been pre-soaked by Heather. She had also tied each one in advance and completed the first few fiddly folds for us.
I wish I could get across exactly what it felt like to spend the morning in a converted dairy, learning a new old skill in the most pleasant of company but you will have to make do with my annotated pictures instead.
Three-straw hair plait:
Four-straw compass plait:
Five-straw hat plait:
We also got to make some really simple yet immensely effective and satisfying decorations using a single straw.
Heather showed us another technique that involved stabbing offcuts of straw with a pin and wrapping them in thread so they splayed out like the spokes of a wheel. Much simpler than it sounds and, again, very effective. We didn’t have time to try any out during the workshop itself but I had a go at home:
Bring on the next one!
Links and stuff:
Heather Beeson – I don’t think she has a website or social media presence as such but if you search for “Heather Beeson straw” she is not hard to find.
The Guild of Straw Craftsmen – They know their straws.
Road Farm Countryways – This is the care farm and community interest company that hosted the workshop. Do look them up. They have donkeys.