DIY straw doll: description, history and interesting facts. How to make a doll-amulet from fabric yourself: step-by-step manufacturing instructions How to make a doll from dry straw

In the kindergarten, children are taught to be creative. This helps them develop perseverance and develops fine motor skills. The most accessible material for children's creativity is straw. Many crafts are made from this raw material. Their variety can be found in photographs on websites where straw crafts are presented.

There are also various clubs where they conduct master classes on straw crafts for beginners. Such crafts can be attributed to the long tradition of our culture. Straw material has all the necessary properties for use in the manufacture of various crafts.

Wherever cereal plants are grown, you can find crafts made from straw. Forage remains after grain harvesting and is the cheapest raw material for creativity. It was used to make straw paintings, animal figurines and structures.

Such works can be voluminous or flat, large or small in size. Working with such raw materials is suitable for children of any age. It’s so interesting to watch how unusual heroes are made from dried stems, and even with the help of their skillful hands. And although progress today does not stand still, children are still fascinated by creativity made from straw.

Distinctive properties of straw

Straw as a raw material has important characteristics:

• environmental Safety;
• cheapness;
• widespread;
• plastic;
• keeps its shape perfectly;
• thoroughness;
• ease of preparation for work.

It must be taken into account that the straw of different grain crops is different. Barley has a yellow stalk, so the straws are also bright yellow and glossy. It is well suited for children's crafts made from straw, as it stands out for its plasticity and ease of processing. Crafts made from barley straw have a rich yellow color.

Rye straw is much darker. The stems of rye crops are more durable, so their straw is more often used when making large structures. Also, rye fodder is needed when making figurines of people and animals, because it holds its shape perfectly.

Forage after wheat is short in length and thick-walled. Has a golden color. It is also suitable for creating three-dimensional compositions.

Oat straw is a universal raw material. The stems are yellow in color and markedly porous. This straw is very flexible, which is why it has a wide range of uses.

When creating interesting paintings or objects, you can combine several types of straw. Thanks to this, it is possible to emphasize certain points and obtain a composition of unusual beauty. You can find interesting ideas for crafts made from straw in specialized literature or on the Internet.

Instructions on how to make a craft from straw

Before you start making crafts, you need to thoroughly plan the entire process. If you are a beginner creator, then choose the simplest composition for your first work. This will help you master the skills of working with straw material.

After drawing up a plan, you need to prepare a place for creativity. It is more convenient to create on a large and flat table surface. You need to place it closer to the window, and also provide an additional light source. The surface of the table must be covered with oilcloth to protect it from glue or scratches.

Prepare and arrange all the necessary equipment. This could be: various scissors, a stationery knife, tweezers, an awl, an iron, pencils, glue, thread and a needle. The list can be modified, it all depends on the complexity of the selected composition.

The next step is to prepare the base to which we will attach the straw. If the craft is flat, then fabric, plywood, or cardboard can serve as a base. And if you are planning a three-dimensional figure, then you first need to make a frame. It can be constructed from wire or wood.

Let's start processing the straw. To make it softer, you need to pour boiling water over it. Leave for a while and the stems will soften. Afterwards, we take the material out into a wet cloth and, as straws are needed for the craft, dry them with an iron.

Once all these points have been completed, you can proceed directly to the practical production of the craft.

To understand how to properly make crafts from straw with your own hands, let’s carefully analyze one example of such a craft.

Straw doll

Take some straws and fold them in half. To ensure even edges, cut them using scissors. We wrap the base with thread. As a result, we get the body and head of the doll.

To the side we make handles by analogy, marking the elbow bends on them. Using wire or toothpicks, we connect the parts to the body. The making of the doll is completed. In addition, you can make a hat and a fabric scarf, as well as draw a face.

Photos of straw crafts

The work took

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This is now visible and invisible for children! And what kind of ones you want: from simple mechanical ones to the most complex electronic and radio-controlled ones! Sometimes you can’t get your child away from the computer at all! What did the children of the old days play with? What were their toys made of? What kind of toys were these? This is what we will be talking about today.

So, what is a toy? “A toy is a thing made for fun, play or amusement,” we read in the Dictionary of the Russian Language compiled by V. Dahl. Moreover, it should be noted that toys appeared on earth much earlier than their definition.

At first, toys for children were made at home, from scrap materials, then toy makers appeared who began making toys for sale. But not every family could afford purchased toys, so children from poor families continued to play with homemade ones. Rag dolls, wooden logs, clay whistles, straw horses were the favorite toys of peasant children.

Like all agricultural peoples, among the Slavs straw was an important material in peasant farming. The roofs of houses, stables, and barns were covered with thatch. It was used to feed livestock. Images of pagan gods were made from straw and they were greeted with them in the spring and Yarilo, the sun, was seen off in the fall. They were carried around the villages with songs, and then burned or floated on rafts down the river.
Pagan rituals have long been forgotten, but the ability to make figures from straw has been preserved.

To make decorative sculptures and toys, both whole trunks of cereal plants and their upper stems, which have the longest straws, are used. Whole trunks are used for large products, and the upper internodes are used for medium and small ones. To make the straw flexible, just like for weaving, it is soaked in water and then wrapped in damp canvas while working. The finished straw figurines are finished with plaits.

Weaving three-dimensional figures from straw - dolls, animals, birds - has its roots in the distant past. Such dolls and figurines were not only toys for children, but were also used in various rituals. The doll was also used as a talisman for children, since it had no facial features. And according to beliefs, in this case it was considered an inanimate object and evil spirits could not move into it.

Horses, goats, birds, straw dolls are also deities and protectors: the horse is the hero of many beliefs and fairy tales, he always accompanied a man and was his friend, adviser, and protector; goat is a symbol of harvest and fertility; doll - Mother-ancestor, protector of women; birds are the souls of ancestors, protecting and helping those now living on Earth.

Throughout the history of his existence, man could not do without hope for help and support from supernatural forces that he did not fully understand. He endowed them with images that accompanied him throughout his life. Straw figurines depicting a rooster, dove, and goat were placed on the Christmas table. Straw birds were hung above the table. The figurines were given to newlyweds at a wedding, to each other on corresponding holidays, large images of Maslenitsa, Madder were made during mass rituals, sacrificed by burning or drowning. Straw larks were the first harbingers of spring - people called it with them. Various decorative sculptures and toys can be made from straw due to its ability to bend and maintain a given shape.

"Golden-maned horse"

A decorative figurine of a horse made of straw can decorate any modern interior, and at the same time remind you of the ancient origins of folk art. Assemble a figurine from two sheaves. One sheaf is twisted as tightly as possible near the end cut with soft wire, leaving two long ends free (Fig. 35 a). Then all the straws are bent through the wire ring in the opposite direction. In this case, the ends of the wire should be inside the bundle of straw (Fig. 35 b). The bundle from which the head, neck and front legs will be formed is tightly tied with twine and the upper part is bent in an arc (Fig. 35 c).
Having thus made the base of the head and neck, they begin to make the mane (Fig. 35d). This most expressive part of the decorative figurine has deliberately exaggerated proportions and the shape of the mane. The horse seems to radiate sunshine. This design of the mane corresponds to folk traditions, in which the horse was revered as a symbol of the sun. The mane is collected from individual straws, and sometimes from small bunches. Each straw is wrapped around the horse’s neck in turn and intertwined with a “string” - a specially prepared rope of straw or hemp.
When the mane is ready, take a new bunch of straw and, bending it around the body, tie it tightly with twine (Fig. 35 d). Having retreated a certain distance, the bundle is pulled with twine again, thus marking the body of the horse. The remaining part of the straw strand is divided into three parts, from which the hind legs and tail will be made. The two parts of the bundle, which should contain the ends of the wire, are temporarily bent at right angles to the body and tied with twine near the end cuts. The third remaining part is used to make the tail. It is finally finished at the last stage of work. In the meantime, make the front legs by dividing the first bundle of straw in half so that the ends of the wire are in the middle of each half. To define the knees, each of the four legs is twisted in the middle with twine and then with strips of straw. The ends of the wire protruding from the straw are either cut off with wire cutters or bent and hidden so that they are not visible from the outside. Then the legs are bent so as to create the impression of a horse running swiftly.
At the last, final stage, they begin to finish the figure. Without exception, all places that were tied with twine are wrapped in strips of straw.

For centuries, people have created rag dolls and amulets with their own hands. Such dolls were supposed to protect family members from adversity and illness, bring happiness and prosperity to the house, and protect them from evil spirits. they were created from natural materials and improvised means, they were cherished, loved, and passed on from generation to generation.

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What are amulets dolls and what is their function?

A small doll made of fabric, thread, straw or herbs, dressed in beautiful, embroidered clothes, was not intended for children's play. Only a woman could make a doll-amulet, as the continuer of the family and the keeper of the hearth; men were not allowed to do such a thing.

Craftswomen tried to create a doll without using sharp objects - scissors, knives or needles (needles were allowed when embroidering doll clothes). Another important condition is that the doll should not have a face so that evil spirits do not enter it through the eyes.

Such amulets-dolls helped in difficult life situations; they can be roughly divided into several groups:

• guardians of the home and family hearth;
• guardians of the life and health of children and adults;
• guardians of pregnant women and babies, assistants in childbirth;
• bringing good luck, prosperity, wealth;
• patrons of crafts, trade, agricultural work, good harvests;
• guardians of warriors and travelers;
• protectors from evil spirits and evil spirits;
• dolls for fortune telling.

Slavic

Girls began sewing their first amulets dolls with their own hands in childhood under the guidance of their mothers and older sisters. By the time she got married, the girl already knew how to make such amulets for various needs. The future bride also had in her dowry chest several dolls for her future home and new family. The experience of creating amulets dolls was passed down through the female line, from mother to daughter.

The main Slavic doll amulets and their meaning are given in the table:

Russian national

Russian folk dolls are closely related to national traditions and rituals. Ritual dolls were prepared for certain holidays, after which they were destroyed or stored until the next holiday.

The following dolls were made from:

• fabrics;
• thread;
• wood;
• clay.

There are three main dolls:

1. Kupavka - a doll was prepared on the day of the Summer Solstice from two poles fastened in the shape of a cross. Bunches of straw were tied onto poles to create a human-sized doll. The doll was dressed up in real women's clothing - a shirt and sundress, with long ribbons tied to the sleeves. At the end of the Ivan Kupala holiday, Kupavka was released along the river.
2. Kostroma (Maslenitsa) - the doll was prepared at the beginning of Maslenitsa week. Just like Kupavka, Kostroma was made human-sized or even larger, and dressed in women's clothing. Kostroma was burned on the last day of the Maslenitsa celebration.
3. Easter (Verbnitsa) - the doll was prepared a week before Easter, on the eve of Palm Sunday. They tried to make the doll without scissors and needles from red scraps and rags. The finished doll was put out to the window for everyone to see, and on Easter it was placed on the table along with Easter cakes and colored eggs.

Kupavka Kostroma (Maslenitsa) Easter (Verbnitsa)

Rules for creating amulet dolls

When making amulets dolls, you should follow the following rules:

1. Start work in a good mood. Remember that the doll absorbs part of the energy of the craftswoman, so you should not start working on the doll in a state of irritation, fatigue or illness.
2. There should be no men or grown-up boys near the craftswoman. An exception may be young boys, but they should not distract the craftswoman.
3. Create a doll not on the table, but on your lap. Cover yourself with a scarf to prevent hair from accidentally getting into the doll.
4. Do not touch the doll with sharp objects (scissors, knives, needles) or glue. Clothes should be sewn separately and then put on the doll.
5. Try to make the doll before you go to bed.
6. Use natural materials without dyes to create a doll. This can be cotton and linen fabrics, matting, threads, ropes, ribbons, straw, etc.
7. Finished dolls cannot be washed or thrown in the trash. If you need to get rid of a doll, it should be burned, buried in the ground, and floated down the river.
8. The very first doll should be made for yourself and left in your home.

Instructions for making dolls

Motanka - from the word to reel. This is a doll made from scraps, all the elements of which are wound with a long thread. The thread cannot be cut, no knots can be made, only one knot is allowed in the navel area. When wearing a motanka, you must wear a long shirt, skirt and headscarf. The face cannot be embroidered or drawn; you should either leave a clean piece of fabric or tie the face crosswise with threads.

• two pieces of white fabric 10x10 cm;
• scraps of colored fabric;
• hair yarn;
• spool of red thread;
• synthetic padding tape for the head;
• ribbons, braid, lace for decorating and finishing the doll.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Roll a white piece of thick fabric tightly into a tube. These will be the doll's legs.
2. For the shoes, we cut out two 5x5 cm squares from a colored scrap. We apply each square to the opposite ends of the tube and wrap it around them. We fix it with threads.
3. Fold the tube exactly in half, step back 2 cm from the fold and wrap it with thread.
4. Wind the padding polyester tape onto the fold marked with thread. This will be the head.
5. Place the head in the center of the white flap, fold the fabric evenly around the head and wrap the threads around the neck.
6. Make handles from the right and left corners of the flap by tucking the fabric inward. Secure the ends of the handles with thread.
7. Make a body from the front and back corners of the flap, tying it with thread.
8. Wind the yarn onto a book of suitable width. The thicker the winding, the more magnificent the doll's hair will be.
9. Cut the winding at one end and tie it with a piece of yarn at the other.
10. Place your hair on your head, spread it evenly and tie it around your neck with a thread very tightly. Braid your hair.
11. Measure the height of the doll and sew her a sundress from a colored scrap. Put it on the doll.

You should always cut out and sew clothes for a doll separately so that the needles do not touch the doll’s body.

Watch how to make a motanka doll “Happiness” step by step in the video of the AllatRa TV Dnepr channel.

Metlushka

The Broom doll will sweep away all quarrels and troubles from the house. Such a doll was hung in the kitchen, right above the front door. If the doll fell from its place to the floor, it was believed that it had fulfilled its purpose, and a new Broom should be made.

Metlushka doll

To make a doll you will need:

• small broom (buy or make yourself);
• 2 square pieces of white fabric (size depends on the size of the broom);
• colored fabric (for sundress, scarf and apron);
• red ribbon;
• spool of white thread;
• spool of red thread;
• yarn.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Wrap the yarn around the broom handle to form a round head.
2. Wrap the white piece around the head and wrap it with white thread.
3. Make a slit in the center of the second white flap and place it on the broom. Form the doll's arms, securing them with red thread.
4. Separately sew a colored sundress and an apron and put it on the doll.
5. Cover the head with a scarf and decorate with ribbon. The Metlushka doll is ready.

When creating the doll's head, try to keep the face smooth and even, without folds or wrinkles.

Photo gallery

In the photo you can see how to make a Metlushka doll step by step.

Valdai doll Bell

To make a doll you will need:

• 3 round pieces with a diameter of 15, 20 and 22 cm (1 red and 2 multi-colored);
• 1 white piece 12x13 cm;
• 1 multi-colored patch for a scarf 15x15x21;
• small bell;
• a piece of cotton wool or padding polyester;
• red thick threads;
• red ribbon.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Roll the cotton wool or padding polyester into a ball and secure the bell to it with a thread.
2. Place the bell-shaped cotton wool in the center of the largest round patch.
3. Wrap the fabric around the bell cotton to form a head. Secure with thread.
4. Wrap the second largest scrap around the first and also secure with thread.
5. Wrap and secure the third flap in the same way.
6. Lay out a white rectangular piece of fabric, fold the corners towards each other.
7. Attach the flap to the head, carefully crumple the fabric so that it does not wrinkle on the doll’s face. Secure with thread.
8. Form handles by tucking the long ends of the white fabric inward. Secure the ends of the handles with thread, stepping back a little from the edge.
9. Tie a scarf. The Bell doll is ready.

Small bells can be purchased at a fishing store.

Photo gallery

Amulet doll made of linen threads

To make a doll you will need:

• undyed linen threads;
• red wool threads.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Take a thick book or box, about the height of your palm. Wind threads around it for three parts of the doll: the thickest for the body, 2 times thinner for the arms and for the pigtail.
2. Cut the windings on one side. You should get three bundles of thread.
3. For the handles, braid them and secure with red thread. Cut the braid on the other side and also secure with thread.
4. Measure 1 meter of red thread. At the body, mark the head by tying it in the middle of a long thread.
5. Tie the braid bun at one end with a knot, pull it through the head and secure it to the top of the head. Braid the braid and tie the end with thread.
6. We insert a pigtail-handle into the body, fasten it crosswise with the ends of a long thread, and then tie it on the belt, leaving a belt.
7. Tie the doll's head with a headband of red thread. The doll is ready.

Well-being

The Prosperous doll is the first assistant for the housewife; she will also take trouble away from the house, and will attract prosperity and well-being to the house. These dolls were given as gifts for weddings and housewarmings.

Blessed Doll

To make a doll you will need:

• white flap 10x10 cm (for the head);
• colored scrap 15x5 (for handles);
• a colored piece of round shape with a diameter of 12 cm (for a skirt);
• colored piece of triangular shape, 18 cm on the long side (for a scarf);
• ribbons (for an apron and belt);
• spool of white thread;
• cotton wool for filling.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Place a ball of cotton wool in the center of the white piece, wrap the fabric around it and wrap it with thread. The head for the doll is ready.
2. Fold the strip for the handles in half and fold the edges inward. You should get a narrow four-layer strip of material. Tie a knot in the middle.
3. Tie the handles with threads to the doll’s neck, raising them above the head.
4. Gather the round scrap along the edge with a simple seam to create a pouch. Place a coin and cotton wool inside.
5. Insert the head with handles into the bag. Tighten the thread and additionally wrap it around the doll to hold it tighter.
6. Lower the doll's arms down, tie her an apron, a belt and a scarf. The Well-Being doll is ready.

Photo gallery

Swaddlers

To make a doll you will need:

• 2 white scraps 20x30 for the body;
• multi-colored scrap 25x25 for a diaper;
• red rag 10x10 for a scarf;
• red wool thread;
• beautiful lace.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Place two white pieces on top of each other, fold in half, then in half again and roll into a tight roll. Tie the roll with red thread. This will be the body of the doll.
2. Fold the red piece in half and put it on like a scarf on the body.
3. We lay out the flap for the diaper on the table. We bend one corner towards the center and place the body on the diaper.
4. We fold the diaper on the left and then on the right.
5. We bend the bottom edge of the diaper and lift it up.
6. We tie the doll with a string. The Diaper doll is ready.

Photo gallery

Bunnies dolls

To make a doll you will need:

• a piece of colored fabric 10x20 cm;
• cotton wool or synthetic winterizer;
• red threads.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Fold the fabric in half along the short side of the flap. Fold it into a corner, wrap it with thread three times and tie a knot (do not cut the thread). These will be Bunny ears.
2. Roll a thick ball of cotton wool and insert it under the Bunny's ears. Cover with a cloth and wrap the neck with the same thread, forming a head.
3. We wrap the remaining fabric inward, bend it 1 cm from the edge and tuck it under the neck. We wrap the same thread crosswise, forming paws. The doll is ready.

Step-by-step diagram for creating a Bunny doll

In the video you can watch a master class for beginners on making a “Bunny” doll. Filmed by the channel “U-mama. ru".

Lovebirds

Lovebirds - a man and a woman holding hands tightly - a traditional Slavic wedding talisman. Lovebirds were prepared on the eve of the wedding, and during the wedding they were hung under the arc of the horse carrying the newlyweds. Then the doll was kept in the young family, protecting marital love and fidelity in the house.

Lovebirds

To make a doll you will need:

• a thin, even stick about 30 cm long;
• a piece of white fabric 15–40 cm (for a stick);
• 2 pieces of white fabric 20x40 cm (for a woman’s torso) and 20x20 cm (for a man’s torso);
• 2 pieces of red fabric 15x30 cm (for a woman’s shirt) and 15x20 (for a man’s shirt);
• striped or colored patch 20x30 cm (for pants);
• multi-colored patchwork 20x20 cm (for a scarf);
• a dark-colored patch 10x10 cm (for a hat);
• braids and ribbons;
• padding polyester;
• beautiful fabric for an apron;
• a spool of thick red thread;
• wire and pieces of leather for boots (you can use cut off fingers from old leather gloves).

Step-by-step instruction:

1. We wrap the stick in white fabric and secure the fabric with thread on both sides. These will be the doll's hands.
2. Fold the white fabric 20x40 in 4 times, tucking it inward. You should get a long narrow strip. We fold it in half, stepping back a little, and tie it with red thread, outlining the head. We fill our heads with padding polyester. The body for the female figurine is ready.
3. We put the torso to the arm and fix it with a thread crosswise. We make the torso for the male figurine in a similar way - we fold the flap for the pants 4 times, tucking the fabric inward.
4. We attach the pants to the hand and tie them with thread from the bottom. From a white 20x20 piece of paper we make a head for a man in the same way as we did for a woman. Stuff it with padding polyester and secure it with thread on your hand.
5. We fold the red scraps in half and make simple patterns for shirts for women and men.
6. We cut a hole for the head and put it on the dolls.
7. We secure the shirts with beautiful braids or ribbons. We also put on an apron for the woman.
8. We insert a wire into the boots and secure them with threads on the man’s feet.
9. We tie a ribbon around the woman's head and cover it with a scarf. We apply the flap for the hat to the man’s head, wrap it around and bend the edges inward at the back of the head. Secure with braid or tape.
10. We tie a thread to the Lovebirds so that they can hang them. The Lovebirds doll is ready.

Photo gallery

Krupenichka

To make a doll you will need:

• canvas or linen fabric 20x20 cm (for the body) and 7x20 (for the arms);
• wide lace ribbon 10 cm (for the undershirt);
• a flap along the width of the lace ribbon (for the outer shirt);
• a small piece of soft, plain fabric (for a warrior on the head);
• a piece of beautiful fabric 40x40 (for a scarf);
• embroidered apron;
• needle and thread;
• any cereal or mixture of cereals.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. We sew an oblong bag from a 20x20 flap, pour the cereal into it and carefully sew it up or tie it in a knot.
2. Wrap a lace ribbon around your waist and wrap it with thread. At the top, fasten a piece of the top shirt with a thread, leaving a gap between the edges 2–3 cm wide.
3. We wrap the head with a soft piece of warrior material, hiding the sewn end of the bag under it.
4. We twist a long strip of fabric on both sides with the wrong side inward. Then we lean the doll against the back so that the twisted arms are at shoulder level. We fix everything with thread.
5. Using the same thread we attach the apron to the body.
6. We tie a scarf so that the upper edges of the handles are hidden under it. The Krupenichka doll is ready.

Herbalist

The herbalist protected the health of all family members. Such a talisman was made for a sick person; often the doll was given to children to play with. This is not without reason, because the Herbalist is filled with medicinal herbs (chamomile, mint, lemon balm, St. John's wort, thyme, etc.) that help improve health, a kind of aromatherapy. The herbs in the doll need to be changed once a year.

Know how our ancestors defended themselves from Likh or Tryasovits, attracted good luck and maintained health. The Russian word “doll” comes from the Greek “kyklos” (“circle”). This name denoted a certain bundle or bundle of straw, which girls loved to swaddle and rock, showing maternal instinct.

Fun facts:
The skill of creating dolls goes back to ancient times. The dolls found in Egyptian graves are about four thousand years old. Egyptian women made figurines of the god Osiris from clay and knew how to create humanoid figures from wax or wood. They had movable joints and hairstyles made of natural hair. Historians call Cleopatra one of the first owners of a collection of designer dolls. In the palace, dolls played the role of mannequins; the queen ordered her ceremonial outfits based on their vestments.
In France in the 17th century, dolls were dressed in the latest fashion; they were considered a stylish gift and an example of newfangled trends.

In pagan Rus', gods were carved out of wood and rag and straw amulets were created. They were an important part of the life of the Slavs. They were worshiped and used as a means of protection against negativity. After a while, hand-made characters began to decorate everyday life, please the eye and keep the children occupied.

The primary task of a Slavic folk doll is to attract what is desired for a specific person or family. It was used in magical rituals and as a participant in the most significant events in life, as well as for holidays. Thus, “lovebirds” were made for newlyweds - two dolls from one piece of fabric with a common hand. And with the “Kuvadka” doll, the husband imitated the process of childbirth in order to protect the newborn from dark forces. When creating the dolls, only natural materials were used, prepared in a good mood.

Fun fact:
Initially, the making of amulets was exclusively the prerogative of women. Men at this moment should not have been present even somewhere nearby. It was believed that only the keeper of the hearth was able to make a truly strong amulet and put a particle of living energy into it. The girl's readiness for marriage was determined by her skill in creating the first doll.

Slavic dolls made of wood

Beregin dolls were carved by men for their beloved women from branches of sacred trees broken by the wind. The spiral of the origin of life and symbols of female fertility were applied to the miniature wooden figurine. The husband put such a doll in a linen amulet, which the woman wore on her belt, so that there would be healthy children in the family.

Slavic straw dolls

Folk dolls “Horse-Fire” made of talash and bast. Photo: A. Stepanov / Photobank Lori

Six-handed straw doll

Straw was most often used to make guardian spirits and animals. Leshy, brownie or vodyanoy were carefully decorated and used as ritual dolls at Slavic holidays. They helped solve family problems, restored health by transferring illnesses to the figurine and then burning it.

To keep up with housework, women made six-handed dolls from straw. During the process of their creation they were sure to say: “I make you successful in all things and do them well. I turn this handle so that there will always be order, peace and comfort in my house. I turn this hand so that my husband is always well-groomed and happy with everything.”

Slavic thread dolls

Creating a doll-amulet from threads

Traditional Russian amulets made from natural material. Photo: Svet / Photobank Lori

Even small children could make reel dolls from threads, which, in addition to the beneficial magical properties, contributed to the development of fine motor skills. They dangled like a talisman on the road and served as protective decoration for the corners of the house. The misfortunes, adversities and illnesses of the owner were wrapped around such beregins, as if they were a double.

Rag dolls-amulets

Most often in Ancient Rus', rag dolls-amulets were made, which served the owners throughout their lives. A ritual, or protective, doll was considered a powerful talisman for the benefit of the family.

Bereginie dolls were made without the use of needles and scissors, so that they could not harm their owners. The threads were torn off by hands or bitten by teeth. Even fabric was torn by hand in the old days. When they made the doll's breasts, they thought about happy motherhood and abundance. Bereginya was created on the hem, that is, on the knees, in the woman’s personal space, and not on the table, because it was considered a common place.

Each doll was made with a white or plain face, symbolizing the purity of thoughts and animation of the owners. During the creation process they said: “A bright head, clean, filled with goodness and love”. The Slavs never painted or embroidered the eyes, mouth and nose of their beregins, so that evil spirits would not move into them and evil thoughts would not be transferred.

grain

The process of creating a Zernovushka doll

Grains. Photo: G. Markov / Photobank Lori

She has several names - Krupenichka, Goroshinka, Zernushka or Zernovushka - and is considered the main doll in the family. During the creation process, it was traditionally filled with buckwheat grain. The first grains for the upcoming sowing were taken from the bag in her hands or from herself. After the end of the harvest season, the bag was filled with grain from the new harvest. Sometimes the bag was filled with other cereals: oats for strength, barley for satiety, rice for a holiday. Bereginya brought wealth to the family and made life full. She was dressed up and placed in the most prominent place - in the red corner of the hut next to the icons.

Doll for happiness and good luck

Making a doll for good luck. Photo: S. Lavrentiev / Lori Photobank

Ready-made amulet doll “for good luck”

The youngest and most charming doll differed from the rest in its long braid, symbolizing a long and carefree life. Moreover, the longer the braid, the greater the protective power of the bereginya. According to legend, women's hair contained life force.

Dreamcatcher

Amulet doll Traveler.

The dream guardian was always made in the spring. Such a doll was tied with an orange thread, symbolizing the rays of the sun, and a protective cross was embroidered on the chest with red thread. The “day-night” doll was made from figures of white and black fabric tied to each other. Hanging near the bed, it not only protected the peace of the night, but also charged with energy and joy for the coming day.

Weaving three-dimensional figures from straw - dolls, animals, birds - has its roots in the distant past. Such dolls and figurines were not only toys for children, but were also used in various rituals. The doll was also used as a talisman for children, since it had no facial features. And according to beliefs, in this case it was considered an inanimate object and evil spirits could not move into it.

Horses, goats, birds, straw dolls are also deities and protectors: the horse is the hero of many beliefs and fairy tales, he always accompanied the man and was his friend, adviser, and protector; goat is a symbol of harvest and fertility; doll - Mother-ancestress, protector of women; birds are the souls of ancestors, protecting and helping those now living on Earth. Throughout the history of his existence, man could not do without hope for help and support from supernatural forces that he did not fully understand. He endowed them with images that accompanied him throughout his life. Straw figurines depicting a rooster, dove, and goat were placed on the Christmas table.

Straw birds were hung above the table. The figurines were given to newlyweds at a wedding, to each other on corresponding holidays, large images of Maslenitsa, Madder were made during mass rituals, sacrificed by burning or drowning. Straw larks were the first harbingers of spring - people called it with them.

The ancient customs of making ritual animals and dolls from straw have come into our lives and have become a theme for the creativity of many modern craftsmen and artists.

Various decorative sculptures and toys can be made from straw due to its ability to bend and maintain a given shape.

Work on a straw sculpture always begins with making the base of the figure - the frame. It is made from bundles of straw or wire, forming the shape of an animal or a person. Then the frame is braided with straw. The crafts are made from steamed straw and decorated with colored threads, usually red, or braid.

The size of the doll depends on the length of the straw used to make it. Usually, from one bunch of straws a doll with a height of 15-20 cm is obtained. The master chooses thin or medium-thick straws, but always without knees.