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.

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. Crafts are made from steamed straw. In those places where this is necessary, dressings should be made, which should be very tight, then the product will be more beautiful, since the tied straw is reduced in volume, and the straw extending from the dressing becomes like a fan that can be fluffed beautifully. When dried, a tied wet straw retains its shape well, even if the dressing is then removed. This property can be used in the manufacture of dolls' arms and legs, as well as some items of clothing. Another option for decorating a product is to tie it with colored threads, with red being the best color. For the same purposes, use braid or colored straw.

The production of dolls begins with the construction of the frame, and only then the straw figurines can be diversified: give them some character traits or dress them up in wicker clothes. Your own imagination will tell you how you can decorate the doll using various wicker elements for clothes and hats. Do not forget about the main thing - the proportional relationships of the parts of the figures, otherwise the sculpture will be unfinished, and sometimes even ridiculous.

The size of the doll will depend on the length of the straw that will be used to make it. Usually, one bunch of straw produces a doll 15–20 cm high. The straw must be thin or medium thick, but always without knees. Remember also that the straw stem has a different color along its length, so try to ensure that only beautiful, evenly colored straw is on the “front”, visible side.

Straw dolls

There are several simple doll designs that are traditional for folk art.

Female figurines

Doll Masha - left

Take a bunch of 50-70 straws and bend it in the center. Twist the ends half a turn at the bottom so that they change places and a loop is formed in the middle of the bundle. Tie the bundle just below the loop tightly with threads, squeeze the ends with your hand and trim with scissors so that they become even. The result will be a figure resembling the outline of a woman in a sundress (Fig. 26).

Rice. 26. Doll Masha

Olya doll - on the right

Tie a bunch of straw on top to the 5th part of the length to get the doll's head. You can also take a long bun, fold it in half and tie it, separating the head. Then separate 15 straws from both sides of the bundle, weave them into braids, which you then bend into a semicircle. Tie a bunch of straw together with tucked pigtails at the waist - and the doll is ready. Also trim the ends of the straws from below (Fig. 27).

Rice. 27 on the right. Olya doll

You can tie a scarf on the doll's head, and a fabric apron on the waist.

Lena doll - left

First you need to make a “closed head”. Take a bundle of straw a little longer than for making previous dolls. Tie the top of the bun tightly, divide the remaining part in half and lift it up, leaving the tied top inside, “hide” it. Then firmly squeeze the bent bun with your hands and tie it again approximately at the level of the end of the “hidden” top (Fig. 28, A). Now turn the bun 180°.

Rice. 28. Lena doll

Take a small bundle of straw and tie it at both ends. You will get hands (Fig. 28, b).

Insert them into a torso bun, divided into two parts. Bend the part that falls on the doll’s chest (Fig. 28, V). Connect the straw to the body by tying it at the waist line (Fig. 28, G) trim the ends. Bend the doll's arms and fix them in this position, tying them to the body until the straw dries (Fig. 28, d).

The resulting dolls will be small in size, since they are made from a single bundle of straw. To make the doll larger, you need to make it from several parts connected to each other. Most often this is the torso and skirt.

The skirt can be made from a separate bundle of straw, which is tied at the top. The bun-skirt is inserted into the bun-torso and tied tightly along the waist line, which is laid on top of the skirt (Fig. 29).

Rice. 29 is a little higher on the right. Separate production of body and skirt

The doll's skirt can also be attached over the body to create something like a belted dress. To do this, the junction of the skirt and body is hidden with a bandage made of straw or ribbon. The bottom of the skirt can also be decorated with a braided ribbon. If you sew it into a ring, it will secure the shape of the skirt - the straw will not diverge in different directions.

Rice. 30 - left. Making the head

The skirt can be made in another way: sew stalks of straw (preferably on a typewriter) in the shape of a fan, wrap it around the waist and tie it to the body.

Male figurines

Take a bunch of straw, tie the top, move about 1 cm down and tie the bunch again. Make the arms separately: take a bunch of straw equal in length to your figure, tie its ends - you get arms. Divide the main bun into two parts and insert the arms so that both protruding arms are the same length. Move your hands up to the tourniquet separating the head and tie it to create a waist. Next, divide the remaining part of the bun in half - these will be the legs. Bandage the ends of the legs (Fig. 31).

Rice. 31 on the left. Male figurine frame

A boy's legs can be made in the same way as a doll's skirt - from different bundles of straw inserted into the body and tied with rope or ribbon (Fig. 32).

Rice. 32 on the left. Male figurine frame

Often, ordinary twisted wicker is used to create the arms and legs of a doll. It can be expanded or narrowed, and given the required shape during the weaving process itself. True, this will require certain skills, attentiveness and accuracy, but the beauty of the figurine you make will be worth it.

If desired, the doll can have her hair styled. To do this, take a bunch of linen or synthetic threads, fold it in half, and tie the middle with a thread of the same color. Place the folded bun on the head of the doll you want to style. Step back to such a distance that the “hair” can be put on your head, and braid the rest of it. Glue the braid onto the doll's head. The braid can also be made from straw, which is sewn to the head along the parting line, and then braided into a braid.

The braid can be done at the same time as the head. To do this, tie a bunch of straw and divide it into three parts. The main part of the bun will later be the body, and from the other two make a head and a hairstyle: bend them up and tie them. Then bend the hair down and style it according to the shape of your head, pull it back, tie it and braid it (Fig. 33).

Rice. 33 on the right. How to dress a straw doll

You can put a wreath, scarf, ribbon, or hat on the doll's head. You can decorate the doll by sewing a vest or apron from fabric. You can weave a beautiful belt from straws or colored threads, or simply weave bright threads into straws.

Shoes can be made by tying the bottom of the leg bun again above the first ligation and bending it along this line. The foot can be designed in the form of a bast shoe or a boot; for this you just need to show a little ingenuity.

The doll's face can be made by embroidering the eyes and mouth with colored threads or simply gluing them on.

Text and diagrams - from the book:

Alesya Anatolyevna Grib
Weaving from straw and other materials

I selected photos from various sources.

Page 17 of 19

Making a doll from straw

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.

The basis of any modern toy for decorative sculpture made of straw is the simplest design solutions found in the distant past. Bunches of straw, tied in several places and connected to each other in a certain order, make it possible to convey in a conditional and laconic manner the figure of a person (Fig. 32), an animal, a bird and much more. As in the past, the base of the doll is made up of two bundles of straw connected at right angles to each other. However, modern dolls still have some design features.

When starting to make the body, the bundle of straws is tied as tightly as possible with strong twine near the end cut (Fig. 33a). Then all the straws are bent towards the sling (Fig. 33b) and tied with another twine. The resulting round shape will serve as the basis of the doll's head. Having collected another, thinner bundle of straws, tie it with twine not far from the end cuts. A wire is inserted into a thin bundle to give strength (Fig. 3Zv). It should be soft, but at the same time keep its shape well. Depending on the size of the figurine, you can use copper, aluminum and steel wire with a thickness of 1 to 2 mm. Thanks to the wire, the master can bend the straw bundle as he pleases. A bundle of straw intended for the body is divided into two equal parts and a thin bundle reinforced with wire is inserted into the space between them. Then both bundles are tied crosswise, and the thick bundle is also tied across in two places to indicate the neck and waist of the figure. To prevent the strings from being visible, they are wrapped on top with straw ribbons (Fig. 33g). Having finished the winding, the tip of the remaining tape is carefully inserted under the layers of the winding.

The base of the doll is ready. From this moment on, everything depends on the desire and taste of the master. He can dress the doll at his discretion in peasant or city clothes, put on any headdress, give his hands any position, put the desired object in them - in a word, everything will depend on the tasks that the master sets for himself. Our drawing shows the making of a female figurine in city clothes: she is wearing a jacket, a dress with an apron, and in her hands is a shopping basket. Based on this, the figurine can be called “Hostess”.

To get the bottom lines of the apron and jacket, rubber rings, cut, for example, from an old bicycle inner tube, are put on the figure. Focusing on the elastic bands, carefully cut off two or three layers of straws with scissors (Fig. 33d). If they want to make the dress more magnificent, a lump of tangled straw is stuffed into the middle of the bun from the end side. Then four-ended braids (“herringbones”) are sewn onto the dress, jacket and skirt with threads, imitating frills and patterns (Fig. 33e). Hands are wrapped in straw tape. While the straw is not dry, they are given the desired position. To make a hairstyle with a braid, moistened straws are placed in one row, intertwined with a rope and secured to the doll, and the protruding ends are braided (Fig. 33g). A basket is woven from smoothed straw strips. A wooden block of suitable size or a matchbox is used as a template (Fig. 33h).

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, as well as 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

Weaving is one of the oldest crafts mastered by man. Basically, plant materials common in one or another part of the globe were used for it.

The tradition of using straws from human-cultivated cereal crops for weaving became a continuation of the tradition of weaving wild plants and human worship of dying and resurrecting deities of the plant world.

Two main directions have emerged in the manufacture of woven straw products by humans. One had ritual significance, and its origin came from the sphere of human beliefs and worship of the supreme deities of nature, the second relates to the sphere of human material life. Rural residents engaged in farming in different parts of the world used straw in their everyday life. The roofs of houses were covered with it, it was used as a bedding for domestic animals; straws were used to make mats and insulating mats, various utensils for storing and carrying food and clothing; hats and shoes were made from it, and in some countries, elements of outerwear. The very first grain that man began to cultivate was wheat. It spread from the steppe regions of the Middle and Near East (Mesopotamia, Palestine, Syria) about 8 thousand years BC. e.

In ancient times, people learned to make the very first toys from straw. Straw weaving has been a vital necessity for thousands of years, and in our time this activity has become one of the ways of creative self-expression in the arts and crafts.

A master class on straw weaving is an incredibly exciting process that can captivate both children and adults. Plunge into the wonderful world of this folk art, feel the spirit of age-old traditions, giving your guests and loved ones amusing entertainment. Our master class will be an excellent addition to the entertainment program of a children's party, wedding, theme party, anniversary and will be able to set the tone of the festive mood for all guests, without exception.

Dolls, animals, and birds woven from straw 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 deities and protectors. 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. Any peasant child knew a straw toy. A bundle of straw was twisted to form a head. A smaller bunch was pushed between the two bunches - the hands were ready. Then a braid was attached to the doll or the head was covered with a scarf and dressed in shreds.

This master class is deeply rooted in the ancient arts of Russian traditions. We will produce two Ivan and Marya dolls. This is a talisman that brings happiness, prosperity and love to the house where the family lives. Let's start with the fact that we need 10 strong threads, 7 short red threads, 2 long red threads, 12 short straws, 17 medium ones, 20 long ones, 3 medium ones, 3 long ones and scissors. Soak the straw for 15 minutes in hot water.

From the beginning we make a male figure. We take 17 medium straws and tie them on top, leaving two centimeters. We tighten all the threads, during the entire master class, as tightly as possible and tie them into two knots.

We cut the tails of the threads, but not all the way, so that the knot does not unravel.

This is what happened.

We take six short straws and insert them into the middle of the doll.

Squeeze tightly under your hands.

Pull the thread tightly under your hands.

We cut off the tails of the threads.

Let's make the legs. Divide the straws in half and tie one leg with a thread,

Trim the ends of the threads.

Then we tie the other leg.

And cut off the ends of the threads.

We tie the handles, making sure that the arms are not too long and not too short.

Cut the thread.

We tie another handle.

Cut the thread.

We cut off the handles, leaving the tips of the straws one centimeter long.

And the same thing on the second hand.

Now we cut off the legs. One and the other.

This is the kind of man we have.

Now let's move on to the female doll. We take twenty long straws. We also tie the top with thread.

Trim the ends of the threads.

Turn the long ends up and lower one straw at a time.

We try to lower it in a circle so that a round head is formed.

Tie the head tightly with a thread.

Just like on a male doll, we insert the handles and tie the thread tightly under them.

We tie the handles.

We cut off the tails of the threads.

Let's make another hand.

We cut off the handles.

We measure the length of the male doll and cut the dress.

Let's start braiding. Take three straws and tie them with thread.

We weave the entire length of our straws. At the end we tie it with thread.

The braids need to be long enough for both dolls.

We tie our pigtail with a red thread to the hand of one doll.

And the other end of the braid to the other hand of the second doll.

We tie both hands of two dolls in the middle with red thread.

Trim the ends of the threads.

We bandage the legs of the male doll with red thread. And we tie the bodies of our dolls with a cross.

We take the middle three straws and weave another short braid onto the head of the female doll. We carefully tie it at the back with thread.

This is how we got Ivan and Marya. May they always bring happiness to everyone’s home!

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 diseases 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 were worn as 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.

dream trap

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.