Make a Corn Dolly

Join straw artist Penny Maltby for this half day workshop exploring straw plaiting techniques.

Using heritage wheat, Penny will teach you straw plaiting skills to create your own harvest knot. During the workshop you will learn to tie a straw workers knot as well as learning how to prepare the straw and plait it using techniques such as the compass plait, multi strand hair plait and the diamond plait. Penny will also share some of the history of corn dollies and the harvest during the workshop.

You will create your own traditional harvest knot—a small, decorative token once made to celebrate the harvest or to give as a gesture of affection. Also known as love knots or countrymen’s favours, these are still worn as buttonholes today. You will also explore different plaiting techniques to make Glory braid corn dollies.

As well as being an endangered craft, working with straw is a very mindful activity and crafts such as this have been shown to be beneficial to general wellbeing and mental health. You will leave this workshop having experienced the joy of this heritage craft and with your own hand plaited corn dolly to display or gift to a loved one.

Find out more and book your place – https://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/make-a-corn-dolly