The Art of Making Corn Dollies There are varying types of wheat straw grown which can vary in its thickness, length and colour; even the sizes of the wheat head. The weather can have an adverse effect on the harvest if the grower happens to have a wet summer. Corn dolly makers have to purchase (by the sheaf) the older varieties of wheat straw as today, it is grown very short. The farmer only requires the seed head and not the length of the straw, saving the time in having to get rid of the waste. The sheaves are from growers that still grow the older varieties used by the Corn Dolly Maker. These supplies are now becoming quite rare and difficult to obtain as they are thinly spread over the country. When purchased these sheaves can take anything between 3 - 5 hours just cutting, preparing and grading into thickness. This is even before Audrey can start making any particular corn item. As we specialise in fine work, such as our jewellery range, it takes us 4 - 5 hours preparing a fine sheaf of corn. |