History of Slavic amulets dolls
The appearance of the protective doll goes back deep into ancient times and dates back more than one thousand years. The Slavs believed in the forces of nature, worshiped pagan gods and asked them for protection. The prototype of a doll-amulet is a statue—an idol. The doll itself personifies a specific deity, which seems to be present in the house and bestows protection, protecting from misfortunes.
Do-it-yourself amulets made of fabric
Rules for creating amulet dolls
When creating a doll-amulet with her own hands from fabric, the craftswoman had to be in a good mood, and also read special spells to herself, which was intended to increase the power of the amulet. The fabric used for the doll was not new; scraps were taken from clothes that had already been worn. It was forbidden to use cutting or piercing objects during the creation of the doll. The doll was made strictly within one day. The face of the amulet doll was not painted, otherwise it could cause harm to the person it resembled.
Amulets have always attracted needlewomen with their mysterious mystical properties. Every woman at least once in her life thought about creating a Russian talisman doll, but was not familiar with the rules and subtleties of its manufacture, as well as the purpose of a specific talisman.
To make a doll-amulet with your own hands from fabric, it is worth learning in more detail about the types of dolls, the purpose and rules for creating each type.
What is a talisman doll
The history of the appearance of the first dolls in Rus' is connected with the desire to protect oneself from witches and sorcerers. The first amulets were simple. They were made from simple materials and were distinguished by their stylistic design. The main condition is that during their creation it was impossible to interrupt for other activities. From ancient sources information came that the first doll was called Zolnaya. It was intended to protect the home and protect household members.
Gradually, the design of Slavic amulet dolls became more complicated, but, as before, the amulet had to be made without interruption. The use of scissors and needles was also prohibited. The flaps had to be torn by hand, and the threads to fix the fabric had to be tied into knots. Before creating a doll, the craftswoman always carried out special training. This preparatory rite was called purification.
DIY amulets dolls for beginners
There are different types of amulet dolls.
Kubyshka—herbalist
Maintains the health of all family members. It is designed to protect against the evil eye, ward off diseases, and help in treatment and recovery. As the name suggests, one of the elements used to create this doll is medicinal herbs.
Important! The number of turns of the thread to create it must be an even number.
Kubyshka—herbalist
Spiridon—solstice
Male patron. Spiridon should not be given to a man who is doing well in life and who does not need any changes. The amulet is made in the first week after the winter equinox.
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Important! According to the canon, winding threads and twisting the fabric should be carried out in one direction (along the direction of the sun), knots are knitted 3 times, the number of twists is even. He holds a solstice in his hands.
Spiridon—solstice
Desire
A strong talisman that patronizes the fulfillment of one, but most cherished desire, destroys barriers to it and helps its owner do everything necessary to make her dream come true. This is a special doll and its execution requires a certain ritual.
This amulet is created by the craftswoman personally for herself. When making a doll, you need to concentrate on your desire in order to mentally convey your purpose to the amulet. At the end of the work, the needlewoman turns to the doll out loud and talks about her dream, asking for help in making it come true. The right time is the new moon, preferably in August, when field work is over.
Loneliness is a must. It is better if you sew several beautiful dresses for the doll and periodically change her clothes. Colored ribbons are usually tied to the handles. Showing, giving into the hands of strangers, as well as giving and selling is strictly prohibited, otherwise the magical power of the amulet will disappear.
Desire
Pelenashka
Patroness of young children. It is done by the mother a month before the birth of the child. Protects from the evil eye, damage, drives away evil spirits, illnesses and failures. It is tied with a string and placed around the baby’s neck, attracting attention and collecting negativity.
Important! When creating a protective doll, a piece of fabric needs to be untwisted and twisted 7 times. A knot of thread is knitted in front at the navel. The ends of the thread are left at a length of about 1 cm (symbol of the umbilical cord). As soon as there is no longer a need for the Diaper, the doll is burned.
Pelenashka doll
On Health
Herbalist Variation. The difference is that the Herbalist protects against illness, while Health is done after the fact of illness and drives away a specific disease.
The amulet is created only from linen thread. During the making of the amulet, as well as when transferring it to the sick person, the craftswoman constantly repeats the phrase: “To your health! Cheers!” and mentally imagines the sick person. As soon as the person recovers, the amulet is burned, and with it the illness.
On Health
Bell
Guardian of the hearth. Gives all family members joy, happiness, good mood.
Important! Under the skirts, inside the doll, a small bell is hidden. The doll is made only in a good mood.
Bell
Doll-amulet for good luck (doll Happiness)
A common talisman for all family members. Attracts everything necessary to be happy: health, well-being, prosperity, luck, longevity.
Cannot be made on holidays or Sundays. It has a braid that is several times longer than the body and bends upward. Be sure to wear shoes, handles must be raised up. Most often, Happiness is female, but there are also male dolls, then the braid is bent downwards.
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Doll Happiness
Doll Blessed (Housewife)
Patronizes the mistress of the house. Helps cope with work and women's responsibilities.
Important! The size of the Hostess should not exceed 8 cm; a nickel is placed inside.
Well-being
Filippovka (Ten Handle)
One of the most popular dolls at present. Helps a woman complete household chores on time. A ten-handle can be given to the bride for her wedding.
The doll needs to be made on November 14th. If the amulet is made for burning, then 9 bows are tied to the hem of the doll’s skirt, for each one a task is made that must be completed, the braid is decorated with a bow, after which the doll is set on fire.
Filippovka
Bereginya (Stolbushka)
Protects the house from danger, misfortunes, and evil people. Combines masculine and feminine principles.
Always has a wooden base (post, sticks, twigs). The amulet is placed at the door to the house, not lower than head level. Bereginya can serve several generations of a family, but if some part of the doll has deteriorated, even a single thread has broken, then the protective amulet is dismantled with a feeling of gratitude, all parts of the doll are burned, and the ashes are scattered in the wind near the house.
Bereginya
Zernovushka (Krupenichka)
Guardian of wealth, patroness of the harvest. There is a male variation of Krupenichka, the Bogach doll.
The best grains were selected to fill it. It was assumed that it was precisely the kind of grain inside Krupenichka that would have the advantage of being harvested next year. The doll is made in the fall, after the harvest, and in the spring, before sowing, the amulet is disassembled, the scraps are stored until the following autumn, when a new doll is assembled from them again.
grain
Metlushka doll
Protects the house from negativity, quarrels and scandals. With the help of special rituals, the Metlushka is used to drive negative energy out of the house.
Important! The basis for making a doll is something that can be a broom: twigs, bast, straw.
Metlushka
Ash doll
The guardian of the clan, a guide to the world of ancestors, can convey to them the requests of the living and ask for help. It was made before moving and taken into the new house (including by the bride, who went to live in the groom’s house).
Only the Ash Doll does not have a headdress. The head of the amulet is stuffed with stove ash. The baby doll is holding a diaper in his hands.
Ash doll
Successful doll
Serves as an assistant in solving any specific case and its successful completion.
The doll has the gender of the person it is supposed to help. She must have a handbag with a coin hanging over her shoulder, which tells her that the person can do the job. The knot on the doll’s belt also plays a key role, since it symbolizes the success of the planned business.
Successful
Doll Lovebirds
Protects love and harmony between spouses, family happiness and well-being. Gifted for a wedding.
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Lovebirds are made on a horizontal stick, which symbolizes the common hand of the spouses. Dolls called martinichkas are tied to the stick; they represent already born or desired children.
Lovebirds
Plantain pupa
Traveler's talisman. Designed to protect a person on the road. Eases difficulties, wards off ill-wishers and dangers on the road.
Made for a specific road. The necessary attribute is a knapsack, which is filled with ash from the home, money, grains or medicinal herbs (depending on what needs to be done to help the wanderer on the road in the first place). Only the craftswoman herself and the traveler can touch the amulet.
plantain
Master class on making fabric amulets dolls
To create a Herbalist with your own hands from fabric, you will need the following:
- dried medicinal herbs (any, at the discretion of the craftswoman);
- a piece of natural, preferably cotton, fabric with a bright pattern, a pattern for it in the shape of a circle with a diameter of about 30 cm;
- a piece of white cotton with a side of approximately 25 cm;
- 2 pieces of fabric for an apron and scarf.
- 2 squares of colored fabric with a side of about 10 cm and 2 more of the same squares of a different color;
- dense, preferably linen, threads;
- woolen threads preferably red;
- cotton wool
A simple step-by-step master class - a diagram for making a Herbalist doll.
How to make a talisman doll with your own hands from fabric step by step:
- Cut a circle from the flap for the body, gather it with thread along the edges, line the inside of the resulting bag with a layer of cotton wool about 1 cm thick, fill the remaining space with herbs and tighten it.
- Place enough cotton wool in the middle of the white flap to make the head the right size. Pull it together, form an even head, and tie it at the base of the head with a red thread. Select the corners of the fabric, tie them with thread at a distance of about 0.5 cm from the edge - your hands will be ready.
- Cotton wool is placed in the middle of the 10x10 pieces (based on the principle of creating a head) and balls are formed that are adequate in size for the chest and pouches that the doll will hold in her hands. The balls are tied with red thread at the base.
- We collect the doll. The breasts are tied at the neck. The head part is attached to the skirt (modern needlewomen allow sewing in this case, but according to the classics only tying). The bags are tied to the hands.
- Next, the doll should be decorated. A scarf of the required size is cut out of a scarf flap and tied “in a woman’s manner,” that is, first the ends are crossed under the neck and then tied at the back. An apron of the required size is cut out and tied, which can be decorated with ribbons if desired.
Creating a talisman will require a minimum of effort, time and expense. According to popular belief, Slavic dolls - motanki - are a powerful protective amulet. If you believe in the help of a Russian protective doll, create it with soul and a positive attitude, then it will definitely help its owner and her family.
How to do the job
When starting any knitting job, you will come across such concepts as a description of the work and its basis. In the case of our knitted doll, the foundation will be the beginning of all the considerable work. And here, quite reasonably, you will ask, how to knit this doll.
The first thing you need to do is cast on the required number of stitches using paired knitting needles.
The future size of your knitted doll, made with your own hands and at home, will depend on how many loops you now cast.
The density of your doll will also depend on the number of loops cast on.
