Our ancestors left us the greatest cultural heritage. Through the depths of centuries, amazing artifacts have reached us - handmade protective rag dolls. In every pagan family, such figurines protected the household from illness and evil spirits, and brought wealth and prosperity to the house. Despite the seeming primitivism of the execution, the dolls gained strength in the hands of the craftswoman under the influence of her will and faith in a successful outcome. A small doll-amulet with your own hands, a master class available even for beginning needlewomen will help you adopt the magical experience of past generations and make sure of its effectiveness.
Why is there a need for master classes on making amulets dolls?
Ancient traditions have gone far into the past and their revival requires considerable knowledge, experience and skills. And we have to collect lost knowledge bit by bit. The study of pagan customs involves practical exercises to understand the essence of certain actions, rites and rituals. One of these effective teaching methods was detailed master classes on making fabric mascot dolls. Step-by-step instructions allow you to interest and maximize the creative potential of students, stimulate them for further activities, and also share their opinions and accumulated experience with like-minded people.
Wedding amulets
Lovebirds amulet.Photo: Pinterest.com
Amulet "Pelenashka".Photo: on-woman.com
Amulet “Ten Handled”. Photo: Mfina.ru
Lovebirds on a common “hand” - usually a twig played its role - were considered the main wedding amulet. The bride's body was folded from a white piece of cloth, and the skirt was made from red fabric. They marked the neck with a thread, tied a scarf and a bright apron. The groom was dressed in trousers, boots and a red shirt. The red color in the clothes of lovebirds served as a wish for wealth, health and happiness. After the wedding, they were hung under the harness that carried the newlyweds home, and then placed in a prominent place in the room.
The wedding loaf or pie was decorated with the “Grove” (otherwise known as the “World Tree”). The basis of the paired amulet was a flyer: a figurine of the bride was placed on its left side, and a figurine of the groom on the right. The common “trunk” denoted the fusion of two genera into one.
Often the bride was given a diaper as a wedding gift - a baby doll in diapers. It was created by the mother of the bride or another older relative, but always by one who already had children: with the amulet, she seemed to convey her maternal strength to the girl. The diaper was carefully kept, and after the birth of the child it moved to the cradle - to protect the baby from evil spirits and damage.
They also gave ten pens as a wedding gift. Thanks to her, the young wife was able to cope with household chores faster and easier. The body of the ten-armed woman was rolled out of bast, hemp or straw, five pairs of arms were marked with thread, and then the “helper” was dressed in a skirt and an apron made of bright shreds.
The “Maternal Blessing” doll consisted of three figures: a large one - the mother - and two small ones, which were attached to her apron and represented the bride and groom. At the wedding, the mother tore small dolls from the apron and gave them to the newlyweds along with her blessing, and kept the large doll for herself. This ritual symbolized the girl’s departure to a new family.
What kind of protective dolls are easy to make at home?
Let's look at the 5 most entertaining dolls, the implementation of which does not require much effort and will not take much time. Traditionally, amulet dolls were made exclusively from natural materials: linen, wool, cotton, hemp. The clothes were sewn in bright colors and decorated with wooden beads. In modern conditions, it is possible to make crocheted clothing parts . It all depends on the imagination of the master. Charms for children are used not only for protection, but also as a fun toy. Kids really appreciate talismans made by their mother’s hands.
Day and night
The dual essence of the amulet is determined without difficulty. The doll consists of two halves: light and dark. Folk traditions allow you to sew either one dress from white and blue scraps, or make two different figures and tie them with laces to match the color of the fabric. The pupae symbolize the order of day and night and protect the daytime vital activity and nighttime peace of all household members. With the first rays of the sun, the amulet was placed with the bright side forward and a new day was welcomed. At sunset they turned it over to the dark side and asked for protection of the family from the evil spirits that become active at night.
Mommy
Another typical doll. A female figure with full breasts holds babies (Pelenashki dolls) in her arms. Symbolizes the ancestress and patroness of the entire family. It was made by a grandmother or great-grandmother and presented as a gift to a young wife as a symbol of fertility, successful childbirth, and the health of mother and child. Subsequently she served as a nanny for newborns. Passed down from generation to generation as a family amulet.
Pock
The basis of the figurine is a cross made of rowan twigs. A red dress or apron represents health and protection from bad influences. A warrior or scarf is required on the head. One of the most powerful women's amulets. It has long been used as a means of removing damage and curing depression, getting rid of the influence of otherworldly entities. Rowan protects the love union of a man and a woman and preserves peace in the family.
Happiness
The little doll stands firmly on her feet thanks to her long elastic braid, which also allows her to draw the strength of Mother Earth. The colorful colors of her dress symbolize a cheerful disposition and favorable events. Happiness must be worn: after all, it has to run a lot to get good luck for its owner. The doll attracts positive energy, physical health and success in achieving life goals. Used as a pocket talisman that you can always have with you and use if necessary.
Pelenashka
According to popular beliefs, newborn children are most vulnerable to the scourge of dark forces and nightmares, subject to the influence of the evil eye and insomnia. Therefore, a small, faceless, swaddled doll was placed in their cradle. Such a talisman for children was made by the eldest woman in the family as soon as she learned about the future addition to the family. It is believed that the talisman is able to take away all the negativity and protect the child from illness. Pelenashka was also used as a talisman for a woman in labor for an easy and safe birth.
How to use a doll amulet to get results
Simply making a fabric amulet doll step by step is not enough to endow it with protective powers. In the process of work, you need to voice your wishes and goals for which you sew the winding with your own hands. When tying each knot, a working woman must ask for whatever she desires.
After finishing work on creating the amulet, talk to him. Tell us about your problems and the purpose for which the doll was made. After asking her for protection, give her a ribbon, bead or button in return. The amulet must be placed in a specific place:
- Mammushka - over the child’s cradle;
- Grain - a talisman for the kitchen;
- Plantain - takes on the road;
- The well-being - the doll takes pride of place in the hall;
- Fatty - placed in the bedroom in plain sight;
- The wisher is in the corner near the icons;
- Lovebirds - a talisman was broadcast over the bed of the newlyweds.
When in its place, a handmade doll can protect against negative influences and bring health, love, and prosperity.
The Slavs treated motankas with special honor. They were considered a family member with whom they always talked, shared secrets, and asked for help. The amulets were inherited by children and kept as family heirlooms.
How to make your own amulets dolls
Master class, i.e. Step-by-step instructions for making a protective Mammy doll:
- Twist a piece of light dense fabric (linen, burlap) measuring 25x30 cm into a tight roller, wrap it with red thread, and tie at the end. This is the basis of the doll: the larger the diameter of the roller, the more stable the figure.
- Next we form the head and arms. Place a piece of rags or flax fibers in the middle of a white cotton fabric measuring 24x24 cm and secure it at the end of the roller. Tighten the red wool thread under the doll's head. Fasten two opposite corners of white fabric on both sides with a long thread, retreating 0.5-0.7 cm from the edge. These are the palms of the doll. Do not break the thread: it will be needed to secure the diapers.
- Roll into a neat ball of fibers or rags, place under a white cloth at chest level, and tighten with thread at the bottom.
- Sew and decorate the doll's skirt in advance, since the amulet cannot be touched with piercing or cutting objects. Also, embroider an apron for Mommy in advance and wear the ready-made one. If desired, you can decorate clothes with braid, lace, and wooden beads. It will not be a strong violation of folk traditions if the outfit is crocheted . The most important thing is to follow the style and use only natural yarn: cotton, fine wool.
- Tie the skirt, evenly laying and straightening the folds. Put a scarf on your head. All that remains is to make babies for our Mommy .
Consistent instructions for making diaper dolls, accessible even to beginning craftswomen:
- Roll strips of white fabric 5x12 cm and tie with thread. The result was a body and a face.
- Tie scarves on babies' heads. Red color symbolizes a girl, blue symbolizes a boy. Secure the handkerchiefs with thread 3 turns clockwise.
- Wrap the blanks in bright or plain shreds in the manner of swaddling newborn babies. Tie with multi-colored laces.
- You can decorate the Pelenashek with wooden beads or buttons.
- All that remains is to place the babies in Mommy’s hands and secure them with thread.
Making a Day and Night doll with your own hands:
- Prepare two pieces of white and blue fabric (allowed with a pattern) 20x20 cm in size. Place white fabric on top of the blue fabric and fold it in half diagonally. Thus, a square was obtained from two equal parts. If desired, the fabric blanks can be made round: the execution algorithm will be the same.
- From the wrong side, place a ball of filler in the center of the square, form a head and tie it on top with thread. A two-faced head with a dark and light side was formed.
- Next, straighten the fabric. From the opposite ends, form the arms of each figure: separately blue and separately white, and then tie them together. You can use thread or colored lace to tie the handles.
- To stabilize the doll, you need to place a small paper roll under her dress and tie a thread on top. The waist can be decorated with a belt. Distribute the edges of the dress evenly so that the roller is not visible inside. If you want to sew two dresses into one, then this must be done in advance.
- For the Day and Night amulet, you need to weave a braid from white, blue and red woolen threads. The braid should be such a length that it is located on the border of the dark and light face and hangs down on each side of the doll. Tie the braid with bright ribbons and secure it around the neck with a thread as shown in the picture.
Making a talisman is not only a creative process, but also a magical one. You need to treat a doll not as a toy or amusement, but as an independent energy-informational entity capable of influencing the forces of nature, mental forms, and a combination of circumstances. The dolls do not work on their own. With your unshakable faith and unbending will, you form a personal assistant. Set your intention clearly and visualize the desired result. The power of thought works wonders!
Successful
The folk doll Successful brings profit and good luck. And in this master class we invite you to make a Successful Girl with your own hands.
To make the Successful Girl we will need:
- Textile;
- Scissors;
- Threads;
- A little cotton wool;
- Beads;
- Coin;
- Cereals (herbs);
- Yarn or wool;
- Ruler.
It is imperative to use only natural fabrics. Cotton or linen are ideal.
For the doll, you need to make a twist of white fabric measuring 13 by 3 cm. And then cut out a square, also from white fabric, measuring 11 by 11 cm.
Place cotton wool on the top of the twist and cover it with a square. We tie the bottom with thread, after straightening the folds on the doll’s face.
For the handles, take 6 by 6 cm scraps and fold them in half. And then we roll it into a tube. These will be the palms (hands).
Let's cut 2 pieces of 11 by 7 cm for the sleeves. Wrap each piece around half of the handles so that the wrong side is on top, and the front side of the fabric lies on the handles, and tie it with thread. And then we'll turn it around. These are the handles you get.
We will secure them with a thread under the head. The thread should be red.
We will make a protective cross on the chest with red thread. And then we will dress the Successful Girl.
For the dress we take a 15 by 20 cm piece.
We bend the top a little and wrap the doll with this flap (reversed method). We form folds with our fingers. We tie it with thread and lower the hem.
For the chest we put in a little cotton wool. And we tie the dress at the waist. You will get a dress like this.
Let's cut out 3 aprons.
The first will be large and its size is 5.5 by 9 cm. The second will be medium and its size is 4.5 by 7 cm. And the last one will be small, its size is 3 by 6 cm.
We also tie the doll's aprons in a reverse manner.
Now you need to make a bag for the doll. For this you need a 10 by 10 cm flap. More is possible. And put a coin, cereal (any) and herbs in it. This way the doll will bring prosperity.
We tie the bag with red thread.
We take threads or a cord and tie it on the doll as a belt, decorating it with beads. And be sure to secure the bag with cereal with a belt.
For hair, you can use wool or yarn. We cut off the long “curls” and distribute them over the head, securing them with thread in place of the neck.
Divide the hair into 2 equal parts and braid 2 long braids.
For the scarf, cut out a triangle, its upper side should be 35 cm. We put it on the head. It is better to bend the top of the scarf slightly inward before putting it on.
The folk doll Successful is ready!
Summarizing
Thanks to the fact that many thematic master classes on making amulet dolls are published on the Internet, you and I can try to comprehend and adopt the wisdom of distant ancestors.
A little diligence and patience, a flight of imagination and faith in success will help us make a talisman doll that will protect and help in each specific situation. In addition, such a figurine, made with love and good intentions, will be an excellent gift for family and close friends. [Total: 0 Average: 0/5]
