Braided Grain

Straw Work / Corn Dollies

Open to the public

Provides courses or training

Yes

Available for craft fairs

Yes

Contact

Nottinghamshire

Lucy Towle

e: lucy@braidedgrain.com

https://www.braidedgrain.com

About

I am a third-generation straw worker based in Nottinghamshire, following in the footsteps of my mother and grandmother.

Straw work has a rich history and cultural significance, and saw a revival in rural communities in the 1950s. Traditionally, it was believed that the spirit of the harvest lived in the last sheaf of grain to be cut. This was made into a 'corn dolly' as a symbol of fertility, and hung indoors through winter to bless the next season.

There are few varieties of heritage grain suitable for this craft, and I am currently experimenting with growing a handful of them.