Join maker and heritage craft expert Penny Maltby for a hands-on workshop celebrating one of our oldest rural traditions – corn dolly making!
Don’t be fooled by the name – these beautiful woven creations aren’t dolls, but Harvest Trophies, once made from the last sheaf of grain to honour the spirit of the crops. Using techniques like plaiting and tying, families would shape tokens to bring good luck and ensure a fruitful harvest the following year. Penny, who specialises in endangered straw crafts, will guide you through the process, sharing how this humble material – straw – has shaped our communities, landscapes, and customs for centuries. You’ll get to make your own corn dolly (a love knot or a harvest knot) using traditional methods and heritage wheat grown especially for straw working. This drop in event is a great way to have a go at a traditional craft.
No booking necessary and all materials are provided. All ages and abilities welcome. A perfect mix of craft, culture and countryside magic – for all ages and skill levels! Children under 8 may need some parental guidance (children accompanied by an adult please)
A Cirencester History Festival event
Who is this workshop for?
Suitable for all ages and skill levels, children under 8 may need some parental guidance (children accompanied by an adult please)
What you will need:
All materials included.
Meet Your Tutor - PENNY MALTBY
Based in Oxford, Penny Maltby is a maker with a background in textiles and a passion for materials and Heritage Crafts. She is interested in highlighting the value of craft and the transference of skills to next generations and new makers. Her main focus is on the endangered crafts of the straw world such as straw working, hat plaiting, Corn Dolly/Harvest Trophy making, rope making, straw thread embroidery and passementerie. Her work reflects how the use of this humble material has shaped us, our landscapes, our communities and our Cultural Heritage.
Tutor Penny Maltby
