A Primitive Plant Poke Pretty

Depending on what year it is, there always (Coco!) seems to be someone around (Boomer!) to tear up my plant pokes (CASPER!). I’m down to one, a raggedy scarecrow plant poke that has somehow managed to survive the annual mutilations. I like plant pokes and wanted more, but with the odds what they are, I decided that instead of buying them, I’d make them. Using some of the construction principles of my corn husk doll combined with what I learned from deconstructing my store-bought scarecrow plant poke, I fashioned this one out of things I already had at home. Fabric scraps, raffia, twine, a bit of polyester stuffing, and a wooden dowel. (For free!) And to top if off, it’s no-sew! (And I think it’s a lot prettier than a scarecrow.)

Here’s how.

How to make a Primitive Plant Poke Pretty:

Materials

fabric scraps
polyester stuffing
12-inch wooden dowel
twine (or yarn)
raffia (or straw)

I started with a muslin scrap that was about 12 inches by 12 inches (or more). That’s really larger than you need, but I just used the scrap as it came.

Place a small ball of stuffing in the center of the muslin and fold the muslin around it to make a head.

Stick the dowel up in there then tie the base of the head with a piece of twine.

Cut another fabric scrap into a piece approximately 7 inches long and 4 inches wide. This will make the doll’s arms. Lay the scrap with the wrong side up and gather some raffia or straw about 12 inches long.

Place the raffia or straw on the fabric and roll it up, leaving the raffia/straw poking out of each end. Pin temporarily.

Using twine, tie off each end and tie to hold in the center. Remove pin.

Below the neck where the base of the doll’s head is tied, make a slit in each side of the muslin and pull the front piece of the muslin up over the doll’s head. Place the arms across the doll, centered.

Pull the front piece of the muslin back down over the arms.

Tie it with twine under the arms. Look at that! She’s coming together now!

Grab another fabric scrap about 3 inches wide and 10 inches long. (This doesn’t have to be exact.) Place the scrap right side down under the doll.

Take one end and pull it forward around the doll’s neck.

Bring the other end around, crossing the two ends in the front.

Take another fabric scrap about 6 inches square for the skirt. Place the fabric right side down and place the doll on top of the scrap. (The doll also facing down.)

At this point, with your skirt to guide you, go ahead and trim up the muslin so it won’t show below the skirt.

Pull the top end of the skirt fabric square around so that the ends meet. I folded the ends back a little bit and angled the way I pulled them together so that the skirt would have some flare to it.

I used a pin to hold it, and I just left the pin in there, but if that worries you, you can use a dab from a hot glue gun or break down and put a stitch in there.

Take another 3-inch wide fabric scrap. Double it over and, doll facing upwards, place it across the doll’s waist.

Pull the ends around and tie them in the back.

Turn the doll back over so it’s facing up and take another 3-inch wide fabric scrap that is about 12 inches long.

Wrap it around the top of the doll’s head then cross it over the front.

Take the ends around to the back; tie and trim.

Poke her into a pot. How’s that for cute and easy?

I hope she can behave so she doesn’t come to a bad end like my little corn husk doll.

Look how happy my lonely scarecrow plant poke is to have a friend.

Isn’t that sweet?

The End

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