A Primitive Plant Poke Pretty

Jun
30


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

See what happened during the post show.





Comments

  1. Nancy in Iowa says:

    How utterly adorable!!!

  2. Runningtrails says:

    She’s cute and so easy!

    I had a lovely big doll on my front porch…until Buck found it (my own “giant puppy”). Its hard to keep anything like that in Buck’s reach right now. He’s still teething.

    I could hang it up high…

  3. CindyP says:

    How cute is that?!?!?! I love it!!! And it’s no sew, too!

  4. Rosemary says:

    I am going to make one this afternoon

  5. Michele says:

    I like the fabric you used, very clever, gotta try to make one or two. :shroom: :shroom: :shroom:

  6. maryann says:

    One suggestion; before wrapping the muslin around the stuffing, sprinkle cayenne pepper on it. It should keep the dogs away.

  7. claudia w says:

    That is so darned cute!!! Thanks for the tutorial1

  8. TXLady says:

    So Cute….I just love it.

  9. kathy says:

    8) Another suggestion for puppy repellent, spray it with OFF insect repellent. Serious. Found out by accident that it works pretty well. I was spraying my legs one day on the porch, and the dog took off like I’d sprayed her with hot oil. As she walked by that same spot for the next few days she gave it a wide berth. Another friend uses windex. It’s not the dogs that bother me, it’s the ANTS………ahhhh!!!! :no:

  10. trish says:

    I read the instructions (though I’ll never make one) and I hope the dogs don’t get ahold of her. I think I read that you left a pin in the back of the doll. ouch!

  11. floweringmama says:

    How adorable! These would be great to make on a larger scale for autumn!

  12. JenW!~ says:

    Isn’t that just the sweetest thing. I’m gonna try one.

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