Master class on making a talisman doll

Amulet dolls (dolls, twists, bundles) are symbolic amulets made by hand. In Ancient Rus', they were an integral attribute of every family. Dolls were credited with magical powers. It was believed that they protected against diseases, could increase the harvest, and improve relations between spouses.

The history of the emergence of amulets and their meaning

The appearance of doll amulets coincides with paganism. People deified the forces of nature and believed in omens. They turned to witches and sorcerers for help everywhere. Magical properties were attributed even to household items and animals.

It was at this time that amulet dolls appeared. They were considered the most powerful - they were made to protect the home, health, from evil spirits, to attract luck, for marriage, happiness. They were created on holidays and special occasions.

• They were made of different materials - fabric, wood, straw, clay, dough and even ash.
• Amulets have many purposes. There are attributes for children, young girls and boys, pregnant women.
• Amulet dolls differ in their spheres of action - family, health, luck, wealth, participation in ritual ceremonies.

There were bundles that performed different functions. For example, the Goat - street and home. The first is an outfit for caroling. The second - gave the house well-being, warmth and comfort, protected from the evil eye.

Types of dolls and their meaning

Dolls amulets made by hand are divided into personal and family, but they are all faceless. An individual amulet was usually created for a woman, who is needed to continue the family line, to run the household. A family amulet was intended to protect all household members (for example, the Bell doll).

Doll "Lovebirds"

It is believed that the amulet was given to people by the only goddess of Slavic mythology. We are talking about Makosh, whose image was associated with handicrafts, fate and crafts. According to Slavic researchers, she was the goddess of abundance, good life and rich harvest.

Lovebirds symbolize the unity of husband and wife. The doll accompanied the newlyweds from the wedding ceremony. It was customary to give it to married people to maintain good relationships, protect the house from negativity and attract prosperity.

It is easy to recognize the amulet - these are two dolls connected to each other, personifying a man and a woman. The common hand symbolizes the connection between spouses, common interests and thoughts. Lovebirds helped to keep the vow of fidelity.

Much attention was paid to the material from which the common hand was made. The best option was considered to be a branch of a fruit tree. A red bead was always sewn onto the woman's figurine - a symbol of fertility. A coin was sewn into the head to attract money.

Herbalist

The Russian doll was made from herbs that were considered healing. The herbalist patronized people of all ages and protected them from illness. She filled the house with positive energy, strengthened self-confidence, and helped solve the most difficult issues.

The healing properties are directly related to the medicinal herbs with which the doll was stuffed:

• Mint, lavender flowers and thyme helped calm the nerves and promoted rapid sleep.
• Chamomile petals, elecampane root, and wormwood strengthened the immune system.
• Mint leaves relieved headaches.
• Melissa helped with heart disease.
• Garlic seeds provided protection during the cold season.
• Nettle, sunflower - against the evil eye and bad energy.
• Chamomile and lily of the valley flowers helped to find a loved one.
• Fern and clover brought good luck.

Zernovushka (Krupenichka)

This doll is a symbol of material well-being and prosperity. It was believed that if Zernovushka was in the house, every family member would be well-fed and happy. They made it in the fall after the harvest. The Krupenichka was filled with seeds and grain, which could be used in the hungriest days. This ritual was performed annually.

Special attention was paid to the stuffing:

• buckwheat - abundance on the table and in the house;
• oat grains - strengthening of spirit and physical health;
• barley or pearl barley - satiety and satisfaction;
• rice - prosperity.

One type of grain or several at once were hidden in the doll. The stuffing not only fulfilled its direct purpose, but also served as a storage for the best grain and seeds.

Northern Bereginya

The exact history of its appearance is unknown. It is called Northern because the doll was kept in the northern corner of the house. There is an opinion that it came to the Slavs from shamans who used the doll for rituals of exorcism.

The Northern Bereginya is made of many layers of fabric and is described as looking like a rattle or a broom. Its shape is not accidental. Ancient people believed that it sweeps out, drives out all negativity and quarrels from the house, filling it with peace and harmony.

The amulet was made from pieces of cloth, the number of which was a multiple of 7. The number symbolizes 4 natural elements and 3 worlds. It was also associated with the institution of the family.

Slavutnitsa (for a successful marriage)

A symbol of beauty and housekeeping of a young unmarried girl. Every girl of bride age made an amulet.

The name comes from the word "slavutnost", which combines many qualities: pleasant appearance, femininity, charm, modest behavior, good reputation, wisdom, ability to run a household, and raise children.

Filippovka (Belarusian Ten-handed)

This is a female assistant in household chores and handicrafts. Despite the name, the doll has 6 arms. Perhaps the ancient Slavs had Filippovka with 10 arms, and 4 limbs disappeared during the development of Christianity.

The multi-armed amulet was made on November 14, according to the old style, after the end of the wedding period, the harvest. Women were preparing for spinning - collecting wool. The more tow, the better - the hostess will be busy for all winter nights, which means there will be prosperity in the family.

The main purpose of the Ten-Handed is to help the needlewoman.

Swaddle

From the name it is clear that the purpose of the amulet doll is to protect the baby from the evil eye and evil spirits. The woman or her mother was engaged in its production after conception.

It was believed that the twist should be ready a month before the baby was born. It lay in the cradle and waited for him to appear. After the birth, the amulet should always be with the child.

There are two folk traditions associated with Pelenashka:

• The amulet was given to the bride at a wedding to awaken her maternal instinct.
• When a woman gave birth, in order to distract evil spirits from her and the baby, the husband dressed up in women's clothes, took a doll and pretended to give birth.

Proper creation of dolls

Before making a protective doll with your own hands, you need to study a number of conditions:

• To get rid of all thoughts and problems, to concentrate only on the lesson - it is important to be calm, in a good mood.
• You can read a spell or any known prayer, it is allowed to simply tell why the doll is being made, to wish good to loved ones.
• When creating breasts, you should think about children, wish them happiness, health and prosperity.
• Male family members (adults and children) should not see or know what the woman is doing.
• Amulets are not made on the table - for this they use their own knees.
• Only natural materials are suitable for production.
• The doll can be made from new fabric or a piece of clothing from the person for whom it is intended.
• The face should be white - this symbolizes purity and the ability to reflect evil thoughts.
• You cannot use glue or sharp objects - do not tear the fabric with your hands, tie parts together, or break threads.
• For decoration, it is good to use lace and embroidery made by hand.
• When tying the threads, make 3 knots (this number is the image of absolute perfection).
• The doll must be neat, tightly and evenly stuffed - if something doesn't work out, it's better to start all over again, otherwise the amulet will be of no use.

Features of using the doll

When creating a talisman, you need to understand that from now on it is an independent object with special energy, which is inextricably linked with the owner or mistress. It is important to remember the purpose and understand that the doll is just an assistant, but not a means to achieve some goal.

When the amulet is ready, you need to choose a place for it. This is a crucial moment, requiring concentration and unity with the doll - you need to imagine that you hear its voice or try to read the doll's thoughts. It is allowed to ask directly where it wants to live. The place that first comes to mind will be the best.

You should never give your talisman to other people. It is good if the owner learns to talk to the doll as if it were an animate object - she will always thank it for its help, share her experiences. It is necessary to remember that any thing, even a magical one, needs rest. Sometimes you just need to hide the doll in a box for a while.

Dolls cannot be washed or simply thrown away. If it is lost, you need to mentally address it with words of gratitude and farewell. If something happened (it got torn, dirty), it means that it protected the owner from something bad - it took on negative energy.

How to part with a protective doll

How to understand that it is time to say goodbye to the amulet:

• badly worn out;
• did not stop working;
• There are dolls that are subject to destruction immediately after fulfilling their purpose (for example, Zhelannitsa).

To properly part with the doll, you need to bury it or burn it on Maslenitsa together with the effigy. Before this, you must say goodbye and thank for the magical protection. If this is difficult to do, in your soul the owner does not want to let it go, you should not do this. This means that the amulet can still serve.

Amulets for attracting money, love and luck should be completely disassembled into parts, which do not necessarily have to be destroyed. But dolls that were used to protect against the evil eye are burned away from the house.

Do-it-yourself amulet doll made of fabric: master class

Now we can get down to business. Below is a step-by-step guide to making one of the dolls.

Krupenichka

What is needed to perform the operation to create a doll:

• Rectangular pattern of white linen or cotton fabric (25*70) - a bag.
• Red piece (10*30) - shirt.
• Orange fabric with an ornament (10*30) - skirt.
• A piece of cherry-colored felt (10*30) - caftan.
• 3 narrow strips of bright but different colors (20 cm long) - headdress.
• Two pieces of green in different shades (10*7, 8*6 cm) - an apron.
• A triangular piece of red fabric (60*15*15) is a scarf.
• The grain for filling is at your discretion.
• Regular red threads, thick cotton threads for knitting, beads, a metal pendant in the shape of a lock.
• A square sheet of thick paper (25*25).
• Double-sided tape.

How to make a doll amulet from fabric with your own hands step by step (MK for beginners):

• Make a tube out of cardboard, connecting the sides with tape.
• Wrap the tube with the fabric for the bag, tie the edges with a red thread. You should get an object that looks like a candy.
• Remove the tube, turn the bag inside out with the knots inside out, and insert the cardboard again.
• Pour grain into the bag. Leave some space at the edge, take out the paper tube again and tie the cloth on top.

• Take a piece of shirt fabric, wrap it around half of the bag. Secure with threads - just wrap the workpiece several times and tie it.
• Place the skirt fabric on the other half with the reverse side facing up, and make lapels at the edges so that the pattern can be seen. Secure with threads, turn the skirt right side out - its hems should not meet (the lapels were made for this purpose).

• Roll the felt for the caftan into a tube on both sides (these are the sleeves) and attach it to the amulet using thread.

• Make a two-layer apron (2 pieces were prepared), attach it to the doll. The outfit is ready.

• Place 3 strips of fabric for the headdress on top of each other so that they peek out from under each other. Secure with red threads.
• Make a scarf, tie it neatly and hide the ends.
• Make a belt from knitting threads - you can simply wrap the doll in the right place several times or braid it. Decorate the ends with beads. Tie the belt on the doll and attach the pendant.

The krupenichka is ready. All that's left is to find a place for it.

It is not difficult at all to create a doll-amulet with your own hands. The main thing is that it is intended for good deeds and made with good intentions.