How to make a doll amulet from fabrics yourself

In Slavic folk culture, amulet dolls made of fabric were very popular, there were many types of them. Each doll was made exclusively by hand using only natural materials, fabrics and threads and was considered a powerful protective amulet. Guardian of the family hearth, health, well-being, children, animals - there are many types of Slavic protective dolls, and each has its own purpose.

History of Slavic dolls-amulets

The origin of the protective doll goes back to ancient times and goes back thousands of years. The Slavs believed in the powers of nature, worshiped pagan gods and asked them for protection. The prototype of the protective doll is a statue - an idol. The doll itself represents a specific deity, who seems to be present in the house and grants patronage, protecting from misfortunes.

Rules for creating amulet dolls

When creating a doll-amulet with her own hands from fabric, the craftswoman had to be in a good mood, and also read special spells to herself, which was intended to increase the power of the amulet. The fabric used for the doll was not new, scraps were taken from the clothes that were already worn. It was forbidden to use cutting and piercing objects during the creation of the doll. The doll was made strictly within one day. The amulet doll did not have a face painted on it, otherwise it could harm the person it resembled.

Amulets have always attracted needlewomen with their mysterious mystical properties. Every woman at least once in her life thought about creating a Russian amulet doll, but was not familiar with the rules and subtleties of its manufacture, as well as the purpose of a specific amulet.

To make a protective doll with your own hands from fabric, it is worth learning in more detail about the types of dolls, the purpose and rules for creating each type.

DIY amulet dolls for beginners

There are different types of amulet dolls.

Water lily - herbalist

Keeps all family members healthy. It is designed to protect from the evil eye, ward off illnesses, and help with treatment and recovery. As the name suggests, one of the elements used to create this doll is medicinal herbs.

Spiridon - Solstice

Patron of the male sex. Spiridon cannot be given to a man who has everything good in life and who does not need any changes. The amulet is made in the first week after the day of the winter equinox.

Desired

A powerful talisman that patronizes the fulfillment of one, but the most cherished desire, destroys barriers on the way to it and helps its owner do everything necessary to make her dream come true. This is a special doll and its fulfillment requires a certain ritual.

This amulet is created by the craftswoman personally for herself. During the making of the doll, it is necessary to concentrate on your desire in order to mentally convey your goal to the amulet. After finishing the work, the craftswoman addresses the doll out loud and tells about her dream, asking for help in its fulfillment. The right time is the new moon, preferably in August, when the field work is finished.

Solitude is a must. It is better to sew several beautiful dresses for the doll and change her clothes periodically. Colored ribbons are usually tied to her arms. Showing, giving to strangers, as well as giving and selling is strictly prohibited, otherwise the magical power of the amulet will disappear.

Swaddle

Patroness of small children. It is made by the mother a month before the birth of the child. It protects from the evil eye, damage, drives away evil spirits, diseases and failures. It is tied with a thread and put on the baby's neck, attracting attention and collecting negativity.

For Health

Variation of Travnitsa. The difference is that Travnitsa protects from illness, and Na Zdorovie is done after the illness and drives away a specific disease.

The amulet is made only from linen thread. During the making of the amulet, as well as when handing it over to the sick person, the craftswoman constantly repeats the phrase: "To health! To health!" and mentally imagines the sick person. As soon as the person recovers, the amulet is burned, and with it the illness.

Bell

Keeper of the hearth. Gives joy, happiness, and good mood to all family members.

Doll-amulet for happiness (Happiness doll)

A common talisman for all family members. Attracts everything necessary to be happy: health, well-being, prosperity, luck, longevity.

It cannot be made on holidays or Sundays. It has a braid that is several times longer than the body and bends upwards. It must be in shoes, the arms must be raised up. Most often, Happiness is female, but there are also male dolls, then the braid bends downwards.

Doll Well-Being (Hostess)

Patronizes the mistress of the house. Helps to cope with work and women's duties.

Filippovka (Desyatruchka)

One of the most popular dolls at the moment. Helps a woman do her housework on time. The Ten-Armed Doll can be given to a bride for a wedding.

The doll must be made on November 14. If the amulet is made for burning, then 9 bows are tied to the hem of the doll's skirt, a task is made for each one that must be completed, the braid is decorated with a bow, after which the doll is set on fire.

Bereginya (Stolbushka)

Protects the house from danger, misfortune, evil people. Combines male and female principles.

Always has a wooden base (a post, sticks, twigs). The amulet is placed at the door to the house, not lower than head level. Bereginya can serve several generations of the family, but if any part of the doll is damaged, even a single thread is broken, then the protective amulet is disassembled with a feeling of gratitude, all parts of the doll are burned, and the ashes are scattered in the wind near the house.

Zernovushka (Krupenichka)

Guardian of wealth, patroness of the harvest. There is a male variation of Krupenichka, the Bogach doll.

The best grains were selected for its filling. It was assumed that exactly the grain inside the Krupenichka would be the one that would grow the most the following year. The doll is made in the fall, after the harvest, and in the spring, before sowing, the amulet is disassembled, the scraps are kept until the following fall, when a new doll is assembled from them again.

Broom Doll

Protects the house from negativity, quarrels and scandals. With the help of special rituals, the Broom drives out negative energy from the house.

Ash doll

The guardian of the clan, the guide to the world of ancestors, can convey to them the requests of the living, ask for help. It was made before moving and taken to a new house (including by the bride, who went to live in the groom's house).

Only the Ash Doll has no headdress. The head of the amulet is stuffed with stove ash. It is held in the hands of a doll - a swaddling dress.

Successful Doll

Serves as an assistant in solving any specific matter and its successful completion.

The doll has the gender of the person it is supposed to help. It must have a purse with a coin hanging over its shoulder, which indicates that the person is capable of the task. The knot on the doll's belt also plays a key role, as it symbolizes the success of the intended task.

Lovebirds Doll

Protects love and harmony between spouses, family happiness and well-being. Given as a wedding gift.

Lovebirds are made on a horizontal stick, which symbolizes the common hand of the spouses. Dolls - martinichki - are tied to the stick; they represent already born or desired children.

Dolly Traveler

Talisman of the traveler. Designed to protect a person on the road. Eases difficulties, wards off ill-wishers and dangers on the road.

It is made for a specific journey. The necessary attribute is a knapsack, which is filled with ashes from the hearth, money, grains or medicinal herbs (depending on what the traveler needs to be helped with on the road first). Only the craftswoman and the traveler can touch the amulet.

Master class on making amulet dolls from fabric

To create a Herbalist with your own hands from fabric, you will need the following:

• dried medicinal herbs (any, at the discretion of the craftswoman);
• a piece of natural fabric, preferably cotton, with a bright pattern, a pattern for it in the form of a circle with a diameter of about 30 cm;
• a piece of white cotton with a side of approximately 25 cm;
• 2 pieces of fabric for an apron and a headscarf.
• 2 squares of colored fabric with a side of about 10 cm and 2 more of the same squares in a different color;
• thick threads, preferably linen;
• woolen threads, preferably red;
• cotton wool.

How to make a doll-amulet with your own hands from fabric step by step:

1. Cut a circle out of the body cloth, gather the edges with thread, line the inside of the resulting bag with a layer of cotton wool about 1 cm thick, fill the remaining space with herbs and tighten.
2. Place enough cotton wool in the middle of the white piece of cloth to make the head the right size. Pull it together, form a smooth head, and tie it at the base of the head with a red thread. Mark out the corners of the fabric, tie them with a thread about 0.5 cm from the edge – the arms will be ready.
3. Cotton wool is placed in the middle of 10×10 patches (based on the principle of creating a head) and balls are formed that are adequate in size for the chest and bags that the doll will hold in her hands. The balls are tied with a red thread at the base.
4. Assemble the doll. The breasts are tied at the neck. The head is attached to the skirt (modern needlewomen allow sewing in this case, but according to the classics, only tying). The bags are tied to the arms.
5. Next, the doll should be decorated. A kerchief of the required size is cut out from the rag for the kerchief and tied "in the woman's manner", that is, first the ends are crossed under the neck, and then tied at the back. An apron of the required size is cut out and tied, which can be decorated with ribbons if desired.

To create a talisman, you will need a minimum of effort, time and expense. According to popular belief, Slavic dolls - motanka are a powerful protective amulet. If you believe in the help of a Russian protective doll, create it with soul and a positive attitude, then it will definitely help its owner and her family.