Make a Hollyhock Doll

Making hollyhock dolls is an old-fashioned craft that's been enjoyed by children for generations. In fact, the dolls have been popular for centuries. Children's book author and illustrator Sharon Lovejoy, who has spent years researching how children play with plants, has found references to hollyhock dolls in many cultures, some in books almost 200 years old. Single hollyhocks are the flower of choice for flower doll materials because they grow everywhere—earning them the nickname of alley orchids. Here's how to fashion your own flower doll.

1. Select a fully opened hollyhock blossom and turn it upside down to form the skirt.
2. Pinch out the pistil and stamens as needed.
3. Thread a toothpick through the flower with the blunt edge at the bottom. Thread on as many blossoms as you wish.
4. Choose another blossom or flower bud for the doll's body. Leave about ¼ inch at the top of the toothpick to secure the doll's head.
5. Once you've chosen a bud or seedpod to use for the doll's head, experiment with different colored flowers to create a fashionable hat.