Worry doll

Worry Dolls are little people created out of different coloured string tied together. Most of the time, they range from tiny to about an inch in height.

To make them, you start by getting short, thin pieces of wire and wrapping them around each other until you make something that looks like a stick figure, then you proceed to wrap the string around the wire until it reaches sufficent thickness.

Known to alleviate stress with some people, also makes a good craft for little kids needing something to do.

The original Worry Doll is from the Highland Indian villages of Guatemala (Central America). According to Guatemalan legend, they have the ability to remove worries from sleeping children. Children tell one worry to each doll and place them under their pillow when they go to bed at night. In the morning the dolls have taken their worries away.

Made from string, wire, paper and gravel they measure around an inch in height and are pretty cute (so they make a good gift). Normally they come in a pack of 6 in a small colorful wooden box - or a small woven pouch (unless you get the mass produced version which comes in a vacuum packed box like Star Wars figures).