Introduction to Spun Cotton

Welcome to Spun Cotton 101! This page is a free resource for those looking to begin with the craft of spun cotton.

What is spun cotton?

Originating in Germany in the mid-nineteenth century, spun cotton was, at first, a humble homemade craft, creating small toys and decorations for the newly popular Christmas tree. Shapes made from cardboard and wire were covered in waste cotton, pasted with starch, and embellished with paper trims. The origin story for spun cotton is muddy, and not well-researched.  Folk stories on the subject point to small-town workshops that eventually grew to where dolls and ornaments were made for export.  US general and novelty stores were able to order spun cotton items via catalog.

The 1900s - 1910s were the height of popularity for spun cotton crafts, and is the era where the craftsmanship was unmatched.  

During the late-1930s a massive industry for spun cotton emerged in the USSR. Soviet spun cotton is an interesting topic on its own, with industrialized designs crafted from medical cotton being produced at scale.

Machine-spun cotton doll heads and Christmas items began to fill five-and-dime shops, made in post-war Japan.  

Styrofoam and plastic brought an end to the era of spun cotton, and now artists are re-discovering the quaint art, appreciating the craft for its simple materials and expressive designs.

Spun Cotton for Beginners Video Tutorial:

Basic Techniques

In the video below, we will explore the techniques for working with cotton.  This video will cover:

• Cotton choices
• Binding media
• Building armatures
• Working Dry (constructing with dry cotton)
• Working Wet (utilizing starched cotton to craft details)
• Painting & finishing

Supplied used in the tutorial:

• Natural cotton quilt batting
• Medical cotton
• Aluminum Armature Wire
• Cotton thread, scrap chipboard, knitting needle size 3-6 for armatures
• Cornstarch 
• Fine Clear Glass Glitter
• White Coarse Glass Glitter
• Beacon 3-in-1 Glue, Elmer's Glue-All for glitter application
• Watercolors
• Spray Stain in Antique Linen, Oxide Spray in Wild Honey & Peeled Paint
• Gouache
• Mica
• Paintbrushes

Find the Doll Head Molding Tutorial here.  I source dolls and figurines for molding faces on Ebay, and seek out dolls that are a similar height to the spun cotton dolls I'm going to be making. For a 5 inch doll, I use a head that's about 1" tall. 

Download and print the featured armature templates here. Print at 100%, do not scale.

Materials Used for Spun Cotton

Cotton Types:

Medical cotton and cotton quilt batting are excellent choices for the beginner.  Medical cotton is highly absorbent, and comes in inexpensive rolls.  Quilt batting is less processed, and has the natural color and texture of cotton.  Choose 100% cotton quilt batting with no scrim or stabilizer.

Natural Cotton Batting

Alternatively, many other cottons can be utilized like roving, cotton coil, or cotton stuffing. Each type of cotton handles different and produces a slightly different finished texture, so it's a good idea to experiment to see what type of cotton you find the most attractive.

Binding media:

Traditionally, starch mixtures are used.  Cornstarch or potato starch, cooked in water, make a thick, almost gel-like adhesive.  It goes on clear, and stiffens the cotton as it dries.

To make starch medium, mix 1 Tbsp. cornstarch with 1 Tbsp. water to make a slurry.  On the stovetop, bring one cup of water to a simmer, and reduce the heat.  Add the slurry to the water one spoonful at a time, stirring constantly, until it is dissolved.  The mixture can be kept 4-5 days.

Alternatively, you can work with a glue medium if that is what you have available to you. Mix approximately 1 part PVA glue with 4-5 parts water.  Note that PVA glue contains synthetic polymers, is not a natural product, and was not used historically in the production of spun cotton.  Any glue that was used in the early days was likely casein-based.

Armatures:

You can craft armatures out of scrap materials you have on hand.  This may include:

• Cardboard or chipboard from boxes
• Aluminum foil
• Cotton scraps and thread
• Tape, pipe cleaners, crumpled paper

Aluminum armature wire is ideal for creating figures and animals, and will not rust if it gets wet.

A small knitting needle can be handy for creating round armatures.  Build the armature onto the needle, and then you can spin the needle as you work, using it as a handle. See the video for instructions.

Explore Books on Spun Cotton:

Spun Cotton Christmas Ornaments - This mini book explains the basic techniques, and has five step-by-step Christmas projects: Mushrooms, Sugar Plums, Belsnickle Santa, Snowmen, and Bells

Spun Cotton Crafts - This books details different techniques, various materials, and contains 25 projects for you to practice your skills.

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Buy a Spun Cotton Craft Kit:

Spun Cotton Santa Kit