Volume 13, Issue 63 (2025)
CFL 2025, 13(63): 105-142 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Ashrafi F, Hashemi G, Masjedi H. Feasibility of Making Dolls from Iranian Folk Tales with a Sustainable Craft Approach: Based on the Story of Hasan Kachal. CFL 2025; 13 (63) :105-142
URL: http://cfl.modares.ac.ir/article-11-78349-en.html
URL: http://cfl.modares.ac.ir/article-11-78349-en.html
1- M.A in handicrafts, Faculty of Handicrafts, Isfahan University of Art, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Handicrafts Department, Faculty of Handicrafts, Isfahan University of Art, Iran ,gh.hashemi@aui.ac.ir
3- Associate Professor, Department of Persian Literature, Payam Noor University, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Handicrafts Department, Faculty of Handicrafts, Isfahan University of Art, Iran ,
3- Associate Professor, Department of Persian Literature, Payam Noor University, Iran
Abstract: (62 Views)
Abstract
Folk tales introduce children to moral values and improve children's social skills. Many folk tales, in addition to creating entertainment, have educational aspects and introduce children to different customs and cultures. A doll is one of the best tools for conveying a message, and storytelling with this tool can have a great impact on a child's mind. Today, with the introduction of plastic dolls with western patterns and inappropriate themes, we are witnessing serious damage to the mental and physical health of children and the destruction of the environment. Doll making based on Iranian folk tales, with a sustainable handicraft approach, can introduce children to the literature and culture of this country in the form of making environmentally friendly dolls, which makes the stories more attractive. Considering the necessity of designing dolls that are in line with Iranian culture and compatible with the environment, the researcher is looking for an answer to the question of how to design dolls with a sustainable handicraft approach based on Iranian folk tales. For this purpose, taking into account the characteristics of the doll, based on the characters of Hassan Kachal's folk tale, it was designed and made with raw materials and sustainable techniques. The dolls were designed and made based on the characters of folktales, with needle felting and wet felting techniques. The results of the research indicate that some characters of folk tales such as Hassan Kachal have the ability to be updated to convey modern concepts. Also, needle felting and wet felting techniques are considered sustainable crafts due to the use of natural fibers, and due to the many capabilities of wool, it is suitable for making different volumes, including dolls.
Keywords: Folk culture; folk tales; doll making; sustainable handicrafts; needle felting.
Background
Nikoei (2022), in his bachelor's thesis titled "Designing a story toy with an approach to interaction between adults and children in age group A (pre-school years) based on the stories of Kalileh and Demneh", considering the educational and interactive toys appropriate to Iranian culture in the Iranian market and the increase in toys lacking cultural identity, without educational function, designed a story toy for children with the participation of adults. Belen Predos-Pena et al. (2022) in an article titled "Sustainable Handicrafts: Describing the Evolution of a Concept through Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Literature Review Analysis" have described the bibliometric analysis of 894 research articles from the Scopus database on sustainable handicrafts in the 21st century. Khalil Nejad (2021) in an article titled "Investigating the Concepts and Functions of Indigenous Dolls in South Khorasan with Emphasis on the Dutok Doll" has examined the environmentally friendly dolls of Tajmir village as a means of transmitting the customs and traditions of the region to future generations and introducing them to other regions.
Objectives, questions, and hypotheses
By making dolls with a sustainable handicraft approach and based on folk tales, the future generation can be introduced to the valuable literature and culture of this land in the form of making environmentally friendly dolls.
The techniques of embroidery and felting are considered clean methods that respect the environment and are considered sustainable handicrafts.
This research seeks to answer the following question:
How dolls can be designed with a sustainable handicraft approach based on Iranian folk tales?
Main discussion
Folktales are attractive to children because of their special features. These stories help children develop their skills, teach them moral values, and introduce them to the history and culture of Iran. Iranian folktales have the ability to adapt to the current conditions of society and incorporate new educational and training concepts. Therefore, Iranian folktales are suitable sources of inspiration for making dolls. Needle felting and wet felting techniques are sustainable techniques in which sheep wool is compressed using a special needle and moisture to create the desired volumes. Using these techniques, dolls of various shapes and colors can be made with sheep wool. Considering what has been said, by considering the characteristics of the doll and based on the characters and heroes of folk tales, it is possible to make dolls with a sustainable handicraft approach using needle felting and wet felting techniques that embody the rich culture of our beloved country.
Conclusion
Since storytelling with tools such as dolls makes stories more attractive to children, and considering the inappropriate messages and themes of imported dolls and the environmental problems of today's world, designing and making dolls with a sustainable handicraft approach and inspired by Persian folk tales became the subject of this research. Paying attention to the environment is one of the basic components of sustainable handicrafts; hence, the needle felting technique or needlepoint and wet felting or needle felting were chosen as arts in line with sustainable handicrafts for making dolls. These arts are suitable for making various volumes as clean production methods. Making dolls using needlepoint and needle felting techniques demonstrates the great capabilities of sheep wool for making dolls appropriate for different age groups within the framework of sustainable handicrafts. Sheep wool is a natural, durable and renewable material that does not harm nature. Dolls made with these techniques are not harmful to the child's health while being environmentally friendly, so the dolls made can be a good alternative to plastic dolls. Finally, the importance of each of the features of these dolls was measured by designing a questionnaire. The results showed that for parents, the effect of the doll on the child's physical and mental health and being in line with Iranian culture are very important, which shows that parents' view of dolls as a cultural commodity has become more serious. According to the results of the questionnaire, from the parents' point of view, compatibility with the environment, having educational and training aspects, and the suitability of the doll for storytelling are also influential factors in choosing a doll. Dolls made based on Iranian folk tales, with a sustainable handicraft approach and using felting and embroidery techniques, in addition to being in line with Iranian culture, do not pose a risk to the physical and mental health of the child and do not harm the environment; as a result, expanding the production of these dolls as sustainable handicrafts can be beneficial in preserving the culture and nature of this region.
Folk tales introduce children to moral values and improve children's social skills. Many folk tales, in addition to creating entertainment, have educational aspects and introduce children to different customs and cultures. A doll is one of the best tools for conveying a message, and storytelling with this tool can have a great impact on a child's mind. Today, with the introduction of plastic dolls with western patterns and inappropriate themes, we are witnessing serious damage to the mental and physical health of children and the destruction of the environment. Doll making based on Iranian folk tales, with a sustainable handicraft approach, can introduce children to the literature and culture of this country in the form of making environmentally friendly dolls, which makes the stories more attractive. Considering the necessity of designing dolls that are in line with Iranian culture and compatible with the environment, the researcher is looking for an answer to the question of how to design dolls with a sustainable handicraft approach based on Iranian folk tales. For this purpose, taking into account the characteristics of the doll, based on the characters of Hassan Kachal's folk tale, it was designed and made with raw materials and sustainable techniques. The dolls were designed and made based on the characters of folktales, with needle felting and wet felting techniques. The results of the research indicate that some characters of folk tales such as Hassan Kachal have the ability to be updated to convey modern concepts. Also, needle felting and wet felting techniques are considered sustainable crafts due to the use of natural fibers, and due to the many capabilities of wool, it is suitable for making different volumes, including dolls.
Keywords: Folk culture; folk tales; doll making; sustainable handicrafts; needle felting.
Background
Nikoei (2022), in his bachelor's thesis titled "Designing a story toy with an approach to interaction between adults and children in age group A (pre-school years) based on the stories of Kalileh and Demneh", considering the educational and interactive toys appropriate to Iranian culture in the Iranian market and the increase in toys lacking cultural identity, without educational function, designed a story toy for children with the participation of adults. Belen Predos-Pena et al. (2022) in an article titled "Sustainable Handicrafts: Describing the Evolution of a Concept through Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Literature Review Analysis" have described the bibliometric analysis of 894 research articles from the Scopus database on sustainable handicrafts in the 21st century. Khalil Nejad (2021) in an article titled "Investigating the Concepts and Functions of Indigenous Dolls in South Khorasan with Emphasis on the Dutok Doll" has examined the environmentally friendly dolls of Tajmir village as a means of transmitting the customs and traditions of the region to future generations and introducing them to other regions.
Objectives, questions, and hypotheses
By making dolls with a sustainable handicraft approach and based on folk tales, the future generation can be introduced to the valuable literature and culture of this land in the form of making environmentally friendly dolls.
The techniques of embroidery and felting are considered clean methods that respect the environment and are considered sustainable handicrafts.
This research seeks to answer the following question:
How dolls can be designed with a sustainable handicraft approach based on Iranian folk tales?
Main discussion
Folktales are attractive to children because of their special features. These stories help children develop their skills, teach them moral values, and introduce them to the history and culture of Iran. Iranian folktales have the ability to adapt to the current conditions of society and incorporate new educational and training concepts. Therefore, Iranian folktales are suitable sources of inspiration for making dolls. Needle felting and wet felting techniques are sustainable techniques in which sheep wool is compressed using a special needle and moisture to create the desired volumes. Using these techniques, dolls of various shapes and colors can be made with sheep wool. Considering what has been said, by considering the characteristics of the doll and based on the characters and heroes of folk tales, it is possible to make dolls with a sustainable handicraft approach using needle felting and wet felting techniques that embody the rich culture of our beloved country.
Conclusion
Since storytelling with tools such as dolls makes stories more attractive to children, and considering the inappropriate messages and themes of imported dolls and the environmental problems of today's world, designing and making dolls with a sustainable handicraft approach and inspired by Persian folk tales became the subject of this research. Paying attention to the environment is one of the basic components of sustainable handicrafts; hence, the needle felting technique or needlepoint and wet felting or needle felting were chosen as arts in line with sustainable handicrafts for making dolls. These arts are suitable for making various volumes as clean production methods. Making dolls using needlepoint and needle felting techniques demonstrates the great capabilities of sheep wool for making dolls appropriate for different age groups within the framework of sustainable handicrafts. Sheep wool is a natural, durable and renewable material that does not harm nature. Dolls made with these techniques are not harmful to the child's health while being environmentally friendly, so the dolls made can be a good alternative to plastic dolls. Finally, the importance of each of the features of these dolls was measured by designing a questionnaire. The results showed that for parents, the effect of the doll on the child's physical and mental health and being in line with Iranian culture are very important, which shows that parents' view of dolls as a cultural commodity has become more serious. According to the results of the questionnaire, from the parents' point of view, compatibility with the environment, having educational and training aspects, and the suitability of the doll for storytelling are also influential factors in choosing a doll. Dolls made based on Iranian folk tales, with a sustainable handicraft approach and using felting and embroidery techniques, in addition to being in line with Iranian culture, do not pose a risk to the physical and mental health of the child and do not harm the environment; as a result, expanding the production of these dolls as sustainable handicrafts can be beneficial in preserving the culture and nature of this region.
Article Type: پژوهشی اصیل |
Subject:
Popular literature
Received: 2024/12/6 | Accepted: 2025/04/15 | Published: 2025/07/29
Received: 2024/12/6 | Accepted: 2025/04/15 | Published: 2025/07/29
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |