For Seniors: Easy, No-Sew! Felt Craft Ideas
Felt crafts have a warm, charming feel, don’t they?
In this article, we introduce ideas for felt crafts you can make without sewing.
Since the steps involve cutting and gluing rather than sewing, they’re easy and safe for older adults to enjoy—that’s the appeal!
Craft activities are effective for fine motor exercise and dementia prevention.
They also work well as a communication tool with other seniors.
We’ve gathered items you can display for fun as well as practical pieces, so please use them as a reference.
- [For Seniors] Easy and Fun! Tsumami Zaiku Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Easy Felt Craft: Warm and Cozy Projects
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- [For Seniors] Enjoy the Cold Winter! Simple, Recommended Crafts
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- [For Seniors] Fun to Make, Soothing to Display! Snowman Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Simple Handicrafts Recommended for Finger Exercise
- [For Seniors] DIY Rehabilitation Aids: A Collection of Easy-to-Make Ideas
- [For Seniors] Ideal for Finger Rehabilitation: A Collection of Simple Ideas Made with Yarn
- For Seniors: Needle-Free Crafts. A Safe and Easy Collection of No-Sew Project Ideas
- For Seniors: Easy, No-Sew! Felt Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Add Color to Your Room: A Collection of Flower Craft Ideas
For Seniors: Easy, No-Sew! Felt Craft Ideas (31–40)
No-sew cherry blossom corsage
Introducing a cherry blossom corsage that’s perfect for ceremonies like entrance ceremonies.
Although it looks glamorous, you can make it without using a needle and thread.
What you’ll need: pink and light green felt, flower stamens, wire, brown floral tape, a corsage pin, and ribbon.
For the flower, cut the felt into a circle and make five slits to divide it into equal parts.
Round the corners and cut the tips into a jagged shape.
Wrap the stamens onto the wire, thread the felt on, and secure it with glue.
Use the light green felt to make the calyx, then wrap and secure everything with tape along the wire.
Make several of the same flower and bundle them together with tape.
Attach a corsage pin to the stem, secure it again with tape, and finish by wrapping a ribbon.
There are no complicated steps, so you can proceed with confidence.
Give it a try as a bit of finger exercise, too.
Daruma Fukuwarai
Some seniors may remember playing fukuwarai with their families during New Year’s.
Here’s a craft kit that will bring back those fun times.
Using fabric, you can make a daruma-themed fukuwarai decoration.
Attach fabric pieces, cut into each facial part, onto a felt base.
Since it only involves cutting and pasting, it’s also recommended for older men who have never tried sewing.
The best part of this kit is placing the facial features.
You can start with the eyes or the nose—whichever you like.
Let seniors arrange the pieces however they prefer.
It’s a fukuwarai kit that makes the process itself a joyful time.
Tsumami-zaiku style corsage
Tsumami-zaiku flowers are adorable, but having to use thread and needles can be a hassle.
This version is made with felt and doesn’t require any thread or needles.
It’s easy because there’s no sewing involved, so please give it a try.
First, cut the felt into 4 cm squares, fold them, pinch into shape, and secure with small amounts of hot glue.
Finally, trim the tip to resemble the end of a cherry blossom petal.
Once you’ve made five petals, attach them to a felt base.
It’s easier to work on a silicone mat, so give that a try.
Camellia brooch made of felt
The blooming season for camellias varies by type, but it runs from late November to early April.
They often bloom from February to April in particular, so they’re considered flowers that herald spring.
Let’s try making a seasonal camellia out of felt.
Cut six circles from felt and apply double-sided tape slightly offset from the center.
Fold each felt circle in half where you applied the tape.
Using the stamen you made as the center, wrap the six folded felt pieces around it.
Add leaves to finish the flower.
Attach a safety pin using double-sided tape and felt to complete it.
This is a project that seniors who enjoy sewing are likely to appreciate, even in facilities where using needles is difficult.
Felt bag
Let me introduce a felt bag that’s perfect for a quick outing.
Amazingly, the only material you need is a single sheet of felt measuring 70 cm by 60 cm.
Fold the felt in half, then cut out the main body of the bag along with six long, narrow rectangles.
It’s easier if you prepare a pattern in advance before working with the felt.
Tie the slits you make in the bag body, and braid the long, narrow pieces you cut.
Finish by tying the braided felt to the bag body.
It’s such a wonderful piece that you’ll find yourself wondering, “Did we really not use a needle?” While enjoying the process, let’s encourage older adults to make plenty of use of their fine motor skills.
[For Seniors] Simple, No-Sew! Felt Craft Ideas (41–50)
ball ornament
Here’s an introduction to making a cute spherical ornament out of felt.
First, create a circular template and use it to cut out circles from felt.
Cut five pieces each in two colors, such as red and green, then cut them in half and glue them together with a hot glue gun.
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the glue gun gets very hot.
After making two half-spheres, attach a bell with a thread to the bottom, and a ribbon with a pearl bead to the top.
That’s it! Simply by changing the colors, you can create ornaments with either a Western or Japanese feel—aren’t they lovely?
poinsettia
Why not try making a poinsettia using felt, which you can easily find at 100-yen shops? Cut the pattern slightly larger, layer it over the felt, and cut the felt together with the pattern—this makes it easier to cut.
Then use wood glue to create fold lines.
Make two red pieces and one green piece, stack them, punch a hole in the center, and thread through a bundle of three cotton swabs wrapped together with floral tape to finish.
You can display it in your entryway, wear it as a corsage on your chest, or attach it to a bag for a cute touch.