[For Seniors] Simple Handicrafts Recommended for Finger Exercise
Are there any seniors who are worried about losing dexterity in their hands?
Handicrafts that you can enjoy while doing them are attracting attention as a wonderful hobby that keeps your fingers moving.
“Looks difficult…” “I’m clumsy with my hands…” You don’t need to worry about that at all.
In recent years, easy-to-use materials like fabric adhesives and felt have become widely available.
Even without needles or thread, you can create lovely pieces just by cutting and gluing.
Why not enjoy exercising your fingers while making one-of-a-kind handmade creations?
This time, we’ll share plenty of easy craft ideas that even older adults can start with confidence.
And of course, we’ve also prepared more elaborate projects for those who are skilled at crafts!
- For Seniors: Simple and Lovely Crafts – A Collection of Take-Home Project Ideas for Day Service
- [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] Small craft ideas: for yourself and as gifts!
- [For Seniors] Recommended Handmade Activities! Simple Ideas
- For Seniors: Easy, No-Sew! Felt Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Amazing Scrap Fabric Hacks! Easy Handmade Small Item Ideas
- For Seniors: Auspicious Handmade Zodiac Ornament Craft Ideas
- [For Seniors] Get Started Easily: Simple Handicraft Kit Ideas
- [For Seniors] Recommended for day services! Simple and cute small craft ideas
- [For Seniors] Enjoy Your Alone Time: Perfect Ideas for Passing the Time
- [For Seniors] DIY Hand Rehabilitation Tools to Strengthen Fingertips: A Collection of Handmade Ideas
- [For Seniors] Practical Crafts to Make in Day-Service Recreation: Idea Roundup
[For Seniors] Recommended Simple Handicrafts That Exercise the Fingertips (91–100)
Heart coaster
How about an easy-to-make heart-shaped felt coaster? You don’t even need to sew—just use glue.
Round the edges and cut two pieces of felt into the same shape, then make vertical slits in both.
Interlace the slits one by one, folding them together like a weave.
Glue the last section to finish.
If you don’t round the edges or leave excess, you can weave with strip-shaped felt to make a square coaster.
Try different color combinations you like.
Patchwork-style sacoche
A crossbody sacoche without gussets, so the bag has no thickness.
Shoulder bags free up both hands and are sized to hold valuables like a wallet and keys.
It seems handy for older adults to have one for outings or walks.
These days there’s double-sided tape that can be ironed on with heat, so you can make it without sewing the fabric.
You can use the same patterned fabric, but combining various patterns like patchwork would also be lovely.
Some older adults who enjoy crafts may be refraining because small details are hard to see.
Try using helpful tools and enjoy your crafting.
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.
hair tie
Hair ties are a groundbreaking item that make your hair look stylish, aren’t they? This time, let’s make a hair tie using a straw.
The materials you’ll need are a straw, elastic, yarn, a tapestry needle, and so on.
A handmade hair tie is one of a kind in the world, so it’s sure to come in handy.
You can easily make one just by wrapping yarn around the straw.
It also makes a great gift for someone special.
There are many kinds of yarn, so choose your favorite color.
Just putting on a stylish hair tie is enough to lift your mood.
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 make a poinsettia using felt, which you can easily find at 100-yen shops and the like? Cut the pattern a size larger, layer it over the felt, and cut through both the pattern and the felt together—this makes cutting easier.
Then use wood glue to create the fold lines.
Make two red pieces and one green piece, layer them, poke 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, or wear it as a corsage on your chest, or attach it to a bag—it’s adorable either way.