Hinamatsuri is an event filled with the wish for girls to grow up healthy and happy.
On March 3rd, many families traditionally display Hina dolls and celebrate.
In this article, we introduce handmade Hina doll ideas especially for seniors.
One-of-a-kind handmade Hina dolls have a warm, charming feel, don’t they?
The Hina dolls featured here are all easy to make using familiar, readily available materials, so please feel free to use them as inspiration.
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[For Seniors] Heartwarming and Cozy: Recommended Handmade Hina Dolls (1–10)
Hanging ornaments of oshie-style Hina dollsNEW!
This is a hanging ornament made using the oshie technique, which creates dimensional pictures by layering pieces of fabric.
You attach various decorations—such as the Empress and Emperor dolls and plum blossoms—to a core, separating them into parts and sticking them on in order.
Once the pieces are finished, connect them with strings and assemble them onto the base to complete it! Using chirimen crepe fabric adds a traditional Japanese feel.
Attach a string to the base and display it on a wall or door.
You can enjoy arranging the decorations and their placement as you like, resulting in a highly original piece.
Three-dimensional Odairi-sama and Ohina-samaNEW!
The three-dimensional imperial couple dolls are an origami project that lets you enjoy using your fingertips through steps like folding, bending, and inserting.
Because the shape is made from a single sheet of paper, you really engage your fingers for fine folds and adjusting corners.
It can also have benefits as occupational therapy and helps improve concentration.
Up to the step of squashing a square into a diamond, the process is the same as folding a crane.
After that, you make cuts, fold so the diamonds overlap, then squash the pocket sections to form the dolls’ heads and sleeves.
Even in a modest size, they have a strong presence—an origami idea for seniors that combines the fun of moving your fingers with the atmosphere of seasonal celebrations.
Hanging Hina decoration made with accordion foldingNEW!
@mii_no_seisak If you want the pattern, follow my Instagram and comment “Ohinasama” (Hina dolls)! @mii_no_seisaku ◀︎ Search this on Instagram💕 🎎 Accordion-fold Hina dolls Just make an accordion fold in the origami: mountain, valley, mountain, valley. When you open it, it spreads out like a kimono—Hina doll complete✨ For infants, it’s fine just to experience the folding motion◎ Adults can help with the finishing touches. [Materials] • Origami paper • Glue • Face parts (construction paper) [Tips] • Make the fold width larger • It doesn’t have to line up perfectly • Enjoy the shape when you spread it out Easy prep, so you won’t rush even right before the event 🎎 Save this and use it before Hinamatsuri✨ .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。 At @mii_no_seisaku, a current nursery teacher and mom of a 10-year-old and a baby share: 💞 A craft activity you can decide in 5 minutes for tomorrow 💞 Almost zero material cost! Use supplies already in your classroom✨ We’ll introduce handmade activities you can enjoy at home or in childcare🙆♀️ .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。Hinamatsuri#japanNursery teacher / Childcare workerTranslationOrigami
♬ Cute heartwarming song(1425147) – sanusagi
Let me show you how to make a hanging Hina decoration that anyone can create easily.
First, accordion-fold a plain sheet of origami paper and fold it in half.
Then, sandwich a patterned origami paper folded the same way inside and glue them together.
This will become the body of the Hina doll.
After that, just attach a face and small accessories made from construction paper and you’re done.
Next, let’s make decorations like peach blossoms and hishi-mochi.
Tie kite string to a base made from a tapioca (bubble tea) straw, then glue on the Hina dolls and the decorations, and you’re all set! If cutting out the parts is difficult, prepare them in advance.
Handmade Hina decorations made of feltNEW!
Felt crafts have a soft, fluffy touch that gives a sense of warmth.
Hina decorations made from felt would suit the atmosphere of the Peach Festival.
You can also use chirimen fabric to make the Emperor and Empress dolls.
Make two bases as well, and add peach blossoms made of felt or chirimen fabric.
If you attach a string, you can hang it on the wall, or you can paste it onto a backing board.
Using artificial flowers—like the ones sold at 100-yen shops—for the blossoms would also result in a lovely piece.
Enjoy creating it while chatting with seniors and having fun arranging the design.
Hina dolls made with origami and paper platesNEW!
An origami and paper-plate Hina doll activity is especially appealing because you can enjoy it easily with everyday materials.
Cut a paper plate in half, then roll it into a cone so there’s a small hole at the top.
Layer and glue two half-circle pieces of origami paper on top to represent the doll’s kimono.
Next, prepare white drawing paper and cut out a shape consisting of an oval on top of an overlapping rectangle.
Draw the doll’s face on the oval, then attach hair and ornaments made from origami.
Roll the rectangle into a tube, insert it into the hole in the paper plate, spread it open inside the plate, and secure it with tape.
Finally, give the doll a fan to hold, and it’s complete! Make the male doll as well and be sure to display them side by side.
Roly-poly Hina dollNEW!
These wobbling dolls are adorable okiagari-koboshi-style Hina dolls.
You can easily make the wobbling mechanism using paper cups.
Create the Emperor and Empress with construction paper or origami, then attach them to paper cups cut to the right size, and you’re done.
Because they sway, these Hina dolls seem like something older adults could enjoy even after making them.
They also look cute displayed on a table or shelf.
Templates for the Emperor and Empress are available online, so using those can make the process easy and casual.
Three-tier display: rabbit Hina dollsNEW!
Tiered Hina doll displays are gorgeous and impressive, aren’t they? These days, you don’t see as many tiered Hina sets, but in the past, many households of older generations likely displayed them.
Here is a three-tiered rabbit Hina doll set that lets you look back on those memories.
Use craft decoration balls and felt to make the Hina dolls.
Attach wrapping paper with peach blossoms or pink flowers to a display stand sold at 100-yen shops.
Then place the dolls you made—along with the three court ladies and hishi-mochi—on top to complete the display.
Making them as rabbits gives the set an even cuter feel.