Ideas for handmade Chitose-ame bags you’ll want to use as reference
Shichi-Go-San is a celebration to wish for children’s health and happiness and to mark their growth.
Around November 15, families visit shrines and have photos taken, and recently more people have been making the outfits and accessories used for the photos by hand.
In this article, we’ll focus on one particular accessory—the Chitose-ame (thousand-year candy) bag—and share handmade ideas for it.
We’ll introduce ideas in three sections—materials and taste (style), design, and patterns—so we hope it will be helpful when you make your own.
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Design (1–10)
Butterfly
Butterflies are a common motif in kimono patterns and are often incorporated into traditional Japanese attire.
This is the perfect Chitose-ame bag for girls celebrating Shichi-Go-San in kimono.
Butterflies grow by transforming—from egg to caterpillar, then chrysalis, and finally to a butterfly.
It’s said that this image is frequently used in traditional patterns because it parallels a girl’s growth.
The butterfly motif aligns beautifully with the meaning of Shichi-Go-San, which is to wish for healthy growth.
It suits bold, glamorous designs, and can also look adorable in simple, chic patterns.
train
For the Shichi-Go-San age range, especially for boys, there are plenty of kids who just love trains.
You might think, “A train-themed Chitose-ame bag?” but if he’s a train fan, he’ll definitely be thrilled—no doubt it’ll get him excited! If making trains the main focus feels like a bit much, how about subtly adding papercut-style designs or train silhouettes here and there? It could be like a spot-the-difference game, which kids would probably love.
And when you look back at the photos later, it’ll make a great memory: “Remember how much you loved trains back then!”
Design (11–20)
Crane and Turtle
Cranes and turtles are classic celebratory motifs that are very popular.
They’re known as indispensable traditional patterns for festive occasions.
As the saying goes, “A crane lives a thousand years, a turtle ten thousand,” both animals symbolize longevity and are regarded as auspicious.
A Chitose-ame bag featuring cranes and turtles would be especially fitting for Shichi-Go-San when wearing traditional Japanese attire.
Embroidery on fabric is lovely, but if that feels like a bit much, you could use iron-on patches or stamp the design onto paper instead.
Pattern (1–10)
checkered pattern
The ichimatsu pattern, used for the kimono of Tanjiro Kamado, the protagonist of the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, became extremely popular among children during the anime’s boom.
It is a type of checkered design with alternating squares in two colors, and it was also adopted for the emblem of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Because the pattern continues without interruption, it is considered auspicious, symbolizing eternity, prosperity, and development.
There are no set rules for the colors of an ichimatsu pattern.
Why not make one in your child’s favorite colors?
Flower Shippo (Seven Treasures)
Shippo patterns are designs that resemble diamonds and flower petals, created by layering rows of circles of the same size so that each row overlaps the next by a quarter.
Shippo is a Buddhist term referring to the seven treasures—such as gold, silver, and lapis lazuli—and symbolizes prosperity, wealth, and status.
When a flower is placed at the center of the shippo, the motif is called hana-shippo (flower shippo).
The hana-shippo, which adds flowers to the shippo pattern signifying an eternal chain and expansion, completeness, and harmony, is truly a perfect motif for Shichi-Go-San, expressing wishes for a child’s healthy growth.
Asanoha pattern
The asanoha (hemp leaf) motif is a design that has been used since the Heian period for decorating Buddhist statues and more.
It was named because its hexagonal geometric pattern resembles hemp leaves.
Since hemp is a very fast-growing plant that shoots straight up toward the sky, the motif carries the wish for healthy, upright growth.
It is also believed to ward off evil, and in the past it was used for patterns on infants’ clothing.
“May you grow straight and strong,” “May you live free from misfortune”—let’s draw the asanoha pattern while praying for children’s happiness.
In conclusion
Have you found any handmade ideas for Chitose-ame bags you’d like to try? We introduced them in three sections: the materials and style that set the overall mood, the main design, and patterns you can use for backgrounds and borders.
Try recreating the featured Chitose-ame bags or incorporating parts of them to make a wonderful bag that’s perfect for your child.