A roundup of handmade Daruma ideas: making Daruma with various materials
The traditional Japanese daruma has long been cherished as a good-luck charm.
For that reason, it’s used as a New Year’s decoration, carried as a talisman for guaranteed victory, and is also a popular charm for entrance exams.
In this article, we’ll introduce a whole range of ideas for making your own daruma by hand! We’ve picked out a wide variety, from easy ones made by crumpling newspaper into a ball, to sewing and knitting projects, and craft-style versions using paper plates and paper cups.
Find ideas that fit your needs—who will make it, how long it will take, and more—and create a wonderful daruma of your own.
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Handmade Daruma ideas roundup: Daruma made with various materials (1–10)
Made of felt
A cute daruma made with felt.
Use embroidery thread to create the patterns and face.
Attach the face felt to the daruma-shaped felt—and stitch this part on as well.
If the characters on the belly are too small and tricky to sew, it’s perfectly fine to draw them with a permanent marker instead! Embroidery might sound difficult, but these are all simple stitches you can do as long as you can sew straight lines, so no worries.
It would make a delightful gift and a good-luck charm for exams or competitions!
Made with paper clay
If you want to emphasize cuteness, making a daruma out of paper clay is also recommended.
With paper clay, you can color it to your liking and draw a face on it.
It’s also easy to add little touches like ears.
There’s one more reason I recommend using paper clay: it pops back upright even if it’s knocked over.
Besides being auspicious, the gentle wobbling is adorable.
And if you have small children, it could even double as a toy.
make with cloth
You can also make a daruma out of fabric.
The body has the same structure as a beanbag, and you finish it by embroidering the daruma’s face onto it.
However, unlike a typical beanbag, you can also use materials like yarn.
First, think about what material you want to use and what pattern of fabric to choose.
It’ll look cute as a decoration, and you can also play with it like a beanbag or use it for finger exercises.
If you make it larger and stuff it with batting, it can even serve as a cushion.
Made with origami
Why not try making a handmade daruma using origami you have at home? There are a wide range of folding methods, from simple flat designs to more elaborate 3D ones.
Once you’ve folded the daruma body with origami paper, use pens or stickers to draw the facial expression and patterns.
You can display it as interior decor, or make it as a gift for someone special.
Another fun point is that you can enjoy many variations just by changing the color or pattern of the paper.
Try setting a theme—like entrance exams or New Year—and create your own!
Made with candles
Melt some wax and shape it—how about making a daruma candle? Add red pigment to white wax and mold it into a round shape, and the basic body is ready.
Then attach separately made skin-colored wax for the face, and use black wax to add the eyes and mustache—done! The best part about this method is that you can customize the colors to your liking.
It really feels like making a truly one-of-a-kind piece.
You could even add a few drops of oil to turn it into an aroma candle.
Just don’t forget to insert the wick!
