[Children’s Day] Let’s make a handmade samurai helmet! A collection of fun, easy crafting ideas
As Children’s Day approaches, you naturally want to prepare a cool helmet to celebrate your child’s growth.Store-bought ones are lovely, but handmade pieces have a special warmth.From items made with familiar materials like origami and felt to projects that follow more authentic crafting methods, there are actually many ways to make a kabuto by hand!Some are meant for display, while others can actually be worn—there’s a wide range of finishes.In this article, we’ll introduce handmade kabuto ideas that make use of various materials and techniques.There are also projects you can try together with your child, so be sure to use them as inspiration!
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[Children’s Day] Let’s Make a Handmade Samurai Helmet! A Collection of Fun Craft Ideas (1–10)
felt helmet
This is a handmade, wearable kabuto (samurai helmet) that gives a cozy feel with the soft texture of felt.
You fold it using the same steps as a paper origami kabuto, but with felt, the key is to do in advance the step that in origami is usually done last: tucking the excess material inside.
Fold one corner of a square piece of felt toward the center and secure it with a hot glue gun.
Fold it up into a triangle, turn it over, and keep shaping the helmet while securing it with the glue gun, and your felt kabuto is complete! If you attach a patterned fabric to the back side, it will add an accent to the front of the helmet and make it look even nicer.
Cup Noodle Container Helmet
We’d like to introduce a very eco-friendly samurai helmet you can make using an empty instant noodle cup! You finish it by sticking fabric and parts made from thick paper onto the cup.
For the crest at the front, using gold origami paper makes it look more festive, so it’s recommended.
Make good use of round stickers, too, to decorate your helmet.
For the fukikaeshi (the side flaps), you might want to apply fabric with a Japanese-style pattern to add originality.
Once your helmet is complete, try displaying it by placing it on top of a milk carton set over a water-filled plastic bottle, then draping fabric over everything.
Kabuto Tapestry
How about decorating a wall-hanging tapestry with a kabuto (samurai helmet) motif? Cut two different fabrics to the same size, layer them, and fold them into a helmet shape as if you were doing origami.
For areas you want to keep from spreading open, use double-sided tape to secure them together.
It’s also recommended to add a decorative touch, such as a mizuhiki cord, to the center of the helmet.
After that, attach it to the base fabric of the tapestry and you’re done! If you like, add festive accents around it—like carp streamers or pinwheels—to evoke Children’s Day and create a vibrant finish.
[Children's Day] Let's make a handmade samurai helmet! A collection of fun crafting ideas (11–20)
cardboard helmet
Just looking at a cool helmet isn’t enough! For kids who feel that way, here’s a wearable cardboard helmet.
Prepare a piece of cardboard large enough to cover from the head to the neck.
Lightly score along the existing corrugation lines, then roll it into a tube and secure it with kraft tape.
Make vertical slits about 8 cm wide around the bottom half, and cut out just the face opening.
On the top half, make even finer slits, gather them toward the center, and shape it like a hat.
Finally, attach parts like horns made from other pieces of cardboard, and decorate with markers or aluminum foil—your impressive helmet is complete!
origami samurai helmet
Let’s make an origami samurai helmet (kabuto) and decorate it by pasting it onto construction paper! Fold a square sheet of origami paper in half into a triangle, then fold it in half again to make a crease.
Fold the two outer corners up to meet the top point.
Fold the corners gathered at the top back down toward the bottom point.
Flip it over, then open out the top section diagonally to the left and right.
Fold the top layer of the lower triangle upward to overlap the upper triangle, and tuck the bottom layer into the pocket.
Your origami kabuto is complete! It’s a great seasonal craft to make at home or in the classroom.
straw helmet
Happy to wear it! Here are some ideas for straw kabuto (samurai helmets).
When you display a cool kabuto, lots of kids will probably say, “I want to try it on!” Here are some ideas for straw kabuto you can actually make and find, perfect for those moments.
What you’ll need: an iron, a crochet hook, a tapestry needle, sewing pins, scissors, and craft yarn in the appropriate thickness.
The best part is that you can customize the color combinations and design however you like.
Kids who put on the finished kabuto are sure to feel excited, looking both cool and adorable.
Kabuto with a Demon Slayer-pattern design
In households with children who love Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, try making a kabuto (samurai helmet) using the haori patterns worn by the characters! Prepare fabric with a haori pattern and cut it into a square.
Fold it into the shape of a kabuto as you would with origami.
To keep the shape neat, press with an iron after each fold.
For the crest at the front of the helmet, attach gold fabric.
Use double-sided tape or fabric glue to secure any parts that seem likely to come undone after folding.
You can make it without needle and thread, so be sure to create one and celebrate Children’s Day with this kabuto!