Lovely handmade crafts

Let's make our own shimenawa! A collection of stylish ideas you can create with paper and artificial flowers

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Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Shimenawa to decorate your front entrance for the New Year.

Ready-made ones are lovely, but wouldn’t you like to try making one yourself? In this article, we introduce a variety of DIY shimenawa ideas using artificial flowers, different kinds of paper, yarn, craft tape, and more.

There are plenty of ideas that suit not only Japanese-style homes but also Western-style interiors.

We’ve gathered a wide range of variations, so please use them as inspiration.

Why not prepare for the New Year by making your own original shimenawa with simple materials and have fun in the process?

Let’s Make a Shimenawa by Hand! A Stylish Collection of Ideas Using Paper and Artificial Flowers (11–20)

Paper string shimenawa wreath

All paper! How to make a New Year’s shimenawa wreath decoration using paper cord, 2021 – DIY How to Make Japanese New Year’s Wreath

Paper string shimenawa wreath

This is a shimenawa-style wreath made by braiding bundled paper twine like a rope.

By using simple brown paper string, you get a soft feel while reproducing the color of real rope.

Arrange three bundles whose ends are secured with tape, twist each one, then first braid two of the bundles together and afterward weave in the remaining one alongside them—this is the rope-braiding method.

Once you’ve braided the whole thing and shaped it into a ring, decorate it with New Year–inspired flower motifs, mizuhiki cords, and the like to finish.

Because the rope is a simple color, be sure to make the decorations vividly stand out.

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Crocheted shimenawa wreath

Crochet New Year’s decoration – shimekazari (Japanese New Year wreath); Korean: Japanese New Year decoration crochet

Crocheted shimenawa wreath

This is a charming crochet wreath with a soft, fluffy look.

For the rope portion, use beige yarn and crochet it into a spiral, then join the beginning and end to form a loop.

Next, attach red-and-white camellias and leaves made with crochet, along with red-and-white mizuhiki accents, and you’ll have a shimenawa-style wreath brimming with the warmth of yarn! Learning crochet may take some time, but the sense of accomplishment when you finish is unbeatable.

If you enjoy crafts, definitely give it a try!

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Tsumami-zaiku New Year’s shimenawa decoration

[How to Make a Tsumami-Zaiku Shimenawa Decoration Using Only 100-Yen Shop Materials] Shimenawa Wreath Kanzashi Flower Fabric Flower DIY

Tsumami-zaiku New Year’s shimenawa decoration

This is a wreath with a Japanese flair, decorated with a tsumami-zaiku camellia.

Fold a square-cut chirimen fabric into a triangle twice, then pinch the looped part with tweezers and open it.

Repeat the process of applying plenty of glue and sticking it onto the base fabric to form a camellia with six petals.

If you want more volume, layer additional petals made using the same steps with slightly smaller fabric on top.

Add leaves made from green chirimen fabric to complete the camellia parts.

Finally, decorate the wreath base with these parts along with artificial flowers and mizuhiki cord purchased from a 100-yen shop.

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Felt flower shimenawa wreath

How to Braid a Shimenawa: Felt Flower Shimenawa Wreath / DIY New Year’s Decoration / How to Make a Japanese New Year Decoration

Felt flower shimenawa wreath

This New Year wreath exudes a rustic charm with a base made of natural raffia and decorations crafted from felt.

The base is created by twisting and intertwining two bundles of raffia.

You can use any material that has some flexibility and durability, but choose a light color so the felt decorations stand out later.

Once the wreath is formed, glue on felt camellias and pine needles, then finish by adding a Japanese-style cord and felt balls as accents!

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Plum blossom shimenawa wreath

Origami New Year’s decoration: Shimekazari plum blossom wreath folding tutorial (niceno1)

Plum blossom shimenawa wreath

This is a plum blossom wreath made of origami, perfect for the New Year.

Fold two opposite corners of the paper toward the center, fold it in half, then fold one corner up at a right angle.

Make eight of these parts and connect them by interlocking to complete the wreath base.

Attach parts made with diagonal accordion folds and plum blossoms made from origami using glue, and your origami wreath is complete! It takes a bit of technique to link the wreath pieces together, but since you only need origami paper and glue, it’s easy to try—so give it a go!

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Mizuhiki Shimenawa Wreath

How to Make a Plum New Year’s Decoration

Mizuhiki Shimenawa Wreath

This is a simple and delicate Mizuhiki shimenawa wreath.

Use red Mizuhiki to make plum blossoms and gold Mizuhiki for the centers, then glue them together.

Twist red-and-white Mizuhiki into a wreath shape, combine it with camellia leaf parts made from green Mizuhiki, and secure them firmly.

Attach the camellia flower you prepared in advance with glue, and pinch and shape the green Mizuhiki into leaf forms.

Finally, trim any excess from the wreath to balance the design, and it’s complete! The work requires fine detail and is somewhat advanced, but if you’re interested in Mizuhiki crafts, please give it a try.

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Let's make a handmade shimenawa! A stylish collection of ideas using paper and artificial flowers (21–30)

Shimenawa wreath origami

New Year’s Origami [Shimenawa Wreath Decoration] — How to make an origami Japanese New Year’s wreath.

Shimenawa wreath origami

Here’s an idea for a shimenawa wreath made by connecting separate parts.

First, fold a 7.5 cm square sheet of origami paper into a triangle.

Next, fold the left corner of the triangle up to meet the top corner.

Up to this point, you’re just making creases, so unfold the paper back to its original shape.

Now, fold the top and bottom corners in toward the center.

Fold the paper in half along the first horizontal crease you made, then fold the left corner up along the diagonal crease to complete one part.

Make eight of these parts and connect them to form the wreath.

When connecting them, slightly offset each piece and fold the corners to express the rounded look of the rope—that’s the key.

Also create the bundled rope section and decorative pieces to finish the wreath with a festive touch.

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