How to Make a Hina Matsuri Doll (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Hina Matsuri, translated into Italian as “Girl's Day” or “Doll's Day”, is an anniversary celebrated in Japan every year on March 3. Traditionally, many ornamental dolls are put on display during this holiday. You can make your own doll to celebrate this day using materials such as thick decorative paper and cardstock.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Paper Doll

Step 1. Cut out the body and head from a sheet of white construction paper

Using sharp scissors, cut out a small head and body of the doll from a sheet of white or ivory construction paper.

The head should be 2 cm in diameter. Trace the outline of a 5-euro cent coin if you need help with head measurements.
The body should be 3mm wide and about 5cm long.

Step 2. Cut the paper to make the collar

Use scissors to cut a 2.5cm long by 1.5cm wide strip from a sheet of chiyogami origami paper.

This piece will be used to make the doll's collar.
Keep in mind that you will need to use the same paper to make the "obi", that is the belt of the doll's kimono.
This card must also match the one you will use to create the dress, but it must not have the same pattern.

Step 3. Fold the collar around the body

Place the collar strip behind the body. Fold the two ends diagonally towards the front of the body.

Fold the collar strip in half before placing it around your body.
The body and the collar will need to be perpendicular to each other when you place the strip behind the body.
To do things accurately, fold the collar so that the left end goes under the right. The opposite folding is used only for the deceased.
Use glue or tape to secure the collar.

Step 4. Make a border on the main chiyogami paper (the one you decided to use for the kimono)

Take a 5.5x12.5cm sheet and fold the shorter side twice to create a kind of ridge.

This sheet will be used to make the kimono and the crest will become the collar.

Make Hina Matsuri Dolls Step 4Bullet1
Turn the paper over so that the back is facing up. Fold the short side upwards by 1 cm. If the pattern of the card has a direction in which it develops, do this at the top.

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Turn the sheet over again to have the front facing up. Fold 5 mm over the previous crease towards the front of the paper to get a raised edge.

Step 5. Attach the body to the kimono

Place the body in the center of the paper kimono. Glue the two pieces together.

Turn the kimono over so that the back is facing up.
The body should be centered along the raised edge of the kimono.
Position the body so that the collar you attached earlier is just above the edge of the kimono.

Step 6. Fold the left corner

Bring the left corner of the kimono diagonally downwards, folding it over the inner collar and the body.

Fold the paper kimono only along the folded edge and just below it. Do not fold along the entire fold

Step 7. Fold over the rest of the left side

Fold the left side of the paper kimono towards the center and over the body.

The left side of the kimono should be folded along a vertical line to create a straight body.
If one corner of the kimono's collar goes beyond the rest of the edge, use scissors to cut away the extra piece.

Step 8. Repeat the same operation for the right side

Fold the right corner diagonally downwards, on the front of the doll. Fold all the right side towards the center, on the front of the doll.

When you fold the right corner, fold only the top of the folded edge.
The right side must be bent in a vertical line, so that the body is straight. Trim any excess bits of the kimono collar sticking out from under this fold.
Make sure the folded corners, right and left, are mirrored and even.
The right side should not completely cover the left side. Leave about 3mm of the left side visible.
With glue or tape fix the folded right side to hold the kimono in place.

Step 9. Cut a piece of paper for the obi (the kimono belt)

Cut a strip of paper about 1.5cm wide and 4cm long.

This piece will be used to make the obi.
Keep in mind that this strip must be cut out of the same paper you used for the inner collar.

Step 10. Fold the obi around the kimono

Place the strip over the front of the kimono. Fold so that the two ends overlap the back of the kimono and secure with glue or tape.

The long side of the obi must be perpendicular to the body when you place it on it.
The upper edge of the obi should wrap around the corner formed by the edge of the kimono.
Cut off any excess paper from the obi before fixing.

Step 11. Cut out a piece of paper to make the obijime, the string to put over the obi

Cut a 4 cm long by 1 wide strip of paper from the chiyogami paper.

This piece will be used for the obijime that goes above the obi.
Choose a different design for this card, but one that matches the others.

Step 12. Fold the obijime over the obi and center it

Fold the ends so they meet on the back of the doll, then secure with glue or tape.

Place the obijime around the body as you did for the obijime.
Make sure the obijime is centered with respect to the obi.

Step 13. Attach the head to the body

With glue or tape, attach one side of the cardboard head to the visible part of the strip that forms the body.

Keep in mind that only a small part of the strip that makes up the body should remain visible after this operation. This part will be the doll's neck

Step 14. Create the hair using a piece of black construction paper

Cut out the fringe from the construction paper. Cut a separate piece of black construction paper to make the back of the hair.

You can choose the hairstyle you like best. Keep in mind, however, that the fringe and the back must be a bit wider than the head

Step 15. Attach the hair to the head

Place the bangs at the top of the head and glue it on. Place the back of the hair on the back of the head and fix.

Keep in mind that the back of the hair should also fall on the doll's kimono

Step 16. Admire your work

The Hina Matsuri doll is finished.

Method 2 of 2: Doll Made from a Wooden Stick

Step 1. Paint the surface of a Styrofoam ball

Paint it with an even, compact layer of white paint.

The diameter of the ball should be about 4 cm, or a little less than half the length of the wooden clothespin that you will use to make the doll's body.
Let the paint dry before proceeding to the next steps.
If you don't want to paint the ball, you can wrap it with organza or white nylon.

Step 2. Thread the ball

Insert the pointed end of a skewer toothpick into one side of the ball.

Choose a skewer that can be held securely by the clothespin you will use.
Insert the skewer only in half of the ball. Don't let it pop up on the other side.
Make sure the skewer enters the ball at a right angle.
The portion of the skewer that comes out of the ball should be about the same length as the part that spreads out of the clothespin. If necessary, cut off the excess using sharp scissors or a small saw.

Step 3. Insert the skewer toothpick into the clothespin

Attach the clothespin to the exposed part of the skewer.

Leave about 5-6mm of the skewer uncovered between the clothespin and the head to form the doll's neck.
Theoretically, the pressure exerted by the clothespin should be enough to hold the skewer in place. However, if it moves you can fix it with a little glue. Let the glue dry before proceeding.

Step 4. Cut out some hair from the black crepe paper

You will need to cut out a strip to make the fringe and another for the back of the hair.

The fringe will need to be loose enough to wrap around the middle of the ball. And it will need to be tall enough to extend from the center of the top of the head to the center of the front of the face.
The back of the hair will need to be loose enough to wrap around half a ball. It can be as long as you want.

Step 5. Attach the hair to the head

Cover the top half of the head with a thin layer of glue. Lay down the back of the hair first and then the bangs.

The back must begin at the top of the head. Press this strip of black crepe paper so that it sticks well to the back of the head. It should thus crease naturally and position itself away from the body.
The bangs must also start on the top of the head. Press the strip so that it sticks well to the front of the head and let it slightly overlap the strip that forms the back of the hair.
Let the glue dry before proceeding.

Step 6. Attach the clothespin to the base of the doll

Glue the body to a thick cardboard or wooden disk that will serve as a base.

This will allow the doll to stand upright

Step 7. Roll a strip of construction paper into a tube

Cut a strip of thin construction paper and wrap it around the doll's body. Glue the ends together and let dry before proceeding.

The cardboard strip should be as high as the clothespin plus the base.
The tube must have the same diameter as the base. You will need to be able to slide the tube over the doll's body by passing it from the bottom.

Step 8. Fold the top of the cardboard tube

Use your thumb and forefinger to bend the tube on both sides of the clip.

These folded, flattened portions of the tube will form the shoulders. They should be on the sides of the head, not under the front and back.
Fold only the first 2.5 cm or so of the top. Do not bend the entire side of the tube.

Step 9. Remove a small piece of construction paper from the front of the tube

Carefully cut out a small rectangular section of construction paper from the front of the tube.

The rectangle should be as long as the side folds you made in the cardstock.
The width of the rectangle should approximately match that of the clothespin.
Taking off this part will make it easier to add a collar to the doll.

Step 10. Create a collar for the doll

Cut out a long strip of washi paper. Add a continuous strip of colored origami paper to the top of this strip.

The washi paper strip should be approximately 4cm wide and 13cm long.
The strip of origami paper should be approximately 6mm wide and 13cm long.
Glue the origami paper to the top edge of the washi paper. Let it dry before proceeding.

Step 11. Attach the collar to the doll

Wrap the collar around the skewer so that the two ends overlap on the front of the doll.

To do the job accurately, the left end must end under the right one.
Insert the left end under the rectangular cutout you made in the front of the tube. It will help you keep the collar in place. Leave the right end out and fix everything with a little glue.

Step 12. Cut two pieces of paper to make the sleeves

Cut out two rectangles from the same washi paper. Both should be twice the length of the doll's body. The width of the two rectangles should approximately correspond to the length of the clothespin.

Fold both pieces in half along the longer side. The sleeves will be made from these double pieces of paper

Step 13. Cut along the edges to create the shape of the sleeves

Round the lower inner corner and cut a piece from the lower outer corner.

Rotate the paper so that the folded side is to the right or left.
Locate the lower corner of the folded side. Carefully round it off using scissors.
Make a horizontal cut from the open part of the sheet of paper, about a third of the length starting from the top. This line should be about 2.5cm long.
Make a diagonal cut starting from the inside of the previous cut towards the lower corner of the open side. Remove the piece of paper that you get by connecting these two cuts.
Do the same for both sleeves.

Step 14. Attach the sleeves to the doll's body

Glue the open side of the sleeve to the center of the back of the doll. The top edge of the card body should line up with the top edge of the sleeve.

Position the sleeve so that it ends under the doll's hair.
Glue the sleeve to the side and front of the doll so that it meets the collar you attached earlier. Leave the rest of the sleeve free on the hip.
Repeat the same operation for the other sleeve as well.

Step 15. Cut out a piece of paper to make the skirt

Cut another rectangle using the same washi paper. Make sure it is long enough to wrap along the bottom of the cardboard tube.

The skirt should be high / wide enough to cover the area from the bottom of the folded collar to the bottom of the doll

Step 16. Attach the skirt to the body

Wrap the skirt around your body. Glue the ends along the left side of the doll.

The exposed edge will simulate that of the kimono.
Don't worry if you still see the cardboard under the washi paper. The obi will cover it.

Step 17. Cut out a strip to make the obi

Cut a strip of paper about 5cm wide and long enough to wrap around the doll's body.

The obi must be wide enough to cover the still visible part of the cardboard. If 5 cm is not enough, make it a little wider.
Do not use the same washi paper for the obi. You can use thick, colorful origami paper or another piece of washi paper with a different pattern.