How to Make a Hina Matsuri Doll (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Hina Matsuri, which means "Girls' Day" or "Puppet Day" loosely translated, is an annual holiday season that is celebrated in Japan on the third day of March. Various ornamental dolls are usually displayed during this holiday. You can make your own dolls to celebrate this day with materials such as cardboard and thick decorative paper.

Step

Method 1 of 2: Paper Puppets

Step 1. Cut the body and head out of white cardboard

Use sharp scissors to cut out a small head and body for the doll, from a sheet of white or ivory cardboard.

The head should have a diameter of about 2 cm (approximately slightly larger than a Rp1,000 coin).
The doll's body should be about 3 mm wide and about 5 cm long.

Step 2. Cut the paper for the collar

Use scissors and cut the chiyogami paper 2.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.

This piece of paper will form part of the doll's collar.
You'll need to use the same type of paper to make the "obi" part of the doll later.
This paper should also work with the other two chiyogami papers you will be using, but the pattern should not be exactly the same.

Step 3. Fold the paper collar around the doll's body

Place the collar piece behind the body piece. Fold the ends of the collar diagonally down and in front of the body.

Fold the collar pieces in half before you place them around the body.
The body and collar should be perpendicular as you place the collar behind the body piece.
For accuracy reasons, fold the collar so that the left end is under the right end. The opposite fold is only used to honor the deceased.
Use glue or double-sided tape to keep the collar in place.

Step 4. Make a fringe on your main chiyogami paper

Take a 5.5 cm x 12.5 cm chiyogami paper and fold the shorter end multiple times, to create this fringe.

This sheet of paper will form the kimono, and the edges will become the collar of the kimono.

Make Hina Matsuri Dolls Step 4Bullet1
Turn the paper over so that the bottom side is up. Fold 1 cm from the short top end. If the paper pattern consists of a front and a back, do it on the front.

Make Hina Matsuri Dolls Step 4Bullet2
Turn the back of the paper forward. Fold 0.5 cm from the previous fold to the front, so you have a slightly raised edge.

Step 5. Attach the body to the kimono

Place it in the center of the kimono paper. Use double-sided tape or glue to attach it.

Turn the kimono paper over so that the bottom side is up.
This body paper should be in the center of the protruding edge of the kimono.
Position your body so that the attached collar only protrudes slightly above the hem of the kimono.

Step 6. Fold the left corner

Point the left corner of the piano paper down diagonally, folding it over the inner collar and body of the doll.

Fold the kimono paper only along the folded edges and underneath. Do not fold along the existing crease

Step 7. Fold the remaining paper on the left side

Fold the remaining edges on the left side of the kimono to the center, and over the paper of the doll's body. Press the entire crease on this left side.

The left side of the kimono paper should be folded in a vertical fringe so that the doll's body is straight.
If the corner of the collar of the kimono exceeds the rest of the hem, use scissors to trim it.

Step 8. Repeat on the right side

Fold the right corner diagonally down, over the front of the doll. Fold the entire right edge toward the center, over the doll.

When folding the right corner, emphasize only the top of this folded edge.
The crease on the right side that has been pressed should be vertical so that the whole body is straight. Trim any remaining kimono collar protruding from under this crease.
Make sure all the fold angles on the left and right sides are equal and balanced.
The right edge must not cover the entire left edge. Leave about 3 mm visible on the left side.
Use glue or double-sided tape on the right crease to hold the kimono in place.

Step 9. Cut the paper for the obi

Cut the paper 1.5 cm wide and 4 cm long.

This piece of paper will become the obi part.
Make sure you cut this section of the same paper as the inner collar.

Step 10. Fold the obi around the kimono

Place the obi strip over the front of the kimono. Fold it so that the ends are resting against the back of the kimono and use glue or double-sided tape to attach it.

The long part of the obi should be perpendicular to the body when you place it over the body.
The top edge of the obi should be around the corner of the kimono hem.
Trim the remaining obi paper on the back of the doll before you glue it.

Step 11. Cut the paper for the obijime part

Cut the chiyogami paper 4 cm long and 1 cm wide.

This paper will form the obijime that sits on top of your doll's obi.
Choose a different but still similar patterned paper for this section of the cut.

Step 12. Fold the obijime over the obi

Position the obijime over the obi. Fold the ends so they meet at the back of the doll, then secure with glue or double-sided tape.

Place the obijime around the body in the same way you place the obi.
Note that the obijime should be above the center of the obi.

Step 13. Attach the head to the body

Attach one side of the cardboard head to the visible part of the body using glue or double-sided tape.

Make sure a small part of the body remains visible after you've done this. This small part will be the neck of the doll

Step 14. Make hair out of black cardboard

Cut the bangs out of this cardboard. Cut another black cardboard to form the back of her hair.

You can design the hairstyle according to your wish. Just make sure the bangs and the back part of the hair are slightly wider than the width of the doll's head

Step 15. Attach the hair to the doll's head

Position the bangs above your head and use glue or double-sided tape to attach them. Position the back haircut behind the head and use glue or double-sided tape to attach it.

The back of the hair should flow under the doll's kimono

Step 16. Admire your work

This paper Hina Matsuri doll has been completed.

Method 2 of 2: Wooden Peg Puppet

Step 1. Paint the surface of a small Styrofoam ball

Color it with a solid and even white paint.

The diameter of the ball should be about 3.8 cm, or slightly less than half the length of the clothespin you will use for the doll's body.
Let the paint dry before you continue.
If you don't want to paint the ball, you can wrap it with sewing thread or white nylon thread.

Step 2. Prick the ball

Insert the sharp end of the skewer into one side of the ball.

Choose a skewer that can fit into the slit you will be using.
Insert the skewer halfway into the ball. Do not penetrate to the other side.
Make sure the skewer goes into the ball at a straight angle.
The part of the skewer that comes out of the ball should be about the same length as the tongs. If needed, you can trim them with large scissors or a small saw.

Step 3. Insert the skewer into the tongs gap

Tuck the visible part of the skewer into the tongs gap.

Leave 6 mm of the skewer between the top of the clothespin and the doll's head for the neck.
Ideally, you should get enough pressure to keep the skewer in place. If the skewers will move in the gaps, you can attach them with a small amount of glue. Dry the glue before you continue to make the doll.

Step 4. Cut the black colored crepe paper

Cut one sheet to make the doll's bangs and cut another sheet to make the back of her hair.

The doll's bangs should be wide enough to wrap around half the ball. These bangs should be long enough to pass through the center of the crown of the head to the center of the front of the face.
The back of the hair should be wide enough to wrap around half the ball. The length of this section can be adjusted to your liking.

Step 5. Attach the hair to the head

Coat the entire top of the head with a thin layer of glue. Glue the back of the hair first then the bangs.

This back should start at the top of the head. Glue this strip of black crepe paper over the glue layer on the back of the head. This section of hair will naturally wavy and flow back and away from the body as a result.
Bangs should also start at the top of the head. Attach it with glue on the front of the head and allow it to slightly overlap with the edges of the back of the doll's hair.
Allow the glue to dry before you proceed to making the doll.

Step 6. Prepare the clasps at the base

Insert the bottom of the clothespin with the matching bottom.

This base will ensure the doll can stand upright

Step 7. Roll the cardboard pieces into a tube

Cut a thin cardboard and wrap this piece around the doll's body made of clothespins. Glue the edges and let them dry before you continue.

The cardboard strip should be as long as the total height of the clothespin and the bottom.
The tube should have a diameter that matches the diameter of the bottom of the doll. You should be able to slide the tube into the doll's body from below.

Step 8. Press the top end of the cardboard tube

Use your thumb and index finger to press the top of the tube on both sides of the clip.

The parts of the tube that have been flattened and pressed will form the doll's shoulders. These sections should be positioned under the sides of the head, not under the front and back of the head.
Press only about 2.5 cm of the top. Do not press the entire side of the tube.

Step 9. Remove the cardboard on the front

Cut it carefully to form a small square at the front of the tube.

This square should be as far as the crease marks on your cardboard.
The width of this rectangular section should be about the width of the top of the clothespin.
You can remove this cardboard to make it easier to add a collar to the doll.

Step 10. Make the collar of the doll

Cut long washi paper. Add plain colored origami paper on top of this piece.

This strip of washi paper should be about 3.8 cm wide and about 12.7 cm long.
This strip of plain colored origami paper should be about 6 mm wide and about 12.7 cm long.
Glue plain colored origami paper over the edge of the washi paper. Let it dry before you proceed to making the doll.

Step 11. Attach the collar to the doll

Wrap the collar around the skewer so that the two ends of the collar meet in front of the doll.

The left end of the collar should be folded under the right end to ensure accuracy.
Tuck the left end under the square you cut from the front of the cardboard tube. This will ensure that the collar doesn't shift. Let the right end stick out and attach it with a small amount of glue.

Step 12. Cut two sheets of paper for the collar

Cut two squares from the same washi paper. Both must be twice the length of the body of the clothespin. The width of the two squares should be approximately equal to the length of the clothespin.

Fold the long edges of these two pieces in half. Press firmly. The doll's collar will be made of these two pieces of thick paper

Step 13. Cut a bit around the edges to make the collar shape

Round the bottom inner corner and cut a small portion of the bottom outer corner.

Turn the paper over so that the folded edge is on the left or right side.
Look for the bottom corner of this folded edge. Cut it into a round shape.
Cut a horizontal line on the exposed edge of the paper, about one-third of the way from its top point. This line should be approximately 2.5 cm long.
Cut a diagonal line from the edge in the previous cut, to the bottom corner of the exposed edge. Remove any cut paper as you join the two pieces together.
Complete this step to make both collars.

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

Use glue on the exposed hem of the collar to attach it to the center of the back of the doll. The top edge of the cardboard body will be flush with the top edge of the washi paper collar.

Position the collar paper so that it is under the doll's hair.
Glue the collar on the sides and front of the doll so that it meets the collar that was previously attached. Let the rest hang over the sides of the doll.
Repeat this step for both collars.

Step 15. Cut the paper to make the skirt

Cut another square using the same washi paper. Make sure the paper is long enough to wrap around the bottom of the cardboard tube.

This skirt only needs to be as high/wide as enough to cover the bottom of the folded collar all the way to the bottom of the doll

Step 16. Attach the skirt to the doll's body

Wrap the skirt around the doll's body. Use glue to stick the edges along the left side of the doll.

The visible hem will resemble the fringes of a kimono.
Don't worry if there are still visible gaps between the boxes under the washi paper. The obi will cover it.

Step 17. Cut the paper for the obi part

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

This part of the obi should be wide enough to cover the visible part of the cardboard. If 5 cm is not wide enough, make it wider.
Do not use the same washi paper for the obi. You can use solid colored origami paper or separate washi paper with different patterns.