This time of year we’re all looking for a gift that says “I love you!” more than anything you can buy on Amazon.
These two great gifts are examples of things you can make for your loved ones. At left the College Town Hoodie pattern by Woven Art Yarn Shop and a Know Me hoodie and pullover in fleece.
Handmade gifts to sew and make for your loved ones
Bicycle pant leg wraps – keeps your (wide) pantlegs tight against your leg, and prevents grease from getting on them. My kids like these because with today’s wider pants, they’re having to tuck them into socks. This is a better option! Here’s my tutorial on how to make these, and a pattern you can download. (coming by Thanksgiving 2025)
Journal pen holders – this wraps around any journal and allows you to keep it closed and store two pens in the holder – tutorials for these abound online and it’s a basic sewing project for anyone.
Crescent bag/crossbody bag – I love this Ferris pattern from Sallie Tomato – comes in three sizes from large to small and creates a great crossbody/crescent bag https://www.seamsfabric.com/shop/c/p/Pattern-Fanny-Pack—Ferris-x55172347.htm
Shawl wrap – these are great no-sew options in fleece or boiled wool, and Mood fabrics offers a freebie pattern for them. Great for anyone who wants a stylish wrap to keep warm in at home, the office or in the car. I also love these for girlfriend gifts if you’re doing a gift exchange with friends. https://www.moodfabrics.com/blog/the-elowen-shawl-free-sewing-pattern/?epik=dj0yJnU9bEI3RENpRWVrZUNuaS1XbTkwcS0tMDNCQXp5RzNoWmkmcD0wJm49OUpKWmhDT2FGZ1VRRHI2WFFBa2JLdyZ0PUFBQUFBR2tPT3Fz
Travel laundry bag – I made a set of these for my family last year and they are awesome. You can toss your laundry right in the machine with the bag too (but not IN the bag, though you can do that, I prefer to remove the laundry from the bag first, as it gets cleaner.) The bag instructions are here:
Pajama pants and shorts – I make these every year for my family. I use this pattern for my teens and hubby. https://5outof4.com/free-pajama-pants-for-adults/
Toiletries bag pattern – Here’s a fun one as part of a bundle of gift sewing ideas from HotPatterns https://www.etsy.com/listing/1831024093/sewing-pattern-bundle-hobo-bag-jewelry?ref=shop_home_active_7&dd=1&logging_key=ebc0ffe16542c952e04f74452bb02f542c5c136e%3A1831024093
Jewelry roll pattern – same set of bundle sewing pattern gifts: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1831024093/sewing-pattern-bundle-hobo-bag-jewelry?ref=shop_home_active_7&dd=1&logging_key=ebc0ffe16542c952e04f74452bb02f542c5c136e%3A1831024093
Big Scarves in Fancy Fabrics – A great gift is to sew big scarves in fancy fabrics – these oversized scarves are great to add some style to anyone’s basic winter coat – my kids say scarves are “bougie”. I love velour or velvet, lined with satin, but you can also use cotton or cotton flannel on both sides with light batting or fluffy interfacing in between to create a quilted scarf too. I have added ribbon to the bottom of the scarves, or tassels but that’s not necessary for a basic scarf. I generally make them 18″ wide x however long you want to (usually enough to wrap around the neck and hang down to the waist). Sew two fabrics, right side together, leaving an opening of about 2″ on one end. Turn right side out, press and slip stitch the opening closed. Optional: quilt the top with freeform stitching, big box stitching or other patterns as you like (if you’ve made a cotton quilted scarf.) Great prints, velvet, satin make wonderful big scarves.
Did your grandma make knitted slippers for everyone? I have searched everywhere for the slippers my grandma made us. These are pretty close: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUI1x-RuOM4
A great accessory to sew for outdoorsy or travel enthusiasts is the packable jacket and vest bag. Many of us have jackets that are “packable” but the jacket didn’t come with the ability to pack into a pocket or into a bag – you can sew bags like this, attach them using a small carabiner + D-ring clip to one of the pocket zipper pulls, and slip them inside a pocket when zipped up. To pack a jacket into these, fold the jacket in thirds: sleeves, then body, then roll up the jacket from the bottom and stash in the bag. Thrift stores have TONS of thinner fleece or down vests and “packable” style jackets – if they have a logo on it you don’t want, a patch sewn over it makes a great personalization item. You can order tons of patches online or at your local stores – sports stores, sewing stores and college stores sell patches to sew on bags and coats.
Thrift store and local store gift ideas:
For the tea enthusiast – a vintage teapot, a tea strainer, a couple of pretty towels, a basket. Add in some tea from your favorite local specialty retailer.
For the coffee enthusiast – a new insulated tumbler, decorate with stickers from your favorite local retailer, add in specialty coffee and some of the fun flavored syrups and a can of whipped cream if your giftee likes fancy coffee. I usually put them in a basket that doubles as a coffee basket for their countertop at home
If they love to cook or bake – my favorite are spices from Penzys, and I also add in an item from the thrift store – a new baking pan, or cookie cutters. Things like bundt cake pans, mini loaf pans, cookie cutters and the like are abundant at thrift stores. Put them in a big bowl and wrap them up with the spices you’ve chosen. If you’re going for a foodie gift, a lot of local retailers have spice sections too, and you can shop for spices and ingredients there too.
For the crafter – I find lovely craft books at our library bookstore, and I add in craft supplies from the thrift store. Yes, your crafter has lots of stuff, so you might also consider baskets or storage containers for organizing their stuff (thrift stores often have lots of baskets which are great storage for craft items like yarn and fabric, thread and needles.)
For the reader – Besides whatever novel from their favorite author that’s new (go to a local indie bookstore for this!) you can make bookmarks from all sorts of things – the folded paper corner ones are fun (and there are lots of tutorials online for making them into animals or other origami shapes.) It’ll keep them from using whatever receipt they have hanging around as a bookmark!
Make up some portable /analog craft kits – a set of colored pencils and a small pad of nice drawing paper or a journal, some embroidery thread and fabric, yarn and needles in a small bag (hand sewn) make great “on the go” or “analog” project kits. Beading kits, embroidery, knitting and crochet are all great ideas and the smaller quantities of materials at thrift stores is a great way to do this. Sharpen all the pencils if you’re gifting colored pencils (have seen GIANT bags at thrift stores!) and include a pencil sharpener. I usually include a cup or mug to hold the pencils in. A plastic tumbler works really well for pencils and the thrift stores are overrun with them.
For outdoorsy folks, a parking pass to your local parks system is a great gift – include some trail snack packs for their backpack or daypack and a thrifted water bottle with stickers on it personalized to your recipient.
Give the gift of experiences – including ones that cost ZERO but are very popular!
I have long given coupons to my family and they do redeem them, especially my “acts of service” kid – here’s a link to them. https://marketingacuity.com/experience-gift-card-printables/