3 Christmas Ideas for the Crafty

I love giving thoughtful gifts to my loved ones for the holidays, but like many, I often struggle not to break the bank doing so. But struggle no more. I’ve found that making my own gifts is not only cheaper, but often genuinely more appreciated by the recipient. These gifts are inexpensive, easy to make, and sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

 For the Kind of Crafty: Embroider Anything!

If you’re not a full-fledged craft addict, or don’t have much time to spend creating a fully handmade gift, embroidery is a great way to personalize a present. What’s even better is there are endless things you can embroider: a pillowcase, a tote bag, a tea towel, or maybe a pocket square. Basically, if it’s made of fabric you can embroider it. There are only a few materials required and it is an easy skill to pick up. If you’ve never embroidered before, I found this basic instruction guide very straightforward (http://www.instructables.com/id/Embroidery-101/). I recommend choosing a simple design if this is your first attempt. Monogrammed initials or something involving simple shapes is a great jumping off point.

For the Semi-Crafty: A Zip-Up Bag

A while back I found some fabric that I knew my best friend would love. There wasn’t much left of it and it was somewhat expensive. But I knew I had to figure out some way to use it. I ended up making her a super simple, small zip-up bag. She loved it and now uses it as her cosmetic bag. A design like this is great because, really it can be used for anything: pencils, makeup, jewelry, coins, you name it. You get to pick some fabric you think your recipient will love, and it doesn’t take much time to make.

If you are new to sewing or only really have to basics down I would follow this tutorial (http://www.momtastic.com/diy/126139-diy-oilcloth-zippered-pencil-case/). The instructions call for oilcloth, which is a great, durable material for these types of bags but any type of thick cotton will work just fine.

If your sewing skills are more advanced this tutorial is great and a little more detailed (http://sayyestohoboken.com/2012/04/diy-mini-boxy-makeup-bag.html).

For the Ultra Crafty: An Infinity Dress

If you haven’t seen this dress before, let me explain. Basically, it consists of a circle skirt on the bottom and two long thick straps up top. The straps aren’t connected, which allow you to wrap and twist them any way you like. You can make it one-shouldered, strapless, or even short-sleeved.

This dress takes a bit more time and effort than the other two projects. It will also be a little more expensive because it requires a relatively large amount of a specific fabric, but the dress itself isn’t all that hard to make. I made this myself about a year ago and still wear it all the time. I used this tutorial (http://sewlikemymom.com/little-red-infinity-dress-tutorial/), which worked great for me. The dress is so comfy and you can’t really get bored of it.

Well there you have it. I hope my ideas have either inspired you to start one of these projects or create one of your own. If you have any homemade gifts you’re working on or that have been a hit in the past, please share! Happy sewing and Happy Christmas!