5 handmade sewing gift ideas for the holidays

Give a handmade gift to your hosts for Christmas

Holidays mean dinners with family and friends. And when you receive an invitation, it’s always a win not to show up empty-handed. In that sense, what better than using our passion for sewing to please our hosts?Here are 5 ideas for small handmade gifts to give during the holiday season.

Fabric plant pot cover — Perfect to accompany a festive plant

Giving a plant to our hosts, whether a poinsettia or a pot of herbs, is always a thoughtful gesture.And it will look even nicer with a hand-sewn plant pot cover that can be reused afterwards. The shop NON NON OUI also offers a free pattern to make this project. It can be made with woven fabrics like canvas or linen. A lining in oilcloth could even make it waterproof. A finish with pom-pom trim will give an extra personalized touch to your creation.

Insulated trivet — Ideal for hot dishes on the buffet

If you want to sew a useful gift for the Christmas buffet, one option is the trivet. It will be perfect for placing the bowl of little bacon-wrapped sausages, still piping hot. To make it, you will need woven cotton or canvas and an interfacing. For an optimal result, you can also choose a lining with insulation.  Made for Mermaids even offers a free pattern that includes a small handle for handling hot dishes. For a simpler version, you can cut two squares to the dimensions you want, fuse interfacing to one, and sew the sides right sides together leaving an opening to turn it. Finish by topstitching one centimeter from the edge to complete the project. To add extra finish, you can topstitch to create a quilted effect, add aromatic herbs inside, or add a ribbon to your seam to create a small handle.

Wine bottle bag — Elegant and reusable

If you plan to bring a bottle of wine, dressing it in a pretty reusable bag can also be a lovely idea. You can find different patterns with a tutorial quite easily by searching online. To make this kind of project, you can use cotton, poplin, or canvas that you should fuse with an interfacing of a certain thickness.

Small pouch — The all-purpose gift

Who can ever have too many small pouches? Certainly not me! It’s the kind of gift your host will definitely find useful. Whether to store chip clips, hold the names for a gift draw, or for any other need, it will make people happy. If you don’t already know, the always-ready pouch or the banana-bread pouch are available for free on the online shop. The triangoli case can also be a nice option. If installing a zipper scares you, there is also the option of making a drawstring pouch. All of these pouches are made with woven fabrics like quilting cotton, canvas, or poplin. If you want your pouch to be somewhat waterproof, oilcloth is ideal for the lining. 

Decorative hand towel — Practical and festive

Another option is to give a pretty hand towel that hangs from the oven handle, for example. This way, guests can use it throughout the evening to dry their hands. To make it, you can use a towel you already have at home, but terry knit or waffle cotton can yield a beautiful result. The top part can be made with the woven cotton of your choice. If you don’t have buttons on hand, you can use this tutorial. Alternatively, you can also use this free pattern.

A few other equally inspiring extras  

As I found other interesting ideas while researching, I’m sharing them with you as well.

• Card holders: If your hosts are card game lovers and several games are planned during the holidays, you could sew holders to keep the cards using this free pattern.
• Cooking apron: If they are great cooks, the option of sewing them an apron can also be appealing. This blog post from Peek-a-Boo offers several options.
• Tissue pouch: And if you have a little cold during your visits, be prepared and make your hosts a tissue pouch. Again, you can find several tutorials easily by doing a quick internet search.
• Bowl cover in fabric: The bowl cover idea can also be useful. Since Christmas buffets often end with many leftovers, it can be very practical. It’s a rather simple project to make that can be done with various woven fabrics and an elastic. To help you with the making, you can use this tutorial or use this free pattern. Note that for an optimal result, a lining with a fabric certified “food grade” is recommended. Otherwise, a lining in organic cotton can also be a good choice.

In summary

These holiday sewing projects are:

• easy to make, even with leftover fabrics
• useful and eco-friendly
• perfect for hosts or teachers

I hope this article inspires you for your next sewing projects. These ideas can also be very useful for teacher gifts to sew. Wishing you a joyful holiday season!

XOXO

Julie