What to sew for teachers?

The end of the school year is approaching, and it’s often a time when students like to give a little token of appreciation to their teacher. That said, this time of year can quickly become a headache for parents looking for the perfect gift, one that breaks away from the traditional mug or box of chocolates. While it’s the thought that counts, when a gift has a personal touch, that’s what makes it unique. It’s therefore obvious that a handmade gift becomes the ultimate present, especially if the children were involved in the creative process by choosing the project or fabric, for example. To inspire you, I’m offering ten sewing gift ideas for teachers.

 

A decorative banner

If you haven’t noticed already,a decorative banner patternis available for free on theNon Non Ouiwebsite. It’s a lovely gift to give so the teacher can decorate their classroom the following year. You can personalize your banner with heat transfer vinyl or even with a drawing your child makes on it. To make this project, you will need woven fabric (linen or quilt cotton are good options), cord, and a wooden dowel (available at hardware stores, among others).

 

A keychain

Since teachers often carry different keys with them and they are 'the key' to your children's success, a handmade keychain is always a great option. The kind that goes around the wrist is always well appreciated. NON NON OUI also offers a tutorialright here. To make this gift, you will need woven fabric, interfacing, and a carabiner.

 

.

A scrunchieFor female teachers with longer hair, scrunchies are always appreciated because the school environment often makes it preferable to tie hair back, especially in elementary school. Although many free tutorials and patterns can be easily found online, Frédérique Morin shared a pattern and tutorial in the shop’s group. To make it, you will need fabric of your choice (knit fabrics can also work) and .

 

elastic

.A bookmarkMany teachers are fans of stationery and/or reading. A bookmark can be a lovely gift. The free pattern from

 

Made for Mermaids

is a great option since it can hold two pencils inside. I can easily picture this little bookmark paired with a notebook or a beautiful card made by the child. Since it only requires a small amount of woven fabric and a tiny bit of elastic bias, it can be a nice low-cost option.A cardholderOne of the easy options that always pleases is, of course, a gift card. The teacher can then treat themselves to an item they choose. However, it’s not the most original or personalized gift. To fix that, you can sew a small pouch to hold the card. This pouch could then be reused to hold other cards, tissues, or even stickers. The blog You make it Simple offers a free pattern and tutorial. To make your project, you will need woven fabric. The coloring cotton drawn by the child could be a great way to personalize this gift even more (it could also be used for other projects like the keychain, for example). You will also need interfacing for better structure and snap buttons. If you want to add a small carabiner to the pouch so it can be attached to a bag, for example, Made for Mermaids offers a

 

free pattern

that can serve the same function.A book pouchRequiring roughly the same materials as the cardholder but in a size that can hold a book, a book pouch can be a lovely gift for teachers who usually enjoy reading. If that’s not the case, this pouch could still be used for other purposes. Again, Made for Mermaids offers a free pattern. If you prefer a more padded vertical model, this free option can also be interesting. I imagine it well in quilted cotton. You will need a

 

button

and elastic to close it.A placematWhen I saw the quilted cottons or even the oilcloth, I immediately thought of making a placemat that can be rolled up to put in a lunchbox. If you want to make a model with a pocket for utensils, Aude Couture offers a free pattern and tutorial on her YouTube channel. To make it, besides the fabrics, you will need bias tape, a zipper. at least 11 inches long, and a ribbon or cord to create the tie. For more structure, you can add

 

interfacing

. If the project seems too ambitious, you can always make a placemat by cutting two rectangles of your chosen size, sewing them right sides together leaving a gap to turn the fabric. Once you turn the fabric right side out, just topstitch all around to close the opening and add a nice finish to your placemat.A storage boxWhile researching, I discovered the YouTube channel Le monde de Mélou. Many very interesting sewing projects are presented there, and the one that caught my attention for teacher gifts is the multi-purpose storage box. It’s a perfect gift to store all the little accessories that often clutter teachers’ desks. To make it, you will need woven fabric, thick interfacing

 

, and

lighter interfacing.A tote bagTeachers are known for carrying a lot of materials. Whether for books or stacks of grading, a large tote bag is a wonderful gift to give. Made for Mermaids once again offers a free pattern, but if you want to invest time and money, the Bookish Tote by CraftOwlHandMade on Etsy is a nice, more elaborate option. To make this kind of bag, you will need canvas, straps

 

, and a

carabiner if you want to add a key holder inside the bag. Interfacing your fabric will give the bag more structure.A pencil caseMany teachers really like having different pencils for grading or annotating their materials. Having different cases to store them all is always welcome. With a little research, it’s easy to find many free tutorials available on YouTube. Double cases are often well appreciated. The pattern offered by Nathalie Couture Easy seems interesting, as does the one offered by Madalena Couture. In both cases, you will need woven fabric. Canvas

 

can be a great option to add more durability to the product. For more structure, it would be wise to interface everything with the interfacing of your choice. Thicker interfacing will make the case hold its shape better. You will also need two 30-centimeter zippers.

Don’t hesitate to check the free pattern sections of your favorite companies or search for sewing tutorials on YouTube to find more inspiring ideas. In conclusion, as a teacher myself, I can tell you that what’s most important is the recognition behind the little gifts. The amount spent doesn’t matter, and your kind words often have the greatest value. Also, if you’re interested in sewing your gifts for teachers but would like support in your creative process, know that

sewing classes