It’s that time of year. December is here, the stores are jam-packed with shoppers and you’re rushing to fill your online cart before the Christmas shipping cut-off date. Trust us, we’ve been there. If you hate the stress holiday shopping can bring, then you don’t want to miss our list of incredibly fun Christmas gifts to sew. This list of fun and thoughtful homemade gifts is ideal for unwinding in your sewing space after a long day.
Our list of DIY gift ideas is the perfect way to add a homemade touch to your gift giving with presents that are made to last and personalized to the recipient. We’ve included a variety of patterns for friends, family and even your dog! Don’t settle for store-bought and create treasured gifts that will be cherished for years to come.
- Tickled Pink Embroidery Eye Mask – Featured in last December’s issue, this darling embroidered eye mask pattern is a great gift for your mom, MIL, or sister who could use some serious down time. Designed by Sophie Tarrant, this eye mask pattern features a field of embroidered stars and an adorable half-moon. This easy sewing pattern uses fat quarters in shades of petal pink and has an elastic band to keep the wearer’s eye mask secure.
- Nordic Skies Quilted Bag Pattern – Perfect for the fashionista in your life, this quilted bag pattern is made with intermediate quilters and sewists in mind. Designed with fat quarters in vibrant shades of blue, this handbag sewing pattern is finished with Scandinavian-inspired trim and sleek metal hoops for straps. This modern bag pattern is a charming addition to your bestie’s favorite evening ensemble and is designed to comfortably hold essentials like a phone, wallet and keys. You can find Janice Bailor’s bag pattern in our January 2023 issue.
- Opal Evening Double Wedding Ring Quilt Pattern – Alright quilting over-achievers! Have we got a pattern for you! This gorgeous double wedding ring quilt pattern is a heartfelt gift for the newlyweds in your life and is a great pattern to show off the happy couple’s wedding colors. Designed by Zoe Ballard for February 2023, this intermediate quilt pattern finishes at a 72” square, so it can easily be displayed as a bed quilt, folded over a blanket ladder or hung as a statement piece of wall art.
- Paw-sitively Gorgeous Dog Collar Set – Your fur babies deserve presents from Santa, too! Designed by Debbie von Grabler-Crozier (March 2023), this sewing pattern for dogs includes a leash, collar and waste bag holder, so that your pup can look fabulous out on their daily walks. Finish your set with some beautiful hardware in luxe gold. This pattern is perfect for the animal lover in your life and is easy to tailor to different dog sizes.
- Garden Walk Spring Sheet Quilt – To say we’re a little obsessed with Stephanie Woodson’s sheet quilt is an understatement. This upcycled quilt pattern graced our April 2023 cover and is a wonderful project for quilting beginners. We love the idea of turning this scrappy quilt into a memory quilt, made using sheets or similar materials from loved ones.
- Weekend Wanderings Duffle Bag – Make this chic and stylish duffle bag for the frequent traveler in your life! This roomy travel bag pattern from Don Morin (May 2023) is a great project for intermediate sewists and features outer and inner zippered compartments for extra storage space. Perfect for the man in your life that’s hard to shop for (hello, Dad!), this thoughtful and useful Christmas gift idea is sure to be a favorite.
- Snack Time Reusable Sandwich Bags – Help the mom in your life stress less with a great gift idea that’s both pretty and practical. These reusable sandwich bags from designer Meg Healy can be found in our June 2023 issue and are an eco-friendly option that moms on the go will love. Designed for sandwiches, snacks and other travel-friendly treats, these reusable bags feature easy-to-clean vinyl.
- State Fair Felt Food Ornaments – These playful felt ornaments are exactly the right gift for friends and co-workers. Made in ice cream, hamburger and corn-on-the-cob designs, these Christmas ornament patterns from Rebecca George are a fun hand sewing project that lets you use up felt scraps in your fabric stash. Whip up an entire food court of delectable décor in an afternoon with these DIY ornaments.
- Purr-fectly Pink Kids’ Backpack Pattern – My niece would absolutely adore receiving her own kitty backpack! This kids’ backpack pattern from Sophie Tarrant (August 2023) is sure to be a huge hit with your little ones and is made using ultra soft faux fur fabric. This sewing pattern is aimed at elementary school children and is large enough to hold their favorite books, writing gear and other school essentials.
- Classic Leather Men’s Wallet Pattern – Designed by Don Morin for our September 2023 issue, this sleek and stylish men’s wallet pattern is a homemade gift that Dad or your hubby will love. This men’s sewing pattern can be made with either real or faux leather and features card holders and a zippered section to hold coins. If the man in your life is impossible to shop for, then you can’t go wrong with this handmade wallet.
- Nightfall Embroidery Blazer Refashion – This is one project that our editors wanted to keep for themselves! Designer Olu Falola’s embroidered blazer (October 2023) is a fashion-forward gift that your sister or bestie would love. An elegant statement piece for the wearer’s wardrobe, this refashioning project lets you save major money while creating an expensive-looking garment. Thrifters everywhere will love this easy embroidery project.
- Smoky Skies Wonky Star Irish Chain Quilt Pattern – And finally, gracing last month’s November cover is Megan Farrell’s wonky star quilt pattern! This beautiful winter quilt pattern is a breathtaking gift for your favorite person and is sure to be a treasured heirloom for future generations. Make your Irish chain quilt in deep, rich jewel tones to highlight the intricacies of this lovely quilt design.