The Perfect DIY Gifts for Everyone in Your Life

We all have that one person in our life that has a different bag for every day of the month. And we can do one of two things:

1. We can cut them off (which is rude.)

2. Or we can gift them something that we know they will love and use all the time. That is where our bag tutorials come in handy. Over the years we have done more than 20 different bag and accessories tutorials with patterns that can be downloaded for FREE. So download your favorite one, or one you think would be perfect for your loved one and get to sewing!

Here’s just a taste of the bag tutorials we offer.

Whether your friend is a full out tree hugger or just expressed that they would like to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, these tutorials will get you on your way to being the best gift giver of the year.

Start by thinking about your receptacle of giving. We have two really good options that can not only be used as the gift bag but also can be used in their everyday life –

• This reusable market bag makes a great gift bag and is perfect for eco-friendly shopping because it can be used hundreds of times.
• Or this reusable produce bag. Granted this one doesn’t do a great job hiding the contents inside but I wanted to give you another option in case your friend has tons of reusable bags already.

Now for the goodies inside. These DIY’s all are meant to be used in the kitchen and are aimed at making your carbon footprint and trash heap smaller. Two or three of these projects inside of a bag makes for a really killer DIY eco-friendly gift.

• My favorite project ever: the reusable microwave popcorn bag. Seriously this bag is so cool and it makes really yummy popcorn in your microwave without making large amounts of trash like typical microwave popcorn.
• On to dish covering. These reusable dish covers and beeswax food wraps are really great in place of plastic wrap or tin foil, effectively reducing plastic waste and garbage in general. Making the dish covers with fully cotton materials makes them microwavable so that’s an added bonus.
• And lastly, a reusable dish scrubbie that can be washed in the dishwasher or washing machine. It is a little more coarse than a regular sponge making it great for the really baked on messes but won’t be too abrasive to scratch your kitchenware.

My apologizes in advance, because this section is a little biased towards dogs BUT I will start with our tutorial for all the little kitties in our lives and then move onto our puppers.

• There is nothing cat people love more than seeing their kittens go crazy for catnip. But giving someone catnip alone is a little boring. So, we made a catnip blanket that is not only a great way to give the cat catnip, but also gives them something to snuggle with.
• Now, for the pupper dogs. This year, we made a few different types of dog toys. This stuffed dog toy is super cute, and you can even add a squeaker or water bottle for sounds that any dog would love. (NOTE: make sure you take off the cap and the plastic ring if you do use a bottle.) The second toy is a little more heavy duty and is great for hours of tug of war. This nylon dog toy can be made into a few different shapes. Mine are about 6 months old at this point but they still look brand new (even with three dogs) so they would make a great gift.
• Lastly, we have made a few dog beds over the years that are each unique in their own way. This no sew fleece bed is a super easy no sew project. This simple dog bed is great because it’s super durable and can be easily made to fit in some really specific spaces. So if your friend’s dog likes to sleep between the couch and the window, you are going to have to sneakily measure the space, but imagine how excited your friend will be when you give them such a personalized and thoughtful gift.

There’s nothing the matriarch wants more than a homemade gift from you this holiday season. Trust me. So here’s a few really stellar ideas that can be made in just an afternoon.

• Anti-chafing bands. Need I say more? Do the world a favor and make a pair for every woman you know because, gosh darn it, they deserve it.
• Now moving on to health and beauty. These roll up pillowcases that we made out of charmeuse are still the best thing I have done for my hair in a long time. I don’t wake up to knots or funky bed head anymore. You can make the pillowcase out of another material, but I highly recommend the charmeuse.
• Décor – we like it, we love it, we want some more of it. If your special lady has a shabby chic theme going on, this burlap pillow is a total crowd pleaser. We made ours with a heart (for valentines day) but you could make yours into any shape, letter, number, whatever! It’s cute, it’s easy, it’s a gift from the heart and she’s gonna love it.
• Does your mom love to cook or garden? Well do we have the perfect gift for you. This gardening apron and oilcloth apron are really useful when you are performing your preferred hobby and who doesn’t love having a few extra pockets?
• Now you may be thinking – “Well all that would be great Alyssa, but I don’t know how to sew. And I can’t very well ask my grandmother to make her own gift.” But don’t worry, I didn’t forget about you. Find a list of things you can get for your grandma to add to her sewing kit here. They are super helpful, not very expensive, and really revolutionize the whole sewing process. So, you’re welcome.

Whether he shows it or not, he is a sucker for the sentimental things in life. So, a homemade gift is going to be his favorite gift of the season.

• Is he a sports guy? Make him a stadium cushion with fabric from his favorite sports team, which you can find here.
• Does he like to get all dressed up? Make him a neck tie for every day of the week or a bow tie to spice up his wardrobe a little bit.
• If all else fails, there is no better gift to give than pajamas on the holidays. They will keep you warm and they’re just so comfy cozy for those nights with the family spent sitting around enjoying time with one another.

Skip the electronics this year, they have enough of them. Here are a few DIY gifts for kids that will really spark their imagination.

• A balloon animal stuffy was one of the many projects I made that I re-gifted and I am so glad that I did because the child I gave it to still plays with it on a daily basis. He got two of them and one he asked to have deconstructed so now he is able to make his own balloon animal creations. It is a really great way to get kids to think spatially while getting their creative juices flowing.
• Speaking of creativity, you can never go wrong with this cape and mask set. This one is great for siblings because it is easy to make and will provide hours of good old fashion play time.
• If you want something that will grow with them as they do, try this knotted throw pillow or a reversible sequin pillow. Both are texturally and tactically interesting and will be a great addition to any reading corner.

We all have that one friend, and if you can’t think of one, then you are that person. So do them (or yourself) a favor and give them one of these fuzzy and warm DIY gifts.

• These sherpa slippers are my favorite house shoes. Just trust me on this one. 10/10 would recommend for cold feet.
• You could also make them a super warm matching mitten and hat set for those blustery winter days when you have to shovel some snow.
• For all over body warmth, make them a faux fur blanket. Be prepared to not want to give it up though, I sure didn’t and I sleep with mine every night. Or try a no-sew fleece tie blanket which is the #1 gift we see people making with our fabric. No sewing machine required and you get to choose from all sorts of fun fleece patterns, which you can find here.

Last, but certainly not least are our tech savvy friends. And what better way to celebrate them this holiday season than by giving them the gift of stylish tech accessories.

• This envelope clutch is great for tablets or laptops and is stylish while adding a layer of protection for their expensive electronics.
• Are they the artsy techie type?  Make them a camera strap out of a beautiful fabric that will bring a little personality to their camera.

We would love to know!