Sewing Christmas gifts for beginners
Are you new to sewing and want to impress your family and friends with 100% handmade Christmas gifts?
Here are a few ideas for making useful, easy-to-assemble objects, to delight your loved ones with a unique, personal creation.
A hand-sewn fanny pack
The fanny pack is the must-have accessory of recent years. It’s a versatile object that appeals to all ages, children and adults alike.
Some patterns, which include inside pockets or bias binding, can be a little tricky for sewing beginners.
We’ve designed the Simplo model to simplify the process as much as possible. By taking your time and following each step carefully, you’ll be able to make a pretty banana even if you’re a beginner. Along the way, you’ll learn how to fit a zipper and assemble a bag loop on a strap.
To sew a fanny pack, it’s best to choose a fabric that’s fairly dry and stiff, such as upholstery fabric, sturdy denim, canvas… You can also opt for cotton and stiffen it with iron-on. Or choose a quilted fabric for an original touch.
Try to think of colors and patterns that will appeal to the person who’s going to receive it, and take good care of the finishing touches by selecting a pretty lining and a matching or contrasting zipper, depending on the effect chosen.
A unique tote bag
The tote bag is easy to sew and easy to personalize. Simply use 2 rectangles of fabric, sew on patches, choose a contrasting thread for the stitching, embroider a first name or phrase, appliqué shapes…
You can follow Miss Cactus’s pattern to learn a very useful technique: English sewing. It’s a quick and easy way to get clean seams and finishes, without the need for surfacing or lining.
Wipes to help you go zero-waste
Washable wipes or paper towels are great for reducing waste and for practicing on your sewing machine. They also make great Christmas gifts, wrapped in a pretty furoshiki fabric or a small reusable pouch.
You can follow Miss Cactus’s pattern to sew two-sided wipes that come in glove form and are therefore particularly practical: one side is for removing make-up, the other for drying the skin.
For this project, you’ll need terry cloth (preferably organic) and cotton for the lining. If you’re giving this gift to someone you know, try to think of the color of their bathroom to try and match the colors. You can also choose a print that the person likes.
If you prefer to make paper towels for the kitchen, the Oups pattern lets you sew two-sided squares with a hook system. Here again, try to think of the colors of the person’s kitchen. It would be a shame to make a mistake in taste!
An apron for the kitchen
Do you have a loved one who loves to cook? Then look no further: the apron is the ideal gift. Like the tote bag, it’s very easy to personalize by carefully choosing the fabric, adding contrasting or original bias strips (imitation leather, sequins…), embroidering a few words in stem stitch, adding pockets for a wooden spoon or potholder…
And it’s not difficult to sew: no zipper or buttonhole to add. You do, however, need to attach a bias binding to the back of the apron. Just take your time and pin everything carefully to get through this more complex stage.
You can follow the free pattern from Tissus Price, which accompanies each step with an explanatory drawing.
Eco-friendly darlings
The scrunchy is very easy to sew using recycled fabrics. A great opportunity to make a handmade, eco-friendly gift using theupcycling technique.
All you have to do is look in your closet for old sheets, pants or blouses you no longer wear. Then cut out rectangles 50 centimetres long and 15 centimetres wide. Then grab a flat elastic band and follow our homemade tutorial!
You can plan to make assortments of scrunchies for several people and assemble them with a ribbon or slip them into a small bag.
What about you? Do you usually give self-made Christmas gifts? Would you like to take the plunge this year?
