Last Minute Handmade Gifts

There are 2 weeks left until Christmas and suddenly that wonderful idea you had of making handmade gifts for everyone has turned into a nightmare (been there). Well don’t worry, there are still some different options to add a wonderful handmade touch to holidays this year! So without further ado, here are my top 10 recommendations for last minute handmade gifts: 

1. Pillowcases: Anyone who has made a burrito style pillowcase knows that these are easy to make but come out looking fantastic. This is a practical gift (who doesn’t use pillowcases?) that anyone can use. You have tons of options to customize what you are making with playful prints for kids, more subtle colors for the adults or even sets themed to different seasons. As an added bonus, pillowcases make fantastic gift bags for wrapping some of those more awkwardly shaped items. 

2. No Sew Folded Star: This is my top pick if you want to involve any family members who don’t sew ,or if you really need to pack away your sewing machine (house guests and holiday parties can really eat into your sewing space). These can be made using some of your fabric scraps and used as ornaments, small hostess gifts and more. If you avoid Christmas colors they can absolutely be kept up year round and are perfect for adding to your holiday cards (New Year’s cards are a thing) for family and friends you won’t be able to see in person. 

3. Piecekeeper: This is one of my favorite By Annie patterns and it’s free (it’s part of the introduction series that teaches you the skills for her other patterns). It takes a few hours to make but if you want to make several, making them assembly line style works really well. The best part is that this is an incredibly practical gift that looks great and any crafter is going to love. 

4. Petit Four Baskets: Another By Annie pattern and again part of that free series, these little baskets are great for desk and drawer organizers (imagine being able to find things in the junk drawer!). For the holidays I love using them as part of the wrapping, just think of sending out one filled with cookies, or chocolates. 

5. Easy Does It Zipper Pouch: This is the last By Annie pattern in the list (and yes it is also part of the free introduction series). This item will probably take the longest out of everything on the list to make but it can still be done in an afternoon or evening. I like these because they are easy to personalize and, again, can be a great part of the wrapping themselves. 

6. Wallet: A simple wallet is a great option for elevating a gift card. Now don’t get me wrong I think gift cards on their own are perfectly acceptable and sometimes even preferable for gifts, but it can be nice to add a little something extra to them to make them a little more personal. 

7. Book or Journal Cover: This is another great option for personalizing a gift. Make a unique book cover for, and give it along with, a book to the recipient. Perfect for anyone in your life who is a big reade,r or if your book club does a holiday gift exchange. 

8. Bookmarks: Any even simpler option than the last one, this is perfect for small gifts and extras. (And again, they pair really well with a book!) These are also fun to make and don’t have to be any particular size, so you really can experiment. 

9. Apron: A simple apron can be a great gift for anyone who does a lot of cooking, baking, painting, or even gardening (just remember if you are doing pockets to make them size appropriate!) It can also be a great option to add to a few purchased items if you want to create a more personalized gift bag. 

10. Tea Towels: Another practical gift that can be personalized for the recipient. I also really like this option because they can double as wrapping. If you look at Furoshiki, a type of traditional Japanese fabric wrapping, it will take you down a fantastic rabbit hole of tutorials on all different ways to use fabric wrappings. 

As you can see, there are a lot of different last minute options still available to add that personal homemade touch to your gifts this holiday season. And just remember, if it doesn’t work for this year, you can always start planning for next year and take advantage of those post holiday sales!