Fabric Gift Projects
Four Hand-Sewing Stitches for Handmade Gifts
Running stitch, backstitch, whipstitch and blanket stitch: what each one is for, how the thread travels, and how to start and finish so the stitching holds.
Gift Tutorials
30 tutorials published
Personalized Gift Ideas
How to Wrap a Handmade Gift: Presentation, Tags, and Care Notes
Wrapping methods for handmade items, from kraft paper and twine to a knotted fabric square, plus what to write on the tag and in a short care note.
Easy Handmade Gifts
Handmade Gift Supplies: A Basic Kit for Paper and Fabric Projects
A starter kit for paper and fabric gifts: two pairs of scissors, measuring tools, needles and thread, three glues and a few basic materials, plus what can wait.
Easy Handmade Gifts
Handmade Gift Ideas for Beginners: How to Choose a First Project
Pick a first handmade gift by the skill you want to practice, the tools you already own and how the finished item will be used.
Holiday Gift Ideas
Felt Heart Pocket: A Valentine’s Day Gift That Holds a Note
Two felt hearts stitched together around the lower edge form an open-topped pocket for a folded handwritten note or a small card.
Holiday Gift Ideas
Felt Christmas Ornaments: Stars, Trees, and Mittens to Sew by Hand
Three two-layer felt ornaments, a star, a tree and a mitten, decorated on the front, joined with blanket stitch and lightly stuffed.
Seasonal Handmade Gifts
Handmade Gift Ideas by Season: What to Make and When to Start
A season-by-season overview of small handmade gifts, with planning habits for drying stages, test pieces and batch work.
Seasonal Handmade Gifts
Felt Leaf Garland: A Fall Decoration to Give
Cut felt leaves from three paper templates, stitch a centre vein on each and fasten them along twine for a garland about 5 ft (1.5 m) long.
Seasonal Handmade Gifts
Handmade Seed Packets: A Spring Gift for Gardeners
Fold small paper envelopes from one simple template, fill them with seeds and label each one with the plant name, variety, year and sowing information.
Fabric Gift Projects
Pocket Tissue Holder: A Quick Fabric Gift from Two Rectangles
Sew a fabric sleeve for a travel pack of tissues from an outer rectangle and a slightly longer lining, with a contrast band along the center opening.
Fabric Gift Projects
Envelope Pillow Cover: A Beginner Sewing Gift with No Zipper
Sew a pillow cover from one front square and two hemmed back rectangles that overlap to form the opening, with cutting sizes for 16, 18 and 20 in forms.
Fabric Gift Projects
How to Sew a Drawstring Gift Bag from Cotton Fabric
Sew a cotton drawstring bag from one folded rectangle: two side seams with casing gaps, a folded channel at the top and a cord threaded with a safety pin, in three sizes.
Paper Gift Projects
Handmade Stationery Set: Note Cards and Matching Envelopes
Cut and score six note cards from cardstock, fold six envelopes from paper squares and bundle them with a paper band as a matching stationery set.
Paper Gift Projects
How to Make a Paper Gift Bag from Wrapping Paper
Turn a rectangle of sturdy wrapping or kraft paper into a flat-bottomed gift bag with creased gussets, knotted handles and a cardstock base, in three sizes.
Paper Gift Projects
Accordion Photo Book: A Folded Paper Keepsake
Fold one long strip of heavy paper into equal panels, glue it between two paper-covered boards and add a ribbon tie to make a small photo book that stands open in a zigzag.