Christmas gift ideas
 

Ladies......
Please share your Christmas gift ideas! I need to come up with something for my sister-in-law. I've made her totes, quilts (both regular and rag), and small storage containers.

She is alone and doesn't decorate for the holidays. So a tree skirt or something holiday related is out.

Her kitchen table is oval. I thought about something for the center of it. She does have a coffee table. Hmmm......maybe a table runner. Ok, so her kitchen table is close to the coffee table. If I did something like those choices do you think they should match?

The bowl cozies are something she wants to learn to make this summer so those are out too.

I'd still love to hear any suggestions and links that you have.

Thanks!

You mentioned she doesn't decorate with a tree--my mom didn't either and she loved the mini tree with glued buttons on the tips as decoration. Or what about that neat wall hanging of a Christmas tree ( think there is a 4' & a 6' size) that you then pin Christmas decorations onto?

How about clothesline baskets?

I no longer do a tree, but plan one day to have a quilted tree wall hanging. I also have a Christmas throw quilt in the works.

I do not put runners on coffee tables, but I have cats and they would just use them as a bed.

Does she use placemats? I love placemats, even simple QAYG ones made with jelly roll strips.

If she watches TV an arm caddy for the remote for her chair or sofa is handy.

Matching table runners that are reversible would cover two seasons or holidays. Boxy bags are great. Mug rugs, or wine glass cozies. Miniature monthly quilts to enjoy and swap out? Even though she wants to learn to make the bowl cozies, how about putting together kits for her to use to learn how to make them?

If she's wanting to get into sewing, does she have a pin cushion? An organizer or tool kit? Apron, cute pot holders, coasters, place mats, a small wall hanging?

How about dryer balls? I made some for Christmas gifts a couple of years back & everyone loved them. I bought some glittery tubes from the Dollar Tree & 3 balls fit in each tube perfectly. They do save drying time for your clothes. Here's the site I used for making them.

http://goodmama.typepad.com/goodmama...yer-balls.html

Last Christmas, I purchased two sets of 12 kitchen towels on Amazon that had a variety of colors. I decorated them in a variety of ways using scraps and leftovers from other projects. For some, I did embroidery or applique, others I stitched down a band of fabric or ribbon across the width, and on some I attached lace. I matched them up in pairs to give as gifts. Since my only expense was the towels themselves, I had a dozen gifts for under $40, and they were a hit with everyone that got a pair.

A bathmat? I take an old towel, top with some batting, then add a little quilt top. Quilt the whole thing and bind. Sometimes I make strips of old blue jeans and QAYG around an orphan quilt block.

Also, what about pot holders, mug rug, candle mat, door hanging (a Christmas stocking perhaps?), cosmetic bag?

those Stitch and Fold fabric wreaths are pretty neat. Can be used as a centerpiece, hung on the wall, and can be made with holiday fabric or any themed fabric that would reflect her interests. A google search will yield lots of ideas and a source for the pattern.
I am in the process of making one with a song bird themed fabric to hang on my front porch for spring....if it ever gets here!