I will be making flannel pillowcases for the nieces and nephews Christmas stockings. Maybe some dress-up stuff for my niece whose name I drew this year. My 12 yo nephew is a tough case. Need to talk to his mom. :roll:

I would love to make alot of my gifts but time just doesn't allow it. I do have a nice flannel lap quilt in process for my dad who is almost 83 and failing fast. I will make a couple Bow Tuck bags for my nieces and one also for a very close friend. Other than that, I doubt there are alot of handmade gifts under our tree.

I sometimes include a homemade gift as a part of my family's gifts. We usually give the dinner for everyone and open gifts afterwards on christmas day.

One year I made everyone a set of those lavender warming bags to put on a sore muscle or neck. I used a nice soft napped floral fabric you sometimes see as pajamas in high end stores. I bought it in three colorways, so they didn't all look the same. I added a rayon cord to the ends that you could adjust up with a nice bead. They were very well recieved. I used flax seed inside with a drop or two of lavender essesence for a great scent. I also gave them a small bottle of the scent so they could renew it.

I have made traveling sets before that include a cosmetic hang up with lots of pockets, a large bag for your spare set of shoes and a zippered bag for your delicates and jewery roll. I love those sets and they are very happy to recieve them.

I have made sewing sets for my quilter buddies that include a cutting mat holder and a tote bag that has a smaller zippered bag for the loos things you take with you to sewing/quilting classes.

There is always a quilt or lap quilt that is very nice as a gift. But, it would be nice to make one for the car that has a little zippered bag to keep it in the car's trunk or back storage area of a SUV.

Just because something is home made, that doesn't mean it has to be tacky. Just check out some ot the high end craft gift stores. These things go for a fortune!

Yes! My family and I love and appreciate handmade things :thumbup:

I always make hand made gifts for christmas. Either a pair on hand knitted socks or sweaters (usually good for a laugh), quilts, crocheted scarfs, etc. I find it more relaxing to work at home than fight the crowds. I think everyone if feeling the pinch and probably are much more appreciative of a hand made gift.

It seems in today's world everyone expects gifts, and whatever you do don't let them be inexpensive. A child has a B-day party and all the children need a gift. When I was a kid, only the b-day child got the gifts. If a family has a baby and there are older siblings now you're supposed to give, not only to the baby/parents, but also the older siblings. Have even heard of some weddings giving each guest a little something.
People who do crafts usually appreciate the hand made gifts more because we know it takes not only money but more important someone's time and their hearts(sometimes blood too).
I feel if someone can't gratefully accept any gift given them, they have too much and maybe shouldn't get anything. Make your gifts, give them from your heart, and remember you're giving them a one-of-a-kind treasure(s). If anyone does complain you could always tell them next year you'll give their gift to a charity on their behalf.

I have made gifts for years- esp any kind of decoration, or ornament. Placemats, potholders, casserole carriers, pillowcases-(esp good for kids) table toppers- there are so many things you can make!

I'm making sets of 6 "mug mats" or "mug rugs" for my friends and coworkers. I'm buying FQ's that remind me of each person. It's been fun....and very affordable. Last year my kids were pretty low financially and they made/gave away "cookie mixes" in jars. It was most appreciated.

My Mom is the hard one for us to buy for. She has everything. So last year we embroidered a dozen kitchen towels, made her 6 nice sz placemats in the hexigan shape & bought napkins to match. Oh & potholders and trivets to set her hot pans on. She loved this gift. This year she will get a few Runners with napkins to go with & some more seasonal placemats with hot pads to go with. She really enjoys changing her stuff around.

I have several asking for purses, and that is fine but have no idea what to make the men.

I have a problem with people asking for gifts. For me a gift is somthing I choose to give.

This year I am giving Microwave Fabric Bowls - I will be handquilting them. I do not normally give Christmas gifts, primarily because I think it has gotten out of hand. I prefer to give gifts througout the year whenever I see something I think someone will like or can use. My mother (85) still has four sisters living and they all use microwaves and I feel these bowls make it easier and safer for them to use their microwaves. So these are what I will be making, especially for the elderly I will be thinking of this Holiday Season.

I have done the same as Grandma Lehr... You have to decide whether your gift will be appreciated by the receivier. Some like handmade and appreciate them and others do not. My two sister in laws probably would not like them. So it just depends. I have made quilts, placemats, pillocases, and other small items for those who liked them. Good luck.

I always give handmade gifts. My family members have come to expect them, and always love them.

Yes, all the time. They're always the right color, size, etc. And believe it or not, they really like them. We have custody of an 11 year old granddaughter. Every year I make gifts for every teacher she's had since kindergarten. This year I'll be making 20 of whatever I make.

When my grandmother's parents came from Poland they didn't have much money so her mother made gifts. That's been passed down to all of us. Now my girls and daughter in law are making gifts to give. We actually have fun trying to figure out what to make each year so it's something different. We even share supplies. I alway make a label for embroider who the gift was to and from and the year.'

It's a challange to come up with something different each year. And the teachers tell me they look forward to Christmas to see what they'll get this year. I make things for them to decorate the room but most of them take them home to use at home.

It's fun!

What a generous gesture!

Would love to sew for my family, but is a waste of time. They are like "Oh, Thanks" if they say that. Most usually no response at all.

I don't buy ANY gifts for family and friends. I have made all my gifts since I was a kid. The men often get flannel pj pants with pockets, or fleece throws for watching TV. For the women I make quilted table runners, quilted throws for TV watching, crocheted lace snowflakes for the Christmas tree, handbags. All of these things can be made according to your abilities. This year, those that haven't gotten a quilt are getting one. For my teenage Gsons last year, I made little quilted stockings with their names in the center and put a $50 bill in them, and hung them on the tree. The ideas are simply endless. I believe Christmas should come from the heart, not the mall.

My family loves homemade gifts. this year I am making them phentex slippers, hooded scarfs with matching knit gloves, hanging towels with crocheted tops, aprons amy maybe some bow tuck bags. I hope I can get it all done. I have also made my son a queen size log cabin quilt, all hand pieced and hand quilted.

Go home made they will love it.

DH and I are in our mid 70's so there isn't too much we actually need. The past few years our children and grandchildren have gifted us with gift cards for restaurants, book stores and for me quilt shops. DH and I stretch them out so we're enjoying our gifts throughout the year. Last week we used one and told our granddaughter "Thanks for yesterday's lunch, we used my Birthday gift card".

Gift giving comes from the heart not from the pocketbook. So to answer your question no it is not being cheap.

There are so many wonderful ideas here. I have many of these ideas on my radar for my gift giving this year too.

One idea not mentioned that some might want to do that I did several years ago is I typed up all our family's favorite traditional recipes that have been used time and time again for special holiday such as birthday dinner, Thanksgiving favorites and Christmas traditional cakes and cookies. I then bought special paper and binders, printed them and gave them to family members. The binder then could be added on to as new favorites came to light. I kept one for myself and it has grown as I keep finding new ones I like.

Last year I made three quilts, but that can run into a lot of money.
This year I'm going to make four bow tuck pocket books, three of them will be for my grand daughters. In the past I have made wreaths, ceramic pieces and crochet afghans.

My family used to refuse to let me know where anyone was registered for weddings, showers, etc. They wanted me to make gifts for them, lol....so I know they don't think that handmades are cheap. I will be giving handmade gifts this year, have already started working on them.

Personally, I think a "made" gift is the best gift! Go for it :thumbup:

My family depends on something from the sewing room each year. A few years ago, all 6 grandkids got quilts, Last year, it was purses for the gals and quilted vests for the guys. I keep a supply of hats and scarves knitted up for the unexpected Christmas guest(boy friends/girl friends) that the grandkids bring to our holiday gathering. This year I'm doing some of the microwave bowl holders, table runners and place mats for those with their own homes or apartments and still looking for an idea for the high school group.

Hand made is on my list to!!Getting ideas from wonderful ladies here and internet!!

Last year I made aprons and did machine embroidery on them. Later I found the near identical plain apron at Target - now I have a convenient source for the "blanks" and can get right to the embroidery. (The plain apron cost was nearly the same at Target as making it myself.)

We always made gifts in my family, no matter how young we were we could make something. We all got one "store bought" item, almost always a book.
Gifts come from the heart, not the store. I love anything home/hand made - it shows someone is thinking specially about you. I'm not saying if you buy things to give you aren't thinking about someone, but I think what it says is you might think you dont have enough talent or aren't gifted enough to make something - like saying to yourself: "I can't can't make anything, I don't do anything special" You'd be suprised what you can do.

I still have a wall plaque my brother carved, a wild turkey. He was in HS. I have a painting of a landscape he made also. My mom used to make toffee for me and cream puffs for another brother for gifts cus we loved that so much. Homemade is wonderfil! sharet

Last year I made my younger grandkids pj's and made a pillowcase to use as wrapping paper. The older kids got fleece blankets and a pillowcase. They all loved them.

It is a gift from the heart - with love and attention thrown in - usually much more valued than anything bought

I have made and given most of what has been said already BUT I am retired and get together regularly with 10 girlfriends from grade school. We always have lunch and them decide on our next luncheon date so I bought those pocket calendars ($1.00 ea) and made a quilted cover with their monogram on it for each one of them. I wrapped it in tissue and slipped it into a padded envelope with a note on Christmas paper telling them how much it meant to me that we still get together and have remained true friends all these years. They got this instead of a Christmas card and everyone loved it. Now when we make our next date, everyone takes theirs out of their purse and marks it down. We don't have to go home and check our calendars.

This was a very inexpensive gift, but I hear about how much it is appreciated every time we get together!

P.S. When the calendar expires all they need to do is buy the current year calendar for only $1.00 and slip it in the cover. They are all the same size. I even get FREE ones from different charities I have donated to.

see previous post - I have also made these with matching address and phone books in large print for all the grannies in the family. They are not into the electronic age of I-pads and such, and still write these down. They loved them. (Who doesn't need to make over their phone and address book?)

I saw a pattern for quilting a computer or iPad cover. I am making one of those for my husband, making it smaller for his Nook.

file:///Users/pcgardner/Desktop/favorite%20patterns/iPad%20Cover%20Tutorial%20%7C%20Amy's%20Creative%2 0Side.webarchive

Embroidered on kitchen towels and then made hot pads to match the theme (peppers, cherries, etc), covers for composition notebooks with pocket for pens, cold process soap, embroidery on fingertip towels that says "Friends are flowers that never fade".

It's so funny, I have always made gifts and never gotten a gift made by someone else, wish I would though!

I am also making christmas gifts for the family ... if they can't understand that it takes more thought in making gifts than buying then there is a problem ...lol

Last year, just before Christmas I bought an embroidery machine. Also found fleece throws at a discount store at a better price than I could buy the equivelent yardage, so I monogrammed blankies for all 17 0f my grandchildren, and all six of my children plus their spouses. This year they all expect quilts! Right. Hah.

Nothing is ever cheap if it comes from the heart. Your time is valuable and your friends and family should know this.

:lol: I think I've always given handmade gifts - even remember giving them as a kid. Wouldn't be Christmas without making things as far as I am concerned. Never had anyone tell me they thought I was cheap. :lol: If they ever do, I'll include a price tag with their next gift and they can see how much time and money it actually takes. ROFLOL.

I've already got some tote bags made; kitchen towels; checkbook covers; kleenex pocket pack covers. Also gonna make 2 lap quilts and some pillowcases.

:lol: :lol: