We have been blessed to have a number of boys in the family but now they have passed the baby stage I am running out of ideas for gifts. They have quilts for their beds, had block puzzles and quillows as toddlers but I have run out of ideas to make for them as they get older - all suggestions most welcome! Thanks in anticipation, Penelope.

How old are they?
Pillowcases. PJ's.

I do pillow cases and boxers for my boys.

Boys aged - 3, 5 and 9 years.

costumes...anytime of the year...they are still young. even a different quilt for their beds..you never can have too many. one with dr sues, for the 9 year old NFL fabric, cartoons they watch....of course pillows

The younger two are still a great age for those crayon roll up cases...

The oldest might have a hand held video game...a nintendo DS or something? A case for it would work...

I have grandsons close to that age. How about a large tooth pillow with a pocket for the tooth that falls out for the tooth fairy. I think it was someone on the board made a race track that folded out for cars to race on.It looked like a race trace on the inside and when you close it there was pockets for the cars. Looked real easy to make.

Appliques onto t-shirts/sweatshirts in designs/characters that they like.
Pillowcases...in both bed size and travel-pillow size.
Bags to hold toys/books.

There is a lady in my quilt guild that has the neatest thing going. She has 9 gr. children, 4 of them being boys. She is making all nine of them hope chests. Whatever she makes, she makes 9 of them. Which sounds daunting, but really isn't as she makes them individualized for each gr. child. She is making quilts, table runners, placemats, christmas stockings, tree skirts, etc. When these gr. kids get married, this will be their gift. Things for their home, hand made by their grandmother. I think it's a wonderful idea. They are still all young, but she shows them what she is working on and tells them that one day they'll have a whole lot of things made by her. She says they are always interested in what she is working on too.

Wow, what an idea I can't imagine I have 7 and it is really ruff making them all the same thing "for someday". Especially more than one thing. Too much for this grandma.

Wonderful idea!

Excellent suggestions, thank you. I like the idea of PJ cases - but making hope chests is a wonderful - and big! project.

That is too cool!

Fleece slippers & hats, flannel pj pants & pillow cases, tv watching quilts--fleece, flannel or cotton--they don't care. Boys love snuggly stuff just as much as girls. You've just got to put a "boy" spin on it.

super hero capes are great!
use velcro for the closure

also.. remember the frogs we had when we were growing up made of fabric with beans inside? and button eyes - those are fun too.

"boy" themed aprons too :)

Apart from applique, is there a quick way to put names/letters on fabric?

I made a stencil out of a thickish plastic folder with our sons name on it, I used it on his stuff. It is about 6 inches long and about 3 inches wide. I use a household sponge dipped in paint to fill it in, not to thin, or too thick.
I also use his letter stamps - with fabric paint mix added to his normal paints, or I use fabric crayons, and a fancy font from the computer.

What a great idea! I have 4 girls and I'm doing something kinda similar...I've been collecting vintage Pyrex for about 10 years, when each girl moves out to her first real home she'll get her own set. I have some pieces identical to those my mom & grandma have, I thought it was a nice way to carry on our tradition (and they all get used, don't just sit on a shelf).

And on topic, I also sew for 2 boys in the family, 6 & 9 yr olds. This year for Christmas they each got a denim book/tote bag with their name on it and a fabric inside that matches their quilts I made. These boys LOVE handmade and call them "Amy's special gifts" (cue awwwww).

Costumes - Robin Hood, Buzz Lightyear, Batman capes, Superman capes and pirate gear. I've also made him and his sisters, aprons as they all enjoy cooking.