I would love to make Christmas gifts for my family and do for the few females on my list, but I have two sons, as well as nephews, and great nephews ranging in age from 7 to 45. In fact, most of the people I need gifts for are male! What is something they would appreciate and use? I hate to waste my time making something that ends up in a closet, unused. I would rather buy something they might use (or at least return for something they might use!) than have my efforts go to waste. I would appreciate suggestions of gifts you have made for males that have been well received. I quilt, sew, cross stitch, and crochet, as well as bake! Are we gals just easier to please?

A remote control caddy for the arm of their Lazyboy would be my suggestion. Use fabric that coordinates a little with the decor but more with their hobbies. Ie: golf fabric for the golfer, tools for the mechanic, pinup girls for the ladies man, etc.

I find the guys in my family are more appreciative of quilts than the women. Especially if it is masculine. They like to sit on the couch under a blanket just like we do! Mine also like pillow cases if you are looking for a low cost item, or Towels with their names embroidered. If they are a golfer or bowler especially.

Thanks! I hadn't thought of that. Do you have a link for a pattern?

Someone asked on the Main board about Cool Ties today. If they're active, they'll probably appreciate these. Lap quilts, homemade pillowcases, quillows.

I'll check that out. Thanks

My husband is a big Mets Baseball fan and I made a D9P for him using Mets fabric and the bright blue and orange team colors. He loved it. I made it large enough so he can toss it over himself in his favorite recliner if it gets chilly.

Also you mention that you bake :wink: Guys love that kind of thing especially if they don't get it at home or if you have a "special item" that they really enjoy :thumbup:

Food is always good :lol:

I made my dh a lap quilt (a little larger) with wildlife fabric on the front and he loves it. He sleeps under it when napping. I think using their hobby or interest and keeping it masculine is the key to quilt appreciation for guys.

Bowling, golf towels: finger tip towels are about the perfect size to embelish :wink:

I agree with masculine quilts, neck coolers, and goodies (especially the batchelors :wink:)

I bought several wildlife panels, deer, bear, geese, fishing and used them as the center medallion for sofa quilts for my son and son-in-laws. On most of them I used log cabin blocks set in different designs and borders to make them large enough. I have made OU football quilts and Spiderman quilts and all kind of boy type quilts because I have 9 grandsons. I have seen all of these quilts lying on the living room floor in their homes so I know they are used!

Thanks again for all the great ideas. Keep them comming!

I would make them quilts in masculine fabrics, such as Civil War reproduction ones, using fast and easy patterns. And when you give it to them, tell them about the fabrics - about how they are reproductions of cloths that were in use during the Civil War. Most guys have an appreciation for that kind of thing, so that bit of knowledge would make it more meaningful and interesting to them.

Made quilt for my DS ... Rails. He is Type A businessman, but he loves his quilt and mentions it often .,.. never dreamed he would be interested. Gave my husband a quilt ... a Trip Around the World ... and he loved it and uses it every night while he watches ESPN.

I make quilts. All my family loves them and use them to.They are very selfish with them too.Don't want anyone else to use them thats why all of them have one. Some more than 1.

I gave my oldest son a large tin of his favorite cookies with a note that said refills are free for one year. But, I think I should have said 12 free refills. He shared his cookies very freely at work and I was filling it once every week or two. But, he loved it.

Is there a better compliment!!! :-D

LOL I think this year I am making my Dad an I spy bag along with the other children in my life. ;) All the men in my life have still yet to grow up so this is perfect for them. lol

all of the guys in my world were the first to request quilts. and they all love them. i like making guy quilts...the young guys received game quilts or sport quilts, the older guys outdoorsy stuff, they show them off use them all the time...and let me know when another one would be nice :)
one year i made them all quilted outdoor vests
and when i started making everyone fleece socks (which sell in lands end catalogs for $18-$24 a pair) not only did everyone love them but a couple of the guys asked if i would make them 6 more pair...they wanted a pair for every day of the week ;)
of course, if you live in a warm climate they probably don't want fleece socks

I made my dh a bath towel, hand towel and facecloth with a Route 66 border. He just loved 'em! The towel set was plain and I attached the fabric border. He also likes shirts with a car theme(kinda like aloha shirts).

My guys all love quilts.

I make their favorite dessert. My daughter makes her Dad and brothers homemade cookies and my beer cheese for Xmas. We laugh because we never manage to buy a gift that they really like, but they always like the food. I always gift wrap a big jar of cashews,or caramel popcorn, and tuck in a little cash. We've also bought gift cards to a car-wash place, golf balls( good ones, golf tees and towels and last year one son asked for a big golf umbrella.

I made my husband a nice big cozy dallas cowboys blanket, the fleece with the tied ends.. and he LOVES it. We like to snuggle under our blankets in the dual recliners and watch tv. I made my 11 year old son one with a baseball theme and he loves his. I agree with making something with fabric that reminds them of a masculine hobby or sport. I like the remote caddy arm chair bag too.

Nothing. I have made the men in my life remote control caddies, pillowcases, etc. and they never like or use them.

I'm wanting to start Christmas presents and I want to sew them and I am just stuck. I hope you get some great suggestions and that I will be inspired too!

All the guys that I have made quilts for just love them. I just leave out all the floral fabrics and use something a little more "manly"

My son's favorite quilt from high school.....well, you guys would snicker. Actually you wouldn't because I'd never put it on here! I found a very vibrant basketball fabric, cut two lengths about 8' long each (he's 6'6") and sewed them together....put red fleece on the back and as batting and stitched a few times in both directions to hold it all together. He loves it and now his son uses it. They want warm and cuddly and great fabrics....piecing seems to be an "extra" for them. When he was stationed in Korea I'd send several batches of homemade brownies at a time so he could share with his buddies..... I vote for easy quilts in manly fabrics and anything with sugar.

My very first quilt was a 9 patch for my DH. I didn't even know how to sew. He loves it!!! He sleeps with it every night and wraps himself in it almost every day. Even in the summer.

I have two grandsons 17 and 20. They love soft warm quilts - like flannel or even minkie but sparsly quilted so that they are puffy like comforters. They also love cookies. They're men, go with the basics -- keep they warm and fed.

My DH would always ask my Mom for FOOD for Christmas.

She made awesome apple pies, cherry nut bread, Russian Teacake cookies, frozen bread and butter pickles, frozen strawberry jam.

Miss you, Mom.

Hi from about 100 mi. s of the bridge....how do you make fleece socks? Is there an actual pattern? We certainly could use those!!
thanks,
Penny

I made my hubby a snuggee-type blanket for watching tv. Only he is a freeze butt so I also put a foot pocket on the back and made the whole thing except the arms double thickness and almost killed my machine.

I made three for males. A red, white and blue one, a puzzle pattern and a rail fence.

My SIL is difficult to buy gifts for. He saw some of my quilts the other day and said he wants me to made him a camoflage quilt for Christmas. He likes a cover when he lays on the sofa and watches TV in the evenings. He will have it for Christmas!!! One gift solved!!

On behalf of my people (men) we are easy to please and appreciate something hand made from the heart. A quick and easy gift I've made lots of with rave reviews is fleece blankets. Buy 2 lengths of fleece a print (team colors, hobby print, etc) and a coordinating solid. Sew them together, cut a decorative edge and you have the perfect blanket for watching tv, camping or going to the game. They look great, wash well and if you get them on sale they are relatively inexpressive.

Coup de resistance----photo transfer. Make a lap quilt with a few of these at various stages in there life. I was commisioned a few years ago to make one. He was a hunter and provided at least a dozen pics over time with various hunting trophies. I used them along with panels of deer. It took the guy a full five minutes to say anything other than WOW when he saw it.

Here is a man quilt pattern
http://www.quiltmag.com/quilt-patterns/wrench-set/

Its wrenches. I am making one for son-in-law for his birthday.

my men love "rag quilts" made out of homespun plaid flannels. Darker colors. They don't have to worry about them, as the more they wash them the softer and fluffier they get.

Right now I am working on a disappearing 9 patch from Holly Taylor (moda) prints. They have to do with nature/canoes/woods, etc.

Apple pies for all the guys!!

I buy about 1/4 yards of fabric, wonder under it onto a large bath towel and stitch it down. they love 'em.

My 27 yr old son has been a Mn Vikings fan from day one
I made him a lap quilt out of MV fabric this past xmas & you would have thought I had given him a brand new car :) Made my day for sure !