Our top 10 handmade gift ideas to inspire your gift-giving this year!
As lovers of making, many of us are also lovers of giving the things we make. So, in no particular order, here's our top ten hand-made gift ideas for 2023 to inspire your creativity and help you get some boxes ticked (and wrapped! 🎁).
We know how busy life is for everyone, so we've included a combination of quick projects you can whip up in just a few hours (because gift-giving should NOT be a stressful experience!), and more involved projects for those who've got more time on their hands (you lucky thing!).
Got some ideas we haven’t included? Leave a comment to help inspire your fellow makers and readers!
#10 - whip up a whitlow robe
We’re pretending we’ve all got way more time on our hands than we probably actually do and starting strong with the Whitlow robe.
But hear us out!
Firstly, there’s still about 3 weeks til Christmas, which is plenty of time to raid your stash and whip up a seasonally-appropriate Whitlow. (Think linen or cotton for the southern hemi or something a little weightier, like a cotton terry or waffle, for our northerners.)
But also, you gotta know that whoever you gift this to is totally gonna love you, forever and ever. Amen.
#9 - mend their clothes
We know our community, and we know that you love to find ways to show your special people how much you care for them in ways that also care for the earth. So why not give them a voucher for clothes mending?
With our Introduction to Garment Repair resource you can give their current wardrobe and fave garments a new lease on life, which we know they’ll love you for.
(And you could possibly even nose in a bit of quality time under the guise of teaching them how to mend their own clothes. Double the fun!)
#8 - give the gift of lounging around
The Gibson loungewear pattern was last December’s Curated by ITF project and we stand by it for the perfect handmade garment for gifting.
It’s relaxed and loose-fitting style means you don’t have to stress about fitting alterations when making it for a friend or loved one. So long as you know their general size, you’re good to go!
Join Curated by ITF - find your new community!
If you're looking to be supported, motivated and inspired through your sewing journey our Curated by ITF subscription might be just what you're looking for.
As well as a monthly sewing project, you’ll gain access to our private member platform where you can receive feedback and advice from the ITF team and other experienced makers, participate in sew-alongs and make sewing besties all over the world!
#7 - lavender sachets
Granny Chic is totally in right now, which means lavender sachets are back, baby!
Of course, WE know they never really went out, because who can say no to little bags of flowers that make your clothes smell pretty and stop moths and other naughty things from eating all your handmade hard work??
#6 - sulis hat by pattern fantastique
Help your loved ones stay sun safe this year by gifting them a Pattern Fantastique Sulis Hat.
We LURVE this hat design so much. It’s got uber chic light-house keeper vibes that we just can’t get enough of!
#5 - organise your space pattern weights
Gifting to another sewist? A jar of pattern weights is a no brainer.
(And you’ll also be pleased because this gift can be whipped up in under an hour and will empty out your pantry of those pesky pulses you don’t know what to do with. LOL.)
Grab the pattern for these nifty little sewing tools (and more!) in the Organise Your Space issue of Curated by ITF. Find out more about our sewing subscription here.
#4 - davis crossbody bag by elbe textiles
The Davis Crossbody Bag by Elbe Textiles is making us shiver it’s so cool! Brrrrrr.
(And we kinda wish we’d come up with it ourselves, we love it so much.)
We reckon a Davis would be THE PERFECT GIFT for those teenagers (also, grown-up humans) who roll their eyes at anything ‘homemade’.
In fact, don’t even tell them you made it until after they’ve raved about how awesome it is. That’ll learn ‘em.
#3 - SCRAP-BUSTING HAIR ACCESSORIES
As waste-conscious makers we’re always on the hunt for projects that help us use up those fabric scraps that aren’t quite big enough for garments.
Hair accessories like scrunchies and headbands provide a great opportunity to dive into your stash and do some serious scrap-busting!
There’s plenty of free tutorials all over the interwebs, but here’s one we found just for you.
#2 - tied with a ribbon pj pals
We simply couldn’t resist these PJ Pals by Tied with a Ribbon.
Just imagine the smiles you’ll get when your son/daughter/grandchild/niece/nephew/friend’s kid tears off the wrapping to find this!
Serious points.
(And we’ll award you bonus stash-busting points too.)
#1 - curated by itf hove tote
We couldn’t possibly have a top ten gift ideas list without including our sewing subscription, Curated by ITF, right?! So, if you’re one of our beloved members, consider making and gifting our current project - the Hove tote.
Although, we appreciate that once you’ve made it, it might be hard to let it go, so an alternative is to gift a Curated by ITF subscription so they can just make one for themselves! (Now THAT’S a good idea!)
