Handmade Giving Gift Guide - Kids
Are you looking for ideas to make for the little ones on your list? We've gathered some of our favorite patterns and tutorials both in house and from around the web.
Let's start with these playful rice warmers! We used our organic Cloud9 Ed Emberley Cut and Sew Panel for the top and sewed flannel on the back so they are nice and cozy.
Just cut along the dotted lines and line up the flannel, right sides together, to the critter. Sew using a 1/2" seam allowance, leaving a small gap along the straightest side. It's a good idea to go back and do a zig zag all the way around to reinforce the seam. I've had to repair a few holes in our rice warmers over the years, they get a lot of use and the rice is hard on the seams. Turn right side out and fill with cheap rice. Use the ladder stitch to close the hole. Be sure to make small stitches so the rice doesn't sneak out. Throw these little guys in the microwave for about 2 minutes and they will warm those kids right up. We like to use them at bed time and after the kids come in from playing outside in the snow.
Next up, these amazing flannel pants!! You're kids will LOVE them! We used our Mammoth Flannel and it makes the pants look like expensive wool trousers but witht the comfort of PJs. This flannel is just as soft on the inside as it is on the outside. They are fast to make and don't use much fabric. We used Dana Made It's free Basic Kid Pants tutorial.
For this pair I just copied a pair of pants that fit my 10 year old daughter and used the tutorial above to put them together. My daughter LOVES them and has worn them every night since I've made them. I guess I'll have to make another pair for Christmas.
How about this fun stuffed Christmas tree? Stop in the shop and Roxanne will set you up witht the paper pattern and instructions. (Sweeties make great gifts too!).
Need a party dress for your little girl? You can make one! This one took about 2 hours and only 1-1-1/2 yards of fabric. We used the Dual Yoke Dress pattern from one of our new books "Linen, Wool, Cotton Kids" by Akiko Mano. Pair it with a long sleeve shirt or a cardigan.
This wallet is a great gift for kids and men! It's a quick sew, doesn't use much fabric and is fun to make. The only thing I would add to this free Noddlehead tutorial is to put Decor Bond on the lining (card holder slots) to give it a little stability and make it easier to get the cards in and out of the wallet.
This is the warmest, most snuggly blanket ever! It's 1-1/2 yards of our Yak fabric and 3 yards of our Mammoth Flannel sewn right sides together and top stitched. The flannel isn't as wide as the Yak so you have to do a little piecing before you start sewing it together.
Our incredibly popular Bucket Tote makes a great gift for kids too! Make it big for toys. Make it small for art supplies. Fill it with bean bags and a card with all the things they can do with them - juggling instructions, tic-tac-toe, toss game, hot potato, etc. Or use it as a reusable gift bag. Then the wrapping is a present too!
Pillowcases are fun gifts for kids. We have a free handout in the store from the Sweet Dreams Pillowcase Project. You can find out more info about this project and download the handout from here. You can make one for your littles and one to donate. Also pictured is another Sweetie and the easy Bella Collage Quilt that is a good kid size and can be made in a few sittings.
Here are some fun patterns we have in the shop that would be great things to make as gifts for kids!
Do you have a budding sewist on your list? I bet they would love a fun book, felt, fabric, and a Modern Textiles gift card so they can make their own creations. The gift card is good on classes too.
We've also gathered a few links to free tutorials around the web.
1. a plush bunny 2. a fabric crown 3. a doll house 4. a circle skirt 5. a felt alphabet 6. super hero cape
1. a busy book 2. a plush flying squirrel 3. a no sew tee pee 4. shark zip pouch 5. a car mat 6. dragon slippers
We hope you found some inspiration and are able to take a little more time at your sewing machine and less time in line at the mall!
Happy Sewing!