I actually ummed and ahhed about recording this episode, but to me, there’s nothing more exquisite than receiving a gift that’s been especially made for you.

In an age of mass-produced consumerism, making a Christmas gift for someone you love or admire is sure to be appreciated – and if people believe it’s simply craft, well so be it.

I certainly don’t see it that way.  Stitched and embellished gifts have been given for centuries, so I see it more as a tradition.  And I love tradition.

So, guess what’s just around the corner, yes, the festive season is fast approaching.

That jolly red-faced Father Christmas is beginning to appear everywhere as marketing gets underway, so now is a good time to start thinking about making some precious hand-made Christmas gifts for family and friends.

In an age where the shopping mall seems to be overtaking our lives and spending habits, perhaps this is a good time to pause and consider how we can reduce our spending yet still give quality, thoughtful gifts.

And before eyes roll and tongues click, let’s consider the benefits of making these gifts ourselves.

What benefits I hear you ask – well, I’ll list them after the intro, but, rest assured they make a lot of sense when you sit down and really think about them.

Best of all, you’re giving something of yourself and that’s a precious commodity indeed.

So let’s dip into some Yuletide bliss to make ourselves a Merry Little Christmas or a Winter Wonderland of creativity and love.  This pre-Christmas countdown is really about slowing down and thinking about the people in our lives we love and treasure – the people who would be delighted to receive a thoughtful, useful or completely kitch hand-made gift from us.

Hold on Stitch Safari listeners this will be a very interesting sleigh ride.

Intro

So what exactly are the benefits of making hand-made Christmas gifts I keep mentioning?

I’m going to enjoy this because I adore Christmas – the music, decorations and the goodwill.  Our home is taken over by a huge tree adorned with decorations, some nearly forty years old now, but that brings back memories of our children when they were young, our dog and our extended family.

And I suppose it’s really that nostalgia I love so much, but let’s get into why I believe we should make our own Christmas gifts.

• Quality: For no other reason than that.  If I give a gift it should last.  If I make a gift I know it will last, plus I’m in charge of quality control throughout the entire making process.
• Beauty:  One year I wanted to buy a small Christmas angel.  Do you think I could find one – or one that fulfilled my standards of beauty?  Of course not, so there again, I could make one full of sensory overloads, such as colour and texture.  I’m kicking myself now I didn’t do it.
• Make it Personal:  We all have different tastes, so why not cater to each person individually rather than buying multiples of the one item?  Surely that would be more gratefully received.  Why not begin a collection for someone special, such as Christmas angels, trees or even stars?
• Hand-made:  In today’s society we value the hand-made, so let’s cater to that.
• Price:  If you buy hand-made goods in-store, you’ll also be paying a huge mark-up.  Making can be a lot cheaper than buying, plus it’s a feel-good experience for us.
• Recycling/Repurposing:  This is huge nowadays and so it should be.  Op shops or second-hand markets offer a multitude of ideas and opportunities ranging from fabric, beads, wood and frames.  They’re often inexpensive and you know you’re helping reduce land-fill.
• Made With Love:  Honestly, this is the icing on the cake – handing over something made with love to someone you love – it just doesn’t get better than that.
• Making Memories:  I know that making memories is part of the whole Christmas experience and by making the gifts yourself, you’re adding even more value.

Have I covered everything?  There are probably more reasons but I’m excited to get onto all the ideas I’ve uncovered in my recent research, so let’s hit the road running.

Now I’ve categorized ideas to make things easier, so let’s begin with:

The Christmas Tree:

• Embroidered Christmas ornaments:  These can be easily and quickly made and there are plenty of ideas and inspiration to work from including hearts, stars, bells, trees, elves, snowbirds, Santas, reindeer or cheeky Christmas puddings – I’m overloaded here.  Just make it beautiful and colourful.  Use coloured felt for easy cutting and stitching – felt doesn’t fray so it’s perfect for this application and don’t forget embellishments such as beads or sequins and a loop for hanging.  For that extra special person or family, why not choose a large box, and fill it with a variety of beautifully hand-made ornaments using similar colours in different shapes?  Great for those who are starting their first home or who live alone.
• Christmas Tree Skirt:  A friend made me one of these when my son was still at school and I still use it to this day.  Basically, it’s a piece of fabric laid around the base of the Christmas tree to help make it more presentable, but it also offers the opportunity for patchwork, quilting, embroidery and applique.  Use colourful tartans and rich reds and greens for that traditional Christmas vibe.

Ornaments Around the Home:

• Advent Calendar:  This is a great idea for children and making one that’s re-usable each year is perfect.  Simply fill it with different treats as the children grow.  There’s nothing like watching those happy and excited little faces as they anticipate and open each little treat over those twelve wonderful days.
• Christmas Angels or Reindeer:  Larger standing ornaments add a lovely touch around a home but also make a wonderful Christmas gift for someone who may not be so creative.
• The Ubiquitous Christmas Wreath:  Wow, this is an opportunity to really let your creativity shine plus when placed on a front door, adds such a welcoming touch.  This would make a thoughtful and very decorative Christmas gift.
• Christmas Stockings:  Some fabric lines offer panels of pre-printed Christmas stockings.  All you have to do is stitch around the outline adding a small loop for hanging.  However, even more beautiful would be an embroidered, appliqued, pieced or quilted stocking.  This is a great way to re-use old jewellery or items that have meaning as tokens attached to the stockings – and you don’t have to be young to hang a beautiful Christmas stocking.
• But wait, why not make some tiny stocking stuffers?  These wee little ornaments for someone who loves to collect tiny treasures.
• Hooped Embroidery Art:  If you love to stitch make some delightful Christmas-themed embroideries worked and presented in the hoop, ready for hanging.  Just finish the back neatly then wrap or present in a beautiful Christmas box.
• Door Decorations:  Embroidered tassels make a stunning addition to the doors in older-style homes.  Very elegant and very swish presented in a beautiful box nestled amidst colourful tissue paper.
• Christmas Garlands:  Who can resist a beautiful garland, strung from place to place adding visual impact and softness to Christmas festivities?  Again, I’d use felt because it doesn’t fray and comes in a variety of bright colours.  Think along the lines of bunches of holly leaves and berries, snow-covered gingerbread houses, candy canes, little trees, bells or stars.  What about a garland of Nutcracker-like soldiers, tiny dolls or flying angels?  Make them small and numerous and again, give them presented in a pretty box comforted by soft tissue.  Or, simply make a ton of Yo-Yo’s or Suffolk Puffs using fabric scraps and string them together to form a beautiful, textural garland.  What a great way to utilize small pieces of leftover fabric.  They could even decorate the Christmas tree.

Now let’s move to the heart of the home, the kitchen:

• Tea Towels:  Embroider several beautiful linen tea towels then tie them into a stacked bundle with a luscious bow.  I know I’d appreciate that as a gift.
• Aprons:  There are times in the kitchen when an apron is a necessity, so making your own from recycled fabric – even patched together is a great idea for someone who loves to cook – and a person who loves to sew.
• Oven Mitts:  Another opportunity to repurpose fabric – why not make them using the same fabrics as the apron and gift them together?
• Tea Cozy:  Treat a friend or family member to a way-out tea cozy for Christmas.  You could make it Christmas-themed or focus on something they’re really interested in such as flowers, animals or trees.  Just let your imagination go then sit down and enjoy a steaming brew together.  Oh, that’s just given me an idea to make my sister-in-law an over-the-top pink tea cozy.  I’m thinking Flamingos…
• Hand Towels:  I love to have hand towels in the kitchen just for drying hands – add a pieced fabric top, buttons or loops and thread them through rails or loop over knobs for instant access.  They make great gifts.

Next, it’s the bedroom:

• Cushions:  They’re all the rage in decorating beds and chairs alike – but add some pieced, appliqued or patched and quilted or embroidered for added contrast and texture.  They make amazing gifts for that special person.  If you’re into tapestry or cross stitch, there are some amazingly beautiful patterns available.
• Pillow Cases:  Most sheet sets come with matching pillowcases, but they’re easy to make and great to have on hand as extras or for gift-giving.  Add some delicate embroidery along one side for instant pizzaz and elegance.

Onto the bathroom:

• Bath and Hand Towels:  There’s nothing that screams ‘I care’ as much as embroidered towelling – especially matched towel sets.  What a thoughtful gift idea.

Now I love decorating a beautiful table, so let’s move on to the Christmas table:

• The Christmas Tablecloth and Serviettes:  As a child, my Mother brought out a very special tablecloth every Christmas.  I still remember being fascinated with the very English hunting scene printed onto it – it was so special.  And that’s what fabric and memories do to us – so why not make some memories for someone you love?  Match the fabrics, and add embroidery, a little or a lot to show how much you love them.
• The Christmas Table Runner:  When the dining table is not in use a vibrant runner becomes a festive feature.  Easy to make using linen, cotton or recycled fabrics, topped with embroidery, patchwork, quilting or applique, these make fantastic Christmas gifts for friends or family alike.

Ah, but what about the embroiderer in the family:

• Pincushions: Handmade pincushions are easy to make and make a great gift.  Embellish beautifully just remember to leave some room for the pins!
• Needlecases:  Any embroiderer would appreciate receiving a beautifully made and decorated needlecase – because we all have needles and they’re precious.
• For the Young Embroiderer:  Make up an embroidery kit for the young person wanting to give stitch a go.  Include a simple pattern, needle, threads, a frame and fabric.  Just make sure the design and work are achievable and age-appropriate.

Think I’m finished?  Well no, I’m not, here are some sundry ideas just for fun:

• Embroidered Christmas Cards:  When the Christmas Card is the gift, make it special by using your embroidery skills – then watch as it’s being opened.
• Festive Earrings:  Some people have wonderful ideas for earrings, just make them festive and fun.
• Book Marks:  Have an avid reader in the family?  Then a hand-made bookmark would be appreciated, perhaps with a book as well.
• Key Rings:  Choose a simple shape then embellish it with stitch or beads.  Make it colourful and small.
• Finger Puppets:  I used to love these as a child.  Make them out of felt and tell a story to a little person.
• Hair Bands:  Embroider festive patterns onto an Alice Band for the girly-girl gift.
• Buttons and Patches:  Want to gift something to your like-minded creative friends?  Make some embroidered covered buttons or small patches they can stitch onto clothing or bags.  Use common connections to make it special and meaningful.
• Bags:  Embroiderers and Quilters love bags, they’re useful for transporting all the equipment we seem to need.  Simple or complex, a hand-made patched, quilted, appliqued or embroidered bag makes a truly special gift.
• Embroidered Brooches:  Not my thing, but I’ve seen some beautiful brooches that might just change my mind.  They’d make a wonderful gift presented in a gorgeous, tiny lidded box.  How beautiful.

Have I whet your appetite?  Or inspired a new idea?  I hope so.

Settle on an idea, do some research, make a pattern, prepare your materials then set aside time to create.  And why stop at one?  Make a small production line of hand-made items and share the joy.

It’s amazing the results that can be achieved from a simple needle and thread paired with fabric and flair.

Check out your local op-shop or second-hand markets keeping an eye out for fabrics and old jewellery bargains.  I’ve re-used old jewellery and it looks amazing.

Stitch Safari listeners, why not share your Christmas stitching projects on the Stitch Safari Facebook page?  I’d love to see them and I’m sure others would too.

Remember though – have yourself a merry little Christmas too.