handmade christmas presents

[loukr]

I have recently quit my job so I can concentrate on my college work for the next 7-8 months or so, trouble is, as christmas is coming up I'm going to have no money.

Does anybody have any ideas for things I could make instead? I have a sewing machine and enough scraps to make anything, and I have lots of crafty bits, I don't want to make the usual... not so much boring, but the stuff my gran would make, but I want to make nice interesting contemporary items. any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Lou x

[redcrx]

Not sure about gifts as such, but one year i made rum truffles (and every variation) and put them in carboard boxes that looked like crackers.

[missjef]

my friend makes really nice denim bags, you could try that?
theyre really nice, if you have some old jeans and maybe some black material for the inside. it looks really good if you use strips of different jeans and piece them together on the front of the bag maybe add in some bright coloured fabric? then on the back you could use a back pocket of some jeans to add a little pocket. they look really good once they are finished.
depends on your taste i suppose.
heres two of the ones my friend did::
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/missjef /IMAG0001-3.jpg
(i hope that link works!)

the good thing is you can customise them and add buttons or badges to suit the person your giving them too.

hope it helps.

[missjef]

another idea i just thought of was if youre any good at knitting you could always do some funky scarfs, using multicoloured wool.
http://webhome.idirect.com/~jkoster/scarvesgal lery/images/colourfulsilkandwool.jpg
something maybe like that?

again its a matter of taste and depends what the people you make them for are like.

[Lore]

what age groups are you thinking of lou?
I think it all depends on who the item is for. I mentioned in a similar thread a couple of weeks back that story sacks are a great idea for little ones. The book being the most expensive part of the present.

[Sherry1]

I had a 'poor' Christmas and had to make pressies. They are still around and often commented on even 6 years later!
Get some various Christmassy material and make 10 padded triangles 5" across. Ask friends for broken cheap jewellary.Join triangles together starting with one on top.. join two underneath by tops to outer corners then three below that and four below them. Attach hanging bits of jewellary inbetween triangles. Cover a a piece of dowling in material and join bottom triangles to this. I added a small padded cushion to very bottom so it looked like a pot the 'tree' was in.
Look fab hung on mirrors
Hope you have as much fun thinking of things as I did
Good luck
Sherry x

[Hellion]

Hi loukr.

I recently saw bunting made of little lavender bags which was lovely.

My sister still has the rag doll my mother made her 37 years ago!

You can make picture frames - basic shape out of wood or cardboard which you can cover with padded fabric. I once got my then 3 year old to paint corrugated card and sprinkle glitter on it then I cut out a frame shape and a solid shape - glued it together along 3 sides and put a picture of him it - everyone still has them.

Bags are a great idea - especially shopping bags.

What about patchwork quilt? Simple one is 2 squares of fabric stiched together with padding in between then stich all the squares togther then cover the 'untidy' side with a single piece of fabric. Very Cath Kidston.

Or patchwork cushions if you want something smaller.

The one thing about hand made presents no-one throws them away

[loukr]

Thanx everybody, more ideas always welcome! Lore, They'd be for ages ranging from 1 - 80!

I have a huge family, my dads side is very erm... loud, eg I have a 45 year old auntie who thinks she's still 18, and the rest are very similar. Where as mums side is very laid back... calm and collected!! so I need an interesting range of ideas!

All great so far though, thanx everyone! Lou x