Date: 11/20/09 10:02 AM

I've finally got my dream budget machines after many years of craigslisting and saving (a Viking sewing machine and a Brother serger). And now.. I need ideas for Christmas presents to make!

I'm going to make some family members fleece snugglies. But I also have some male family members that I know wouldn't really go for the whole snuggly thing. So I'm not sure what to make them.

I've poked around etsy for some ideas, and did find some cute felt owl ornaments that I might make for package tie-ons, but I still need some "main" gift ideas.

Thoughts/suggestions?

Reply to Hanfaith
Date: 11/20/09 11:16 AM

How about flannel pajama bottoms for the guys? They're supposed to be slouchy so you'd avoid fitting issues.

Maybe a computer case? I think you can find neoprene online.

If you have any travellers on your list you could make bags to put your shoes in so they don't rub against your clothes or get scratched by other stuff in your luggage. Or a dopp kit?

JT

ETA correct punctuation!
-- Edited on 11/20/09 11:17 AM --

Date: 11/20/09 12:41 PM

look here: http://www.unitednotions.com/un_main.nsf/free_patterns
most are quilts but there are some bags, bibs etc. Cjheck out the All You Need bag. It is on my list of things to sew.
ETA: Please Deepika SPELL CHECK! My fingers have a mind of their own!
-- Edited on 11/20/09 12:42 PM --

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Bernina 1630, Brother ULT 2002D, PE Design NEXT, BES Lettering, Janome CoverPro 1000, Babylock Eclipse SX, Juki MO654DE, Singer 15-91, Janome 1600PDB, Remington Japanese Clone

Date: 11/20/09 12:51 PM

I picked up off-white aprons (with bibs) in the craft section of Walmart last year. They were $3 each. I machine embroidered the recipient's name in large letters in blue or red and underneath in another color did "King of the Kitchen". You could do a BBQ theme, also. For the women I used an overlapping heart design that featured different colors and textures with their name above. Everyone loved them. All it cost was the $3 per apron. I am not sure if Walmart still has them as ours has remodeled and cut out a lot of stuff. If you don't have embroidery capabilities, you can stencil them.

Another idea is pillowcases. They take hardly any time to make and you can decorate them with embroidery stitches or rickrack. Pot holders and oven mitts for women. Over-the-arm caddies for recliners (hold magazines and remote) for men. Table runners, placemats, and napkins for women. Simple purses and tote bags for women or girls. If you look through the craft section of pattern books you can get lots of ideas that are often so simple that you don't even need the pattern such as paperback book covers, etc.

If you run a search with "Free Christmas Projects" you can find other ideas. Also, in another thread, someone suggested going to Sewmamasew and look under "gifts". I was very impressed with this website because it gives a list of what you need to make the project and then shows pictures with the directions. Also, many sewing machine websites such as Husqvarna Viking offer lots of free projects.
-- Edited on 11/20/09 12:53 PM --

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Total fabric on hand: 1/1/12 1598.9823 yds.
Sewn in 2011: 224.771 yds
Fabric Stash Contest goal: 100 yards
Goal for 2012: 400 yards

Date: 11/28/09 8:28 PM

For my sister, I made napkins with two complementary fabrics, one on each side. I serged the edges with a narrow hem.

With the scraps I had left over, I made matching round coasters. For the padding between the two layers, I bought some rubber sheeting and cut them the same size as the coaster fabric. Serged also with a narrow hem.

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Pat H.
Carencro LA
Kenmore Zigzag, circa 1970's
Brother CS-770
Brother PE-770
Janome Jem Platinum 760
Singer 221 (1948)

Reply to Hanfaith
Date: 11/29/09 2:05 AM

If you want to stick with the fleece thing, what about making some lap size blankets out of sporty-looking fleece and calling them "stadium blankets"? Or you could make the kind that fold up into a pocket/pillow and call them "car blankets" or "emergency blankets". Either of these could have one side faced with a wind/weather resistant layer (ripstop nylon, etc), and maybe even a handle of nylon webbing, if you want to get fancy. Very manly!

Date: 12/5/09 9:31 PM

I just came from the martha stewart site and there are some nice ideas over there. Barring that, men enjoy comfort gifts like we do.... lap quilts, p.j. bottoms, satchels for thier goodies (hunting, fishing or auto organizer) Or how about a new shaving kit? All those can be made at home. How about one of those wrap around terry things for after the shower with thier initials on it.

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RedGarnet222

Subject: Creative Christmas Ideas-pets Date: 12/12/09 1:38 AM

I just made the cutest dog collars! My first. Two years ago I made winter fleece coats and last year I made ear warmers (snoods) and matching booties. All our grown kids' families have pets and the dogs have never complained about style or colors of fabric on sale!
-- Edited on 12/12/09 1:44 AM --

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re-living my youth through sewing with BabyLock Evolution and Ellisimo...

Date: 12/19/09 7:23 PM

I made a bunch of easy, reversible tote bags to use as grocery sacks. Easy and useful!

Date: 12/20/09 10:07 AM

I made a bunch of fleece socks with scraps from various fleece projects. There are lots of patterns out there for them such as Kwik Sew and Green Pepper (sorry,can't get link to work.) We like to sleep in them :)

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A balanced diet is a cupcake in each hand.