Handmade gifts can be the most meaningful ones to give and receive.
Below you will find a great list of quick and easy sewing projects for any skill level so you can give a one-of-a-kind thoughtful gift to your friend or family member.
This list is full of wonderful gifts for the holiday season or any special occasions when you need to whip up a last-minute gift!
Almost all of the tutorials and patterns are free so you can sit at your sewing machine and get straight to sewing some fab homemade gifts!
Quilted Journal Cover
These cute journal covers can be made in different sizes and are great for using up fabric scraps.
I’m sure you can come up with some great ideas on how to personalize these too – with favorite colors, names or a fussy cut image from your favorite scrap of fabric!
Easy Journal Cover Instructions & Tutorial Here
Owl Stuffed Toy
These cute stuffed toy owls can be sewn up in an evening for a super quick and easy gift idea.
Perfect Christmas gift idea for little girls and little boys. Use their favorite colors and clear your scrap bin at the same time! What child wouldn’t love finding one of these cute little guys under the Christmas tree?
Owl Soft Toy Instructions & Free Templates Here
Quick and Easy Coasters
These fun quilted coasters are a quick and easy gift to sew and have to be one of my favorite sewing projects.
You can whip up a batch of these in one sewing session and have lots of fun doing it!
These coasters are made using quilt-as-you-go method and of course are perfect for fabric scraps, pre-cuts and any leftover fabric you have to hand.
Use different colors to suit your recipient and they will be a totally unique gift.
Scrappy Coasters Tutorial & Video Instructions.
Quilted Wall Art
Another simple sewing project. Use lovely bright scrap fabric strips to make this quilt-as-you-go wall hanging.
Use a frame to give it a polished and modern look and you have a lovely gift that can be personalized to suit your friends and family’s decor.
Quilt-As-You-Go Wall Hanging Instructions & Tutorial Here.
Fabric Key Fob Wristlets
These key fob wristlets are super quick and easy to make.
Use the trimmed edges from your quilting projects, fancy ribbon, or just strips of scrap fabric to make these practical gifts.
Key Fob Tutorial and Instructions here.
Fleece Heart Cushions
Looking for some fleece fun? These squishy soft cushions are a hit with kids of all ages.
In fact, they were inspired by my kids when I asked them what we should make from the leftovers of fleece quilt backings that I had in my sewing room.
This is an easy sewing project and also a great way to use up quilt batting scraps as well as fleece leftovers.
The mini version of these fleece hearts are also great for Christmas ornaments.
Fleece Heart Cushion Tutorial & Instructions here
Bookmarks
These bookmarks are made with tiny fabric trimmings – the stuff that ends up in your thread catcher bin.
They are thin enough to use comfortably in a book, unlike some fabric bookmarks and they are perfect for stocking stuffers!
Get the instructions and video tutorial for these Fabric Bookmarks here.
Stroller Quilt
This stroller quilt is the quickest quilt you’ll ever make.
It uses just 7 jelly roll strips and is a practical alternative to a baby quilt that Moms and kiddos will both appreciate.
The velcro straps make it easy to take off and on a stroller or buggy to keep your little one warm on those wintery days.
Full instructions for the Stroller Quilt can be found here.
Baby Color Book
Another great gift idea for kids is a baby color book.
Use up scraps in the colors of the rainbow to make them a lovely homemade gift that will help them learn too!
Art Portfolio
If you are looking for fun gift ideas for kids, this was one of my earliest sewn gifts for my nephew – a Thomas the Tank Engine lover.
It isn’t my tutorial but you can find links to the original free sewing pattern in this post here.
Simple QAYG Keychain
These easy quilt-as-you-go keychains are not only great for scraps it is also one of those great beginner projects for anyone starting out with quilt-as-you-go.
It was my first QAYG project!
Find the QAYG Keychain Tutorial Here.
Quilted Advent Calendar
My sister specially requested this advent calendar for her own home. It wasn’t exactly a Christmas gift as I had to give it to her early of course but she has used it every year since.
I don’t have a full tutorial for this one as I was up against the clock but I did make a video explaining my process that I hope you can follow to make your own version!
You will find the video about this project in this post here.
T-Shirt Tote Bag
I made these cool t-shirt tote bags using my friend’s pattern. The middle one was a gift for my husband using one of his old band t-shirts.
The pattern for this one isn’t free but you can find instructions on how to use t-shirt quilt interfacing for these bags and find the link to the pattern in the post below.
Bags are always useful gifts and I used this project as a stepping stone to doing my first T-shirt quilt (still to come!).
T-Shirt Bag & T-Shirt Quilt Interfacing
Mug Rugs
Mug Rugs are basically like large coasters that you can put your coffee and cookie on.
I gave a couple of mug rugs to my sons a few years ago during lockdown but I wanted to use them as wall hangings so I had to figure out how to add a hanging after the fact(!).
So this mug rug pattern isn’t mine but you can find a link to it in this post about how I managed to get these mug rugs on the wall!
No Measure Fabric Gift Bags
Not exactly a gift in and of itself but I love making these no-measure drawstring gift bags.
I sometimes get more exclamations from the gift bag than the gift inside it!
Full instructions & Video Tutorial for these Fabric Gift Bags is here.
I encourage you to let your friends keep these gift bags so they can re-use them when they gift and we can all use a little less disposable wrapping paper.
Scrap Fabric Flowers
Make these easy scrap fabric flowers and turn them into brooches, hair accessories or embellish a gift with them.
You can find two methods for making these Fabric Flowers here.
Fabric Doorstop
I experimented with making lots of fabric cubes recently.
Using the same method I made:
- Baby Cube Toys
- Doorstops
- an Ottoman Footstool
You can find the tutorial for how to make a fabric cube here.
Cushion Covers
Cushion Covers are easy Christmas gifts for anyone on your list.
I have made lots of these for friends including the ones above made from orphan blocks that I gave to my kids.
You’ll find the tutorial with two ways to insert a zipper in your cushion here.
Video Version – Gifts to Sew
More Ideas for Quick Gifts to Sew
There are so many fun and easy gifts you can sew – I’ve not got around to making tutorials for all of these but here are some more ideas if none of the ones above feel like the perfect gift for you to make:
- Reading Pillow (I have made a ton of these for little kids and I really need to make a tutorial soon!)
- Infinity Scarf
- Pot Holders
- Zipper Pouches (my family and friends got loads of these a couple of years ago! Great for makeup bags or a pencil case)
- ipad Case
- Placemats
- or make a Quick Quilt! I have lots of Free Quilt Patterns here.
- On my other blog one year I also made a bunch of different items from my husband’s old shirts that would make great gifts – including a cute chapstick holder.
