A fat quarter, a zipper and one free evening is about all most of these DIY gifts to sew for friends ask of you. Sewing gifts are the ones people keep, because they get used every single day: the pouch in the purse, the cozy on the coffee cup, the pillow on the couch. You’ll find a camper zipper pouch with a little heart in the door, bandana pillows that cost a few dollars each, fabric coffee cozies traced from a cardboard sleeve and hand sewn fabric hearts that don’t even need a machine. Bags are one of the things I make myself, so yes, there are a lot of totes and pouches in here (no apologies). There’s also a kitty heating pad, a silk pillowcase and one giant hand pillow for the friend with a sense of humor. Perfect for Christmas gifts, birthdays, teacher gifts, stocking stuffers and anyone with a fabric stash that needs a reason to shrink.
1. DIY Leather Trimmed Laptop Case
A padded laptop sleeve with a band of silver metallic leather along the bottom looks like something from a boutique, and it’s a free pattern. It’s sized for a 13 inch MacBook Pro, but you can resize it for any laptop. A layer of 1/4 inch foam gives it real padding, and a fun novelty lining shows when it opens. Add a button or tab on the front that suits the person (a vintage horse button stars on the original). Note that the full step by step lives on the WeAllSew blog, linked from the post.
Get the full tutorial at The Polka Dot Chair.
2. Patchwork Scarf
Got a friend who’s always cold? This patchwork scarf is the fix, and it’s a great beginner sew. You join eighteen 9 by 6 inch fat quarter pieces into two strips, sew tiny pom pom trim along the edges of one, then stitch the strips together and turn it right side out. It finishes at 52 by 8 1/2 inches, so add pieces if they like a longer wrap. A cording foot keeps the pom pom trim moving smoothly, and here’s the warning that matters: press the trim with a pressing cloth, or you’ll melt it.
Get the full tutorial at The Polka Dot Chair.
3. Easy DIY Reversible Burlap And Lace Table Runner
Two table runners in one, and barely any sewing. You start with a ready made burlap runner (the tutorial uses a 14 by 108 inch one), then run a long straight stitch down four 36 inch pieces of wide ivory lace and pull the thread to ruffle them. The ruffles get hot glued to each end, so nothing shows through, and a single strip of lace runs down the center of the other side. Flip it for the season. It’s a sweet gift for the friend who hosts Thanksgiving every year.
Get the full tutorial at The Pinning Mama.
4. Darling Kitchen Towels
Hand towels have a way of walking off or ending up on the floor. These hanging kitchen towels fix that with a fabric top that wraps around the oven handle, fridge door or a drawer pull and buttons closed. They’re a more modern take on the craft fair country version, so pick a bright food print or polka dots and they look fresh. Make a few in holiday prints and you’ve got a go-to housewarming gift. The step by step is in the So Sew Easy video tutorial linked from the post.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
5. Pom Pom Clutch
A Lilly Pulitzer inspired clutch in bright summer prints, trimmed with rows of lace and pom poms. It’s a lined zipper pouch at heart: two 8 by 13 inch outer pieces, two lining pieces, a 9 inch metal zipper with little fabric tabs on the ends and foam interfacing for body. Stitch the lace with 1 inch between the rows, add the pom pom trim with a cording or zipper foot, then assemble and turn. Fill it with makeup or nail polish and it’s a birthday gift that looks far fancier than the hour it takes.
Get the full tutorial at The Polka Dot Chair.
6. Tufted Round Patchwork Floor Cushion
This is the big showpiece gift, so save it for someone you really love. Nine coordinating florals get pieced into a round floor cushion about 24 inches across and 5 inches deep, finished with bias piping, a cotton webbing handle and real upholstery tufting. A free 16 page printable pattern takes the stress out of cutting two perfect circles. The tutorial recommends a professionally cut 5 inch medium density foam circle and a full 1/2 inch seam allowance, since a floor cushion gets sat on. A walking foot helps a lot with the thick layers.
Get the full tutorial at Sew4Home.
7. Fiesta Pot Holder
A pot holder that doubles as an oven mitt, thanks to a patchwork pocket you slide your hand into. The front is 2 1/2 inch squares and tiny four patch blocks set on point, then quilted and bound like a mini quilt. A layer of Insul-Brite in the backing keeps the heat off your fingers. It finishes at a generous 9 by 11 inches and works beautifully with charm squares or jelly roll strips. Tuck it in with a cookbook or a few baking supplies and it’s a gift your baker friend will grab daily.
Get the full tutorial at A Spoonful of Sugar.
8. Fleece Ear Warmers
Cheap, fast and toasty, which is exactly what you want when the gift list is long. These fleece ear warmers are two layers of fleece sewn together with the edges left raw (fleece doesn’t fray, bless it). Round the ends, add two buttons so the fit adjusts, and top each one with a fleece rosette. The tutorial puts each one at about 20 minutes and roughly $1.25 with sale fleece. They’re warmer than a knit band, too. Make a stack in different colors for sisters, teachers and coworkers.
Get the full tutorial at At Second Street.
9. DIY Magnetic Wristband
For the friend who’s always holding screws in their teeth. This magnetic wristband keeps nails, screws and pins right on your wrist while you work, and it’s slim instead of bulky like the hardware store versions. Tiny strong magnets sit spaced out on a strip of scrap sheet metal, painter’s tape keeps them from sliding together, and the whole thing gets sewn into a fabric sleeve with velcro and set with rivets. You’ll need tin snips and a rivet setter. Keep those tiny magnets away from little kids.
Get the full tutorial at My Altered State.
10. Fabric Notebook Cover
A fabric notebook cover turns a plain journal into a gift, and it’s a great way to show off a pretty fat quarter. The cover is three strips patched together, with fusible interfacing, a lining and folded pockets on each side that hold the notebook covers. An elastic band and a fabric covered button keep it closed. The finished size is 15 by 9 inches, but the rule is easy: cut your fabric to the notebook’s height and width plus 1 inch. Pin the interfacing while you turn it, since it likes to come loose.
Get the full tutorial at TeresaDownUnder.
11. Monogrammed DIY Tote Bags
A lined tote bag in sturdy duck fabric, with a monogram on the front if you have an embroidery machine (it’s optional, the bag is cute without it). Heavy interfacing becomes the pattern itself, 14 inches high and 19 inches wide with 2 1/2 by 2 inch notches cut from the corners, which is how you get the boxed bottom. The straps are 3 inch strips pressed and topstitched, placed 5 inches from the edges. You’ll need 3/4 yard each of two coordinating duck fabrics. A tote with their initial on it is a gift people carry everywhere.
Get the full tutorial at Sweet T Makes Three.
12. Retro Drawstring Bags
These little lined drawstring bags are the gift and the gift wrap at the same time. Each one is just 4 1/2 by 6 1/2 inches, made from two coordinating prints joined with a strip of lace or trim, with rounded bottom corners traced around a cotton reel. A hand stitched lace motif on the front makes them look vintage. Being small, the drawstring channel is a little fiddly, so sew slowly. Slip in a gift card or a small piece of jewelry and it’s done. Fair warning, it’s hard to stop at one.
Get the full tutorial at A Spoonful of Sugar.
13. Crayon Art Tote
Know a little artist? This crayon art tote has a stitched row of crayon slots on the front pocket, so the crayons ride along and the coloring book goes inside. It’s made from four fat quarters, fusible fleece and interfacing, with all 1/4 inch seams. Decorative trim sits 1 1/2 inches from the top and bottom (ruffle rick rack is adorable here), and Wash Away Wonder Tape holds it in place while you sew. Fill it with crayons and a sketchbook and you’ve got a birthday gift kids actually get excited about.
Get the full tutorial at The Cottage Mama.
14. Mini Scrap Wallets
Little scraps turn into the most useful tiny gift. These mini wallets need two 6 by 10 inch pieces of fabric, a matching piece of fusible fleece and one set of snaps. Download the free template, sew the outer fabric and lining right sides together, turn, then fold up the bottom about 3 inches and stitch the sides. For a fun twist, paper piece random scraps right onto the template. Make a batch to keep on hand, then slip in a gift card when a birthday sneaks up on you. Add decor bond for a stiffer wallet.
Get the full tutorial at The Sewing Loft.
15. DIY BBQ Towel
Sewing for the guys can be tough, and this grilling towel solves it. A plain kitchen towel gets a band of fabric edged in bias tape, a couple of iron-on twill patches with BBQ stenciled on with freezer paper, and a grommet so it hangs from a hook on the grill. Prewash the towel and fabric first, since both can shrink, and match your bobbin thread to the towel so the stitching doesn’t show on the back. Let the paint dry overnight. Great for Father’s Day, birthdays or the friend who owns the grill.
Get the full tutorial at Craft Whatever.
16. Felt Doughnut Pin Cushion
Every sewist needs a pin cushion, and this one looks good enough to eat. Three felt doughnut shapes (two browns plus pink for the icing) are cut from a free printable template, then hand stitched with blanket stitch. Embroider colorful sprinkles on the icing, add beads if you like, and stuff it firmly as you close the outer edge so it fills evenly. The trick is blanket stitching the edges first, then joining the layers through those stitches. It’s a fun hand sewing project for the couch.
Get the full tutorial at Wrapped Up in Rainbows.
17. Mug Rugs
A mug rug is a tiny quilt, just big enough for a coffee mug and a cookie, and it’s the friendliest way to learn quilting. You’ll need two 7 by 5 inch pieces of fabric, thin batting and plain white cotton cut to the same size, plus about 30 inches of binding. Layer the quilt sandwich, stitch a few straight lines across, then bind the edges. The tutorial finishes the binding by hand and links a good guide for it. Make one and you’ll make six, so plan on mug rugs for the whole office.
Get the full tutorial at Natasha Goes.
18. DIY Towel Wrap
A spa towel wrap is pure luxury for a friend heading to college, a bride or anyone who loves a long bath. This version uses a yard of terry cloth, 16 to 20 inches of non-roll elastic at the back for a snug fit and velcro at the top. Instead of binding, the bottom gets a ruffle made from an 88 by 2 1/2 inch strip, plus a monogram on the front. The post is a remix of a Sew4Home pattern, so you’ll follow that original for the basic directions and this one for the ruffle.
Get the full tutorial at Sisters of the Wild West.
19. Free Camper Zipper Pouch Pattern
This free camper zipper pouch looks way harder than it is. It’s straight stitching, fusible applique and a basic zipper, and the result is a little boxed camper with an arched door, a heart window, tie back curtains and a button wheel. It finishes about 7 1/4 inches wide, 6 inches tall with a 3 1/4 inch boxed bottom, so it works as a makeup bag, notions case or road trip snack stash. You’ll need three fat quarters, fusible fleece, a 10 inch zipper and scraps. Hand it to your camping friend filled with goodies.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
20. DIY Fabric Koozies
Fabric koozies are one of those things you’ll use more than you ever expected. They’re a really easy sew: cut the fabric and lining into same size rectangles, stitch until almost closed, then turn and finish. Ours are made from two bandanas, one red and one blue, so they flip to a different color, which is handy for telling whose drink is whose at a party. They fit beer bottles and cans. Make a set in team colors for the tailgate crowd, and follow along with the video on the post.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
21. Easy DIY Fruit Embroidered Tote Bag
Embroidery and pom poms on a plain canvas tote, and suddenly it’s the cutest bag in the room. Draw your design (cherries are adorable), outline the leaves in backstitch, sew the stems in stem stitch and fill the leaves with satin stitch. For the fruit, wrap yarn around three fingers about 100 times, tie, cut and trim into a pom pom, then hot glue it to the end of each stem. Here’s the tip: mix two thread colors in the leaves for a richer look. Stitch a name on it for a personal touch.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
22. Easy Fabric Hearts Sewing Tutorial
No machine needed, so you can make these on the couch with a movie on. A felt heart with the center cut out frames a little patch of printed fabric, then a solid felt heart goes on the back and you backstitch it all together. Pinking shears give the edges that pretty zigzag, a folded ribbon tucked in the top makes a hanger, and a button finishes it off. Add a pinch of dried lavender inside before you close it and it doubles as a sachet. Make a bowl full for friends, teachers and the tree.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
23. How to Make Bandana Pillows
Two bandanas and a pillow insert, and you’ve got a pillow for a few dollars (dollar store bandanas are perfect). Lay them right sides together, mark a 1/4 inch seam, and sew three sides, leaving about 8 inches open on the last one so there’s less to close. Turn it, stuff it with an 18 inch insert or fiberfill and stitch or glue it shut. Don’t sew? There’s a no-sew option with fabric glue. They look right at home in farmhouse, boho or cabin decor, and a stack of three makes a fun housewarming gift.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
24. Beginner Sewing Project Tutorial: Coffee Cozies
Got a coffee lover on your list? You don’t even need a pattern for these. Trace a cardboard cup sleeve onto your fabric, add a 1/4 inch seam allowance, and sew the outer and lining pieces with a layer of insulating fleece tucked between. A hair elastic glued into the gap makes the loop, and a button closes it. They’re reusable, so goodbye to the paper sleeves. Make them in holiday prints and pair one with a gift card for the coffee shop. Teachers, coworkers and stocking stuffers, done.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
25. Hanging Beach Chair Caddy
If their beach bag is a black hole, this is the gift. The caddy wraps over the armrest of a folding beach chair and velcros around the rail so it can’t slide or blow away. Three box pleated front pockets expand to hold sunscreen, a paperback and a phone, and a hidden zip pocket on the back keeps keys out of sight. It finishes about 14 by 10 inches, every piece is a rectangle, and bias binding finishes all the edges in one pass. The free printable pattern is at the end of the post.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
26. Cuddly Kitty Rice Heating Pad
Part heating pad, part cat, completely adorable. This rice heat pack has a long body for draping over the neck and shoulders, an embroidered kitty face and little paw lines. Print the free template, cut the shapes from doubled cotton fabric (nothing with metallic threads, it goes in the microwave), sew and turn. Fill it with about 3 pounds of regular uncooked rice mixed with a few drops of essential oil. Skip instant rice, which might cook itself. Heat for about 60 seconds and hand it to your most stressed out friend.
Get the full tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
27. DIY Silk Pillowcase
A silk pillowcase feels like a spa splurge, and it’s gentler on hair than cotton. You need 1 yard of 45 inch wide silk charmeuse or silk satin, cut to 36 by 42 inches, for a finished 20 by 31 inch case. French seams keep the inside neat and stop fraying. Silk is slippery, so use a fresh 70/10 microtex needle and fine pins. Prewash it on the delicate cycle, since this is something they’ll sleep on every night. The leftover strip makes a matching scrunchie. Photo and tutorial credit: Melly Sews.
Get the full tutorial at Melly Sews.
28. Upcycled Scarf Lavender Eye Pillows
A thrifted vintage scarf turns into a soothing eye pillow, which is about the best second life a scarf could ask for. Cut two rectangles of the scarf and two of muslin with pinking shears, dab a bit of Mod Podge on the raw edges to stop fraying, then sew, turn and partly close. The filling is 1 1/4 cups of flax seed and a generous 1/4 cup of dried lavender, plus a few drops of essential oil, poured in with a funnel until it’s just over half full. Painter’s tape instead of pins saves the delicate fabric.
Get the full tutorial at Sadie Seasongoods.
29. Upcycled Denim Plant Pot Cozies
Old jeans plus one small plant equals a gift for the friend who keeps everything green alive. The cuff of a jean leg becomes the pot cover, folded down about 1 1/2 inches and trimmed with a 20 by 3 inch band of quilting cotton. Sew across the bottom with a 1/4 inch seam and box the corners so it sits flat. A denim needle helps, and lighter jeans with a little stretch are easiest. Fits a pot about 4 to 5 inches tall. Every pair of jeans behaves differently, so expect to adjust a bit.
Get the full tutorial at Swoodson Says.
30. DIY Linen Cloth Napkins
Cloth napkins make every dinner feel a little special, and these skip the fussy tiny hems completely. For each napkin, cut two 17 inch squares, sew them right sides together with a 1/2 inch seam, leaving a gap, then clip the corners, turn and press. A topstitch 1/4 inch from the edge closes the gap and gives a crisp finish. You’ll end up with 16 inch napkins, two from half a yard of fabric. Linen in rich fall colors looks gorgeous. Tie a set with twine for the friend hosting the holidays. Tutorial from Ideas for the Home by Kenarry.
Get the full tutorial at Ideas for the Home by Kenarry.
31. Easy Fabric Headbands
These elastic back headbands are comfy, keep hair out of your face and take one fat quarter for four of them. Cut one 5 by 18 inch piece and one 2 by 10 inch piece, sew them into tubes and turn them. Thread a 5 inch length of 1/2 inch elastic through the small tube with a safety pin, then fold the big tube’s ends around it and stitch. The finished band is 2 inches wide and fits most adult heads, and you can adjust the length of the big piece for any size. Tutorial from One Little Project.
Get the full tutorial at One Little Project.
32. Microwave Bowl Cozy
Hot soup, cool fingers. A bowl cozy cradles a bowl in the microwave and on the couch, and it’s the kind of gift people use every day. Each one takes two 10 1/2 inch squares of fabric and two 10 inch squares of batting, quilted, darted at the corners and topstitched. Here’s the part not to skip: to be microwave safe, the fabric, batting and thread all have to be 100% cotton, including the bobbin. Once you get going, each cozy takes under 30 minutes. Christmas prints make a great set. Tutorial from Hooked on Sewing.
Get the full tutorial at Hooked on Sewing.
33. Pretty Little Velcro Gift Pouch
Two fat quarters make two of these pouches, which is a pretty great deal. Cut the outer fabric, lining and interfacing to 8 1/2 by 18 inches, trace a mixing bowl to round the top edge, then sew around the outside, leaving a 2 inch gap. Turn, press and topstitch to close the gap, fold it in thirds and add velcro for the flap. It’s a great first project for a teen who wants to make gifts for friends. Fill it with lip balm, nail polish and hair ties. Tutorial from Simple Simon and Company.
Get the full tutorial at Simple Simon and Company.
34. Fabric Bookmarks
Tuck one of these into a new book and the gift feels finished. Each bookmark needs two 7 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch pieces of fabric and a 6 3/4 by 1 3/4 inch piece of thick fusible interfacing (or cardboard) for the stiff center. Sew the long sides and bottom, turn, press, slide in the interfacing, fold the top edge down and topstitch. A cutting machine speeds things up if you’re making a stack, but a rotary cutter works fine. Christmas prints are perfect for stocking stuffers. Tutorial from Over the Big Moon.
Get the full tutorial at Over the Big Moon.
35. Giant Hand Pillow
Every friend group has someone who’d love a giant hand on their couch. This quirky pillow starts with a traced hand, enlarged with a simple grid method. Spread your fingers wide when you trace, since that’s the mistake to avoid. Cut two mirror image hands, zigzag velvet fingernails onto the fingertips, then sew around with a 1/2 inch seam, leaving the wrist open. Stuff with fiberfill, working it into every fingertip, and stitch it shut. Ball fringe and a glued on trim ring are the fun finishing touches.
Get the full tutorial at At Charlotte's House.
36. Upcycled Jeans Sunglasses Case
That old pair of jeans is hiding a gift in its front pocket. This padded sunglasses case is cut from the front right pocket, coin pocket and all, so the case comes with a built-in spot for cards, cash or a phone. You’ll cut a 22 cm square each of denim, thin batting and a bright lining, round the bottom corners by tracing a cup, then sew and turn. A denim needle helps, though it can be hand sewn too. It’s a great pick for the guys on your list who hate carrying a bag.
Get the full tutorial at Pillar Box Blue.
