7 Christmas Sewing Ideas – Sewing Machines Los Angeles

There are plenty of good reasons to do some Christmas sewing this year:

• Financial – making some of your own Christmas gifts can really stretch a holiday dollar.
• Quality – even a person with rudimentary sewing skills can produce an item far superior to what can be purchased at some of the big box stores.
• Uniqueness – Sometimes you just want to give a one-of-a-kind gift, a gift that will be remembered or tickle a funny bone. One way for your gift to really stand out, is to make it yourself.

Over the last 40 years, I’ve developed a list of tried and true Christmas sewing ideas. Some of my favorite gifts to give family and friends are Christmas related items that can be used to decorate and celebrate the season. In the past, I would get so excited with my projects that I just couldn’t wait to give my presents out.

Here are 7 Christmas sewing ideas for gifts that are meant to be opened upon receipt and put into use immediately.

Christmas Sewing Idea #1 – Tablecloths and Napkins

There is fabric manufactured specifically for this purpose. All you have to do is get the fabric cut to length and then hem the raw edges. Napkins can be created from the same fabric or contrasting. Most cloth dinner napkins are 12″ or 14″ square. Many of today’s sewing machines can create a rolled hem, but it can be done by hand as well.

Christmas Sewing Idea #2 – Large Holiday Pillows

Changing out throw pillows on a couch is a fast way to create a festive look in a room with a minimal amount of money and fuss. Tossed on the floor, they offer an alternative place to sit and open gifts I make the front out of a single, large (24″) quilt block in a very simple pattern (Ohio Star, monkey wrench, log cabin). Sometime I add lace. I give three or five pillows, stacked up and tied with a big ribbon.

Christmas Sewing Idea #3 – Advent Calendars

An advent calendar is a 24 day countdown to Christmas – starting on December 1 and ending on Christmas Eve. However, since you’re the one doing the creating, you can make it to include Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve. This is a great gift for the family that has school age children. There are commercial patterns available, but it could be something as simple as recycled jeans pockets stitched onto a piece of canvas. Don’t forget to hide a little treat in each pocket.

Christmas Sewing Idea #4 – Christmas Tree Skirt

My own personal Christmas pet peeve is an old ratty bed sheet wrapped around the base of the Christmas tree. I’m quick to replace it with a special hand stitched tree skirt. Piece it, quilt it, appliqué it, paint it or even stamp it. Commercial tree skirts range in diameter from 48″ to 60″.

Christmas Sewing Idea #5 – Christmas Stockings

A beautiful Christmas stocking is a great way to welcome a new member of the family. Try to match the fabric and style with the personality of the recipient.

Christmas Sewing Idea #6 – Christmas Ornaments

Christmas sewing really shines when you use your talents to make ornaments. Usually they become the most treasured gifts of all. You can spend hours sewing that one perfect Victorian-styled pouf or quickly stitch up a dozen felt hobby horses. Either way, you can use your Christmas sewing for a gift that will remind the recipient how much you care, every year as they decorate their tree.

Christmas Sewing Idea #7 – Toys! Toys! Toys!

Something about Christmas brings about the child in all of us – and that child wants TOYS! Sew up some little animals to tuck into the top of a Christmas stocking. Or stitch up a silly reindeer doll or a teddy bar to guard Santa’s cookies and milk.