A Crafty Christmas?

badboob67

Christmas is coming and money's tight, so I'm trying to come up with some crafty ideas for Christmas gifts. I can do lots of things--knit, crochet, sew, paint, crosstitch, embroidery, punch needle embroidery, weaving, fabric painting,calligraphy, papercrafts, polymer clay (you name it, I've probably tried it!). I've already decided my nieces are getting handbags like this:

I'm going to make my own pattern for these (cross your fingers for me!) and will make a couple different covers for them.

I'm sewing pajama bottoms for my 3 boys (ages 18, 13, and 12). My 14 year old nephew wouldn't be "impressed" with jammie pants, so....any ideas?

I also need ideas for the in-laws, dh, and more for my boys as well as a few friends. I used to do gift baskets with homemade goodies, but I don't have the energy these days for that. Any ideas for gifts would have to be something that goes rather quickly (so, no knitted sweaters, although I'd love to actually FINISH one someday! LOL!) Oh--and we can't forget the fur babies. My dog-in-law is a truly pampered 1/2 daschund, 1/2 chijuajua and we have 2 cats and a dog.

So, if you have ideas or links, I'd appreciate it if you added them here! I'm counting on you all for some inspiration!

(((HUGS)))
Diane

PS: does anybody know of a (free) pattern online for a guitar strap? I think my 18-year-old musician son would dig one of those.

everyminute

I love hand crochetted or knitted scarves - and a doggie sweaters are little!

quiltmom

How about pillowcases out of fun fabric.  One year I made 14.  Search for fabric with a personal touch, music, sports,animals, etc.  My husband and 20 yr. old boys have 50's pin up fabric for theirs.  Aprons and potholds out of fun fabrics are also a good idea.  Good luck.

lvtwoqlt

BadBoob, LionBrand yarn has a good selection of free patterns online and I think there is one for a knitted guitar strap. that should be quick and easy to make. Also check out http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall03/PATTbanshee.html this is another knitted guitar strap.

I am making pocket books also that have 6 pocket surrounding the outside of the pocketbook. It is great to put your cell phone in as well as your car keys when you go into the store, when you come out you are not digging in the bottom for the keys. I will see it the magazine I got it out of has online directions.

Sheila

badboob67

everyminute--you're right about the doggie sweater! I may just try that!

I hadn't thought about pillowcases. They sure are quick to make.  Gosh, teenaged boys are HARD! 

Anonymous

Im beating the bushes for ideas for gifts too!!!!!!!

For the adults in the family we throw everyones name into a container and each draw, so makes only one adult gift to do so that ones not too bad....I have my sister in law and she is easy...I will take a basket of some sort and fill it with goodies....I have a 14" doily about 1/2 done for it and have bought a few things here and there through out the year for filling....tea mug, dish towels, keychain, candles.....Ive made these types baskets for all of my family over the years and everyone seems to love them.

Now for the little ones-they range from 16 yrs to 2 yrs so have a wide spread...the younger ones are easy but the 16 and 15 yrs old are a little harder....the guitar strap is a good idea as one of them plays.

I sure wish I would just win the lottery!!!!!!!

Merry Holidays!!!!!

yellowrose

One of my collegue's teens are into roll-playing games.  They use dice for them so she knitted/crocheted each of them a unique dice bag.  She said that they use them all the time.

PSK07

My husband's aunt always knitted slippers for the men, women, and girls. We loved 'em. She also crocheted dish scrubbies with heavy cotton yarn - about 6x4" rectangles. Add a cute retro style apron - about $5 worth of fabric, max.

My mom made guitar straps back in the 70's...probably not what you're looking for, though.

Two years ago she knitted felted purses.  Last year we all got scarves knitted with tweedy yarns. She found a huge bag in her closet...thought it was papers for shredding. Turned out to be knitting projects, mostly from when she was going through chemo. She'd start one, get 3/4 of the way through and put it aside. There must be 8 almost complete sweaters...most with the needles still in them. Chemo brain....

I can't believe your nephew wouldn't want flannel pjs, but what do I know, I only have girls.  Maybe a fleece blanket for curling up in front of the TV? (Nice masculine print...)  Oh - just thought of something - those knitted hats with the ear flaps...all of the girls' friends wear them.

For dogs (we don't do cats) - we have two pugs. The older one is about 16 and can't easily get down the one step from the kitchen to the family room. We have a pillow (like a seat cushion) for him to use as an intermediate step. He will also curl up and sleep on it.  There are a few pillows that I made under a corner table for them to lie on as well...they love a cubbie/semi-enclosed space. I've made lightly padded mats - double layer of fleece - to use on hardwood floors or when camping.

abbadoodles

My godson, now 31, always loved a nice, cushy, warm and cuddly blankie.  I am thinking of knitting him a new one out of washable wool yarn.  BTW, he is all "guy" but still loves being pampered with soft stuff.

I am making a bunch of book thongs for friends.  Since I do polymer clay, I will use PC beads, etc. at either end.  You can just go to the store and buy cool beads, though.  Use waxed linen cord or something that will be strong enough but still lie fairly flat in between pages of a book.  Tie on some beads at either end and voila!  A book thong.

abinneb

Hi Diane!

I have two nephews who loved fleece hats for when they were snowboarding.  I also crocheted some 'skullies' which were/are poplular with teens.  I also made fleece and crocheted wrist warmers for them.  They can wear them with their hoodies or jackets and it keeps the snow from going up their arms when they wipeout! 

Oh - also saw a funny pattern for a christmas collar of sorts - pointed (like a jester?) with jingle bells on it.   I'm goiing to be making one for a friend in red/greeen - maybe variegated. (oops - meant for the friend's dog - not my friend!!! LOL!!)

Amy

lvtwoqlt

I forgot about making the crazy fleece hats. I have also made them for my son, nieces, nephews, and great nephews. One hat even went with my son on deployment to wear on the ship when they had Crazy Hat Day, it was a fleece ski hat I made with long fleece strips sewed around it as like a crazy wig. Two years ago I made them for my in-laws husbands and their children.

I made a patchwork fleece hat (hunter style with the fold up ear flaps) for my hubby out of the scraps of other fleece to see if I could get the pattern big enough for his large head and he likes it better than the solid black one I made for him to actually wear in public. I can make the hats in less than an hour.

abinneb

The earflap fleece hat sounds great - would be good for shoveling snow! 

I never imagined my teenage nephew or his buddies would wear crazy style hats - like a jester type - they loved them - seemed like the crazier the better.  Guess I forgot what it is like to be a teen!!  Oh - if someone likes winter sports - an easy one-seam tube of fleece can become an instant 'turtleneck' of sorts.  Can be folded over to be very thick and warm. Or worn like they used to wear slouch socks?  Kind of bunched up.  I don't always like to wear too much heavy clothing but still like to have my neck warm without long scarves in the way.