Looking for gifts to sew this holiday season? These 21 ideas from Etsy are perfect for a cozy weekend at your sewing machine. With just a few yards of fabric or scraps from your stash, you can make something both practical and beautiful for your loved ones this Christmas.

In this post, I’ll share 21 projects any sewist can make: from soft children’s toys and tote bags, to home decor items and cozy accessories. Each one is a great way to support small businesses, a great way to use up fabric scraps, and they make perfect gifts for family and friends. If you’re looking for something to get for a sewist or knitter in your life, don’t miss my roundup of The Ultimate Gift Guide for Makers.

Just a heads-up—some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Wool Wren Studio! ✨

Bags & Pouches

1. The Roo Tote Bag – Rosie Caldwell Studio

• Why it’s great: With roomy pockets and a full zipper closure, the bag is perfect for those who love to take everything with them everywhere!
• Recommended fabric: cotton canvas, floral 100% cotton, or linen
• Skills practiced: quilting (if desired), zippers, straps
• Looking for smaller bags to sew? Check out Rosie’s other patterns, including this quilted tote bag, book covers, and toiletry bags.

photo credit: Rosie Caldwell Studios

2. Lucy Train Case – Craft Owl Handmade

• Why it’s great: inside seams are finished with bias binding for a clean finish
• Recommended fabric: use this fat ⅛ bundle to make a patchwork train case!
• Skills practiced: zippers, bias binding
• Check out Craft Owl‘s other patterns – Tiny Tote, Toasty Oven Mitts , Bookish Tote

photo credit: Craft Owl Handmade

3. Drawstring Pouch – Sewing Shed Designs

• Why it’s great: fully lined pouch perfect for toiletries, small gifts or gift cards!
• Recommended materials: organic cotton cord
• Skills practiced: creating a bag lining
• the perfect size for gifting stocking stuffers like these bird magnets or this leather bookmark

photo credit: Sewing Shed Designs

4. Samstag Wallet Zipper Pouch – LBG Studio

• Why it’s great: has 4 pockets including a welt zipper pocket! Multiple style options make endless possibilities.
• Recommended fabrics: Tilda Sanctuary Fat Quarter Bundle
• Skills practiced: sewing zippers through multiple layers
• Grab these ⅞” split key rings

photo credit: LBG Studio

5. Sew Happy Tote Pattern – Rosie Taylor Crafts

• Why it’s great: perfect for beginners and advanced sewists alike!
• Recommended fabrics: printed cotton canvas
• Skills practiced: straight seams, sewing in cotton webbing
• Check out these iridescent quilting rulers for accurate cuts

photo credit: Rosie Taylor Crafts

6. Quilted Zip Pouches – Sewing Stroll

• Why it’s great: beginner friendly with a 4k video tutorial
• Recommended fabrics: 100% cotton toile
• Skills practiced: zippers and lining
• This pattern comes includes 5 sizes!

photo credit: Sewing Stroll

7. Doggy Bag Holder – LaRae Handmade

• Why it’s great: It’s an easy project to make with the kids!
• Recommended fabrics: any 12×12″ ssquare
• Skills practiced: straight seams
• If you’re looking for a stocking to sew, check out LaRae Handmade’s Stocking pattern!

photo credit: La Rae Handmade

For the Kids

8. Ruffle Pillow & Blanket – Tiny Sewing Company

• Why it’s great: comes with two sizes for the blanket and pillow. They can also be made without the ruffle!
• Recommended fabrics: 100% cotton gauze
• Skills practiced: creating and sewing on a ruffle
• Check out Tiny Sewing Company’s other patterns, like this baby playmat or these fairy wings.

photo credit: Tiny Sewing Company

9. Tinsel the Deer – EFI Little Things

• Why it’s great: This beginner-friendly pattern comes with instructions that include over 60 detailed, colored photos
• Recommended fabrics: soft brushed 100% cotton flannel
• Skills practiced: tight seams, turning fabric
• I made a 10cm mini goose last year for a friend’s baby, and it was so well-loved!

photo credit: EFI Little Things

10. Travel Dollhouse Sewing Pattern – Sarah’s Day Off

• Why it’s great: perfect for scraps and features a full video tutorial!
• Recommended fabrics: 100% floral cotton
• Skills practiced: applique, embroidery
• Be sure to check out Sarah’s Oversized Bow sewing pattern, too!

photo credit: Sarah’s Day Off

11. Morea Crossbody Bag for Adults & Minis – Rooney Clothing

• Why it’s great: You can make this bag for your mini-me and yourself!
• Recommended fabrics:
• Skills practiced: quilting, zippers
• Rooney Clothing also has patterns you can sew for kids, like this teddy lovey and this apron!

photo credit: Rooney Clothing

12. Christmas Nativity Play Set – Pin Cut Sew Studio

• Why it’s great: this sweet set features a bag to carry these toys around anywhere!
• Recommended fabrics: 100% wool felt
• Skills practiced: toy and bag making
• Pin Cut Sew Studio also has patterns for dolls, ornaments, and reusable fabric bags!

photo credit: Lovely and Enough

Home Decor

13. Sunday Baking Potholders – Arabesque Scissors

• Why it’s great: these potholders feature handquilting to make them even more special
• Recommended fabrics: Tilda Memories Fat Quarter Bundle
• Skills practiced: hand sewing, attaching binding
• Grab some of this Insul-Bright to protect your loved one’s hands!

photo credit: Arabesque Scissors

14. Merry Days Advent Calendar – Me & Kiddo

• Why it’s great: this affordable project will become an instant family heirloom
• Recommended fabric: 100% cotton canvas
• Skills practiced: straight seams
• Check out Me & Kiddo’s other holiday patterns
• You can check out my version of the Merry Days pattern here!

photo credit: Me & Kiddo Patterns

15. Christmas Mug Rugs – Ten Cow Quilts

• Why it’s great: These coasters have a small pocket that make it perfect for giving physical gift cards or other small gifts!
• Recommended fabrics: Christmas is in Town Fat Eight Bundle
• Skills practiced: foundation paper piecing
• Pair it with an Etsy Gift Card so your loved one can buy a pattern themselves!

photo credit: Ten Cow Quilts

16. Christmas Trees Pillow – Helen Phillips Design

• Why it’s great: the perfect festive gift for anyone who loves holiday home decor
• Recommended fabrics: Rifle Paper Co. Fat Quarter Christmas Bundle
• Skills practiced: machine applique
• Embellish this pillow with sweet star buttons for an extra sweet touch

photo credit: Helen Phillips Design

17. Quilted Christmas Ornaments – Joe, June, and Mae

• Why it’s great: with instructions for 5 templates, you can make the whole set or individual ornaments for everyone on your list!
• Recommended fabric: Santa Claus Quilting Cotton bundle
• Skills practiced: machine piecing
• Check out these patterns for Santa, Rudolf, and a Snowman quilty ornaments, too!

→ Looking for more ornaments to make? Check out these other blog posts!

photo credit: Joe, June, and Mae

18. Christmas Present Placemats and Table Runner – Stacey Lee Creative

• Why it’s great: you can easily lengthen or shorten the table runner by adding more presents!
• Recommended fabrics: Bright Holiday Quilting Cotton
• Skills practiced: patchwork, quilting
• Stacey Lee has many patterns for classic quilt blocks, like a sawtooth star or flying geese

photo credit: Stacey Lee Creative

Cozy Accessories

19. Trapper Hat for Baby, Kids & Adults – Made by Me Patterns

• Why it’s great: make this cozy winter accessory for the whole family!
• Recommended fabrics: this Organic Cotton Fleece makes the perfect natural fiber lining
• Skills practiced: sewing a lining
• Made by Me Patterns also has a Beanie Hat and Scarf pattern perfect for beginners who want to learn to sew with knits!

photo credit: Made by Me Patterns

20. Cozy Mittens – Lovely and Enough

• Why it’s great: Affordable natural wool mittens can be hard to find but this handmade accessory can be made of both wool and cotton
• Recommended fabrics: 100% boiled wool
• Skills practiced: can hand sew to finish mittens if desired
• Checkout #LovelyEnoughMittens on Instagram for inspiration!

photo credit: Lovely and Enough

21. Butter Quilt Scarf – Matchy Matchy Sewing Club

• Why it’s great: The instructions include two styles scarfs- rectangle or triangle!
• Recommended fabrics: Soft Essex Linen Yarn Dyed Fabric
• Skills practiced: garment sewing and quilting
• Check out Matchy Matchy’s Quilted Stocking and Stack Pocket Tote Bag patterns for gift ideas, too!

photo credit: Matchy Matchy Sewing Club

5 Tips for Sewing Gifts for Friends and Family

1. Make something they’ll use

What is something your loved one could use? Do they live somewhere where handmade mittens would be worn frequently? Do they love baking and could use a new pair of pot holders? Are they someone who collects ornaments and loves having a new one to add to their tree? Making something they’ll love make handmade gifts that much more special.

2. Consider fabric choice

Natural fibers like cottons and linens are perfect for gifting. They come in a variety of weights, colors, and prints and are warm and versitile, making them easy to work with. They are affordable and will last for years to come.

• Use code “WOOLWRENSTUDIO” for 10% off when you order from Sew by Sew or The Linen Lab!

3. Support local and small businesses

Buying patterns from indie designers helps support small businesses. You can support local businesses by buying your notions and fabric from the shop around the corner.

4. Check out the local thrift store

Many thrift stores have materials like yarn and fabric that can be repurposed. You might also find the perfect gift wrap, ribbons, or box to put their gift into!

5. Make it personal

Think about their favorite colors, themes, or hobbies. What can you make that will let them know that you were thinking of them when you were making this gift just for them?

Check out Etsy’s Holiday Gift Hub for personalized gifts for everyone in your life.

photo credit: Etsy.ca

You can find all the patterns mentioned plus more in this curated Etsy collection below! ⬇️

Final Thoughts

These 21 gifts to sew are perfect for gifting during the holiday season but can be made all throughout the year.

If you’re looking for other gifts to make, check out these posts:

• Handmade Gifts to Sew for Mom
• 10 Quick Last Minute Gifts to Sew
• 2024 Christmas Sewing Patterns
• 13 Gift Ideas for Friends & Family

Which of these projects will you try first? Share your weekend sewing in the comments or tag me on Instagram @woolwren.studio.

📌 Save this to your Pinterest board so you can make these later! 📌

Which projects are you excited to knit? Let us know in the comments!