Homemade Gifts

Bexstars

Those look really fab! May have to have a go at making one of those

Queenie

cjalynch wrote:

I would think it depends very much on the recipient- last year we were very short of cash so I had a small hand towel in my cross-stitch bag and embroidered the edging in a mosaic pattern for mum's birthday. She wasn't at all sure what to think about the gift until she was told I had "made" it for her and was so pleased with it she won't use it but hangs it more as a decoration. Even though it was a small gift- and didn't cost anything compared to stuff I got her when I was young, rich and foolish!- it is probably the most valued thing she has received from me.

I made 5 tied fleece blankets for gifting to the friends we spend Christmas with and they were received with a smile and an "ooh, lovely!" ... the very best part was when J looked up and asked: "Did you *make* these?" and they were all gobsmacked!! Poor old A still keeps saying to me, "I really thought you'd bought those!!!" :rotfl:

I also made P two different types of scarves (and she knows I'm no knitter!) and she absolutely adores them!

I know all the blankets and the scarves will be used and loved. I know all the foodie/drink gifts have already been devoured. :T :T

tine - many OS'ers use their OS hobbies to make gifts throughout the year and sometimes the two subjects can overlap (as you may notice, this post was originally made 2 years ago ) Actually, OS hobbies are utilised for gifts, craft fairs, Ebay, pastimes and personal use. It's very hard to seperate homemade gifts/crafts between OS and .. er .. Christmas.

groatie_queen

I'm just wondering what a tied fleece blanket is, and how do you make them?

Thanks

MrsTinks

Queenie wrote:

tine - many OS'ers use their OS hobbies to make gifts throughout the year and sometimes the two subjects can overlap (as you may notice, this post was originally made 2 years ago ) Actually, OS hobbies are utilised for gifts, craft fairs, Ebay, pastimes and personal use. It's very hard to seperate homemade gifts/crafts between OS and .. er .. Christmas.

Oh I know lol I spend hours agonizing over what to move over from the x-mas board to OS... now it's become celebrations etc I have NO doubt I'll be even MORE stressed over what should remain on the board and what should be moved to OS lol

rach

great ideas, thanks!

i forgot to add, i used to make biscuits and put them in a nice new tin for my grandparents when they were getting older not much use for other things at christmas. they always loved them, especially as i was about 13 at the time!

FZwanab

Does anyone know where or how I could get started with cross stitching, I think it looks beautiful. Any websites that you would recommend that are easy for the complete beginner and also equipment I would need?

rach

a kit in a pack might be a good idea for a first go. you get everything you need. any craft shop should have them, i think i've even seen them in tescos!

loumac

What lovely ideas - so many things I'd never think of. Thanks to all who have posted.

I made my sister a book for her 21st and my whole family cried when they looked through! It was just some scanned in photos of her growing up, some comments and jokes, and other odds and sods and it was very well received just because they could all see how much time had been put into it.

Last Xmas I made all my friends a little box filled with cheer up quotes found on the internet and printed out in different colours and rolled up in ribbon. However, being the only poor student the others had bought me presents and I don't think they were that pleased! This year we just agreed not to buy each other anything! Hmmmm.....

Queenie

groatie_queen wrote:

I'm just wondering what a tied fleece blanket is, and how do you make them?

Thanks

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeasy

http://www.hancockfabrics.com/jump.jsp?itemID=190&itemType=CONTENT

Queenie

FZwanab wrote:

Does anyone know where or how I could get started with cross stitching, I think it looks beautiful. Any websites that you would recommend that are easy for the complete beginner and also equipment I would need?

Well you could begin on this site: http://homepage.powerup.com.au/~sheal/freebies.htm

Haven't got time to check all through it, but some while ago it did link to free patterns where the website linked to has "How To's" on it.

See also http://crossstitch.about.com/od/howtocrossstitch/Learn_How_to_Cross_Stitch.htm