handmade gifts for christmas and celebrations 2011

Giggles_Fairy

Hey everyone . Bit late joining the thread due to my laptop AND comptuer breaking within a couple of days of each other! I had all these good intentions of doing homemade gifts for christmas just gone but it never materialised. I did do pots of gold for the christmas table and everyone loved them! My 17 year old cousin ripped his open as soona s he sat down, although that was just to get to the scratchcard hahaha I had bought TONNES of stuff int he boots sale last year ready for christmas but this year I restrained myself and decided birthdays can be bought gifts but at christmas everyone is handmade . I am going to do food hampers for most adults, so shall be jotting down recipes . I think I will probably include different things in peoples and will do some fudge, shortbread, truffles etc as well as jams, chutneys etc. Or thats the plan anyway!

Also join to start getting back into jewellery making, started it last year with the intention of making xmas gifts but other things distracted me towards the end of the year. Going away to centre parcs on monday so I am going to take my kit with me and start doing some simpl bracelets and put them away! Now THATS being organised in my book hahaha

Did anyone make any food related items for xmas just gone and have the recipes they can share with me for the items they were particularly impressed with?

x gf x

LV_Sue

housewifeintraining wrote: »

So looking for a new little project and thought maybe I would try and make myself one of these handbags http://www.made-by-rae.com/2009/02/free-buttercup-bag-sewing-pattern.html and if it turns out well I can make another for sisters birthday

My question is - what type of fabric do I need for the actual bag?

My 12 year old grandaughter made one of these bags for her Mum with only minimal help from me. She used a heavyweight cotton gaberdine fabric for the bag and a dress weight polycotton for the lining. She found the main fabric quite stiff to sew with and said she would probably use a less stiff fabric for any others she makes. She also made the strap a bit longer than as in the pattern so her Mum could tuck the bag comfortably under her arm.

Her Mum was thrilled with it :j
Grandaughter has 4 requests for bags from her Mum's friends now

Trow

housewifeintraining wrote: »

So looking for a new little project and thought maybe I would try and make myself one of these handbags http://www.made-by-rae.com/2009/02/free-buttercup-bag-sewing-pattern.html and if it turns out well I can make another for sisters birthday

My question is - what type of fabric do I need for the actual bag?

It's a really cute little bag, and quite simple to make - I'm a novice seamstress and the bag turned out pretty well. It is small, I think it is perfect evening bag size so next time I would use a glitzy fabric. There is one small error in her pattern. When you are sewing the bag and lining together it says to turn one inside out. Don't. Just sew them as it says, right sides together iirc. If you wanted a bigger version I would have thought you could photocopy the pattern bigger on an A3 copier if that makes sense. Good luck!

Laura_D_3

esmer wrote: »

any Quilters? I really want to make one for when DD gets her big bed. She is in her cot bed just now, and want to get her a single bed for late summer, so I really wanted to make a lovely quilt for her bed. Never quilted before, so any help, turorials would be appreciated.

thats a lovely bag housewife..... have you got photos of the bag you made for swimming?

I read somewhere where the quilt was made out of all the special clothes child wore when they were young - so it was like a history I thought that was lush

esmer

That sounds good Laura, I just need help on where to start.

PootleFlump_3

Here is the latest handmade gift that I made for my OH who loves owls. It looks bigger in the picture but is about the size of my hand and has a little squeaker in its wing.

wammy77

Giggles_Fairy wrote: »

Hey everyone . Bit late joining the thread due to my laptop AND comptuer breaking within a couple of days of each other! I had all these good intentions of doing homemade gifts for christmas just gone but it never materialised. I did do pots of gold for the christmas table and everyone loved them! My 17 year old cousin ripped his open as soona s he sat down, although that was just to get to the scratchcard hahaha I had bought TONNES of stuff int he boots sale last year ready for christmas but this year I restrained myself and decided birthdays can be bought gifts but at christmas everyone is handmade . I am going to do food hampers for most adults, so shall be jotting down recipes . I think I will probably include different things in peoples and will do some fudge, shortbread, truffles etc as well as jams, chutneys etc. Or thats the plan anyway!

Also join to start getting back into jewellery making, started it last year with the intention of making xmas gifts but other things distracted me towards the end of the year. Going away to centre parcs on monday so I am going to take my kit with me and start doing some simpl bracelets and put them away! Now THATS being organised in my book hahaha

Did anyone make any food related items for xmas just gone and have the recipes they can share with me for the items they were particularly impressed with?

x gf x

www.bbcgoodfood.com has great recipies in the 'occassions' section. The baileys fudge is lush :drool: and so are the melting truffles

I also made cranberry, chocolate and yoghurt bites for xmas gifts and everyone loved them!! Recipie is on my blog

Trow

Starting with quilting - what is it you need help with?

Is it the top - eg patchwork, or is it the putting the quilt together?

If it is patchwork then I would say start with something small like a cushion cover, just to get used to piecing the fabric. There are many many patchwork designs available, plus crazy quilting, so you should maybe take a look around and see what you fancy (bearing in mind you probably want something a bit straighforward to begin with). What colours you want to use etc.

Maybe you should try posting on the sewing thread, as there are probably experienced quilters on there!

cuddles123

I have the alison howard one on order from amazon and the shelf i keep them on is right by the scanner so i'm sure they may fall on it at any page you want.lol said delivery between 25th and 27th .
I also have the same one on order as ct has.

Will be very interested to see what you think of the book Craftygranny
7, 8, 10 & 11 are the ones I fancy making

esmer

Trow wrote: »

Starting with quilting - what is it you need help with?

Is it the top - eg patchwork, or is it the putting the quilt together?

If it is patchwork then I would say start with something small like a cushion cover, just to get used to piecing the fabric. There are many many patchwork designs available, plus crazy quilting, so you should maybe take a look around and see what you fancy (bearing in mind you probably want something a bit straighforward to begin with). What colours you want to use etc.

Maybe you should try posting on the sewing thread, as there are probably experienced quilters on there!

Thanks, I have never quilted before, its to get the basics so i can start.