Handmade baby gifts?

mlarmour

I know Christmas is still a while away, but I am trying to put together a list of DIY's I want to do for Christmas presents, so I can make a start as due to my illness it makes me a lot longer to do things as I get worn out easily.

Its going to be my best friend's baby's first Christmas and then it is the baby's birthday in January. I want to make the baby something so they get something unique that no one else will get them. But I also want to get them something that itsn't clothes as what my best friend likes is different and I don't want to make her life difficult by having to return something.

Any ideas are welcomed. So far all I have is baby blocks as the baby has some stacking cups that they love to have towers built so they can knock them down.

janb5

Handmade baby socks? A little jumper/cardigan?

Dragon_on_roller_skates

A fabric book? Uses up lots of scraps of fabrics, you might otherwise not use - added bonus!

http://www.fishsticksdesigns.com/blog/the-fabric-i-spy-book-tutorial/

Bonnie does some beautiful patterns. I've made a few of her things for my own two monsters and have always been pleased with the tutorials and how the things I've made have turned out, so I'd definitely recommend her stuff if you change your mind about clothes.

(And, no, there's no personal interest! Just a happy customer. )

WantAnOrange

A ragdoll or felt food for playing when baby is a bit older?

Someone made DD a little canvas with her name painted on it to hang in her room and it's lovely.

MIL made her a quilt and my nan knitted her a shawl so that's he bedding sorted for a couple of years.

THIRZAH

Our local craft centre does little wooden stools with the baby's name and birth date.

purpledonkey

I had a similar dilemma, so I made my friend a crocheted blanket. I started by crocheting a square a per day (there are some really good youtube tutorials if you don't know how to crochet). To make it more MSE I signed up to Hobbycraft to get a 15% off voucher whilst their wool was 3 for the price of 2. Hope that helps and good luck

Hard_Up_Hester

I make taggies to give as baby gifts, fleece one side, cotton the other, with ribbon loops sticking out for baby to chew on.
Hester

sunnysurrey_2

I've made personalised hooded towels, easy to do & look fab. You could buy plain clothes & appliqu! name/initial/picture onto. I do kids wooden hangers, painted and/or decoupaged - you can do the same with wooden building blocks. stuffed toys. Play oven gloves, tea towels & aprons are great when they're older. I love making baby things! If your friend drives you can make a car tidy that hangs on the back of the drivers seat to store the toys. What kind of things do you like making?

mummypops

Hi
I've made personalised named cushions, stitched names on towels and appliqued names and pictures (cupcakes/aeroplanes etc)on t shirts and babygrows, but I love the idea of decorating wooden hangers, great idea.
Thanks sunnysurrey, I'm off to hunt some kids wooden hangers.....

pigpen

I made this for my new grandbaby..




And have done several of these in a variety of colours.




TBH, as a parent anything in the 'clutter' category should be avoided.. yeah it may look nice but with children you end up with so much stuff something not useful is a waste of your time.. receiving something beautiful and useful is always welcome.

I've had a bundle of cardigans; hand knits and crocheted, blankets, bonnets/bootees etc.. they are all very much appreciated.. as was the birth sampler.. but knitted teddies, coat hangers, cushions etc.. charity shop fodder for sure, I'm not ungrateful, I appreciate the effort nd time put in.. but my home does not have room for unused stuff... it depends on the recipient but think carefully.

My daughter and I are creating gifts for Christmas presents with the exception of stuff which is bought is to be from WAH-businesses and we can buy stuff to make the gifts but we are having great fun looking for items each person would like.

oystercatcher

When my children were very small we found that some handmade gifts weren't as robust as they needed to be, wooden bits breaking off, seams unravelling etc..... so be aware and make sure whatever it is is safe and fit for use.

As Pigpen says gifts need to be practical...well they did in my house! I never put baby clothes on hangers ...why would anyone ???

I sew and like the idea of those storage things with lots of pockets to hang on the back of a door or in the car . Depending on how much time/energy /money you wish to use you could maybe make some tiny (robust) toys to go in some pockets, a little teddy etc.....

A lot depends on your favoured craft really......