In the upcoming months, I will be sewing gifts and clothing. Winter has a birthday right before Christmas, so I will not only be making Christmas gifts in the upcoming weeks, but I will also be making birthday gifts for Winter, as well as clothing for Winter. Yes, that’s a lot of sewing from now until Christmas! My list will be a challenge to complete.
This list is subject to change, as time allows, and as I hear the children express other desires for gifts (or if I find any other great ideas online!) These are not the only gifts I have planned; I have a few other gifts that I have already purchased inexpensively (I found several gifts at the recent community garage sale). These are the homemade gifts.
Some of the items listed below will end up in their stockings. Additionally, I will be making chocolate frogs for their stockings. I also have some other candy that will go in their stockings that I was able to get for free with coupons. I hope to include a clementine in the toe of each stocking. There will be some paper dolls and paper toys in the stockings, too.
Winter, age 11 (by Christmas)
Birthday gifts
purse (using this pattern)
corduroy dress
slips (2)
dress
velvet shoes (using this pattern and this on the bottom)
velvet jacket
earrings
library book bag
Christmas gifts
warm pajamas
sheer scarves (I want to make 2 different ones)
necklace
bookmarks
flower bobby pins (using this tutorial and also making some from satin)
slippers (using this pattern)
handkerchief
doll dress (most likely a pattern from this book
Cyrus, age 9
Necktie (using this pattern)
bookmarks
pajamas
pajama shorts
handkerchief
Ezrom, age 7
pajamas
pajama shorts
bookmarks
handkerchief
Liberty, age 6
headband
flower barrettes
pajamas
slippers
bookmarks
sewing kit
necklace
handkerchief
doll dress
tote bag
Wren, age 4
Embroidered pillow (Like I made for my two older girls last year)
Christmas dress
headband
barrettes
slippers
doll dress
necklace
handkerchief
Elsa, age 2
bow barrettes
flower barrettes
flower headband
warm pajamas
ballet slippers
slippers
doll bib
doll dress
necklace
handkerchief
Christmas dress
Ivory (will be 8 months old by Christmas)
dress
baby shoes
jacket
I will have to come up with some new bookmark designs since I printed these ones and these ones last year. I made slippers for the girls last year using the same pattern that I am using this year.
The boys lists are noticeably shorter. I found some books for my sons at garage sales. Both boys like music, so I will be looking for free mp3 credits from Amazon (I hope they keep doing that!) that I can use to buy songs for them. I also bought some tools at a garage sale for Cyrus.
I already have the materials on hand for all of the above items.
My plan is to sew clothing for my oldest daughter during the month of October. In November, I will work on one small project a day during the weekdays (and I will blog about it!) On Saturdays (and if there is any extra time during any other weekdays), I will work on the bigger projects, such as the dresses. In December, I will work on whatever still needs to be done.
What are you planning to make for your children for Christmas?
Have you tried making these? http://theprudenthomemakerblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/subway-art-style-bookmarks.html
My list: DD 10- crochet hook holders out of recycled long mini m&m tubes, I plan to cover these. Doll gown and her a matching one. Headbands, bookmarks, bible cover, embroidered pillowcase. Crocheting pattern book printed from free patterns, knitting basket with needles I found used.DS 8- bookmarks, bible cover, camo fleece blanket, ninjago pillowcase(Pinterest), tic tac toe frisbee game from a cheap 1.00 shower curtain, frisbees found at dollar tree, Indian play clothes, fleece hat, bag for his marbles, pajamas DD 5- sewing basket, with some crochet hooks as well, headbands and barrettes, doll and doll clothes, gown and doll gown that matches, embroidered pillowcase, handkerchief.I’m also making all their treats for their stockings, as well and hope to be able to add a candy cane and clementine. I will also make all the grandparents presents and any other presents. Pinterest has really helped me this year and your blog!!! I’ve got a board on Pinterest that is jut Christmas presents for 2012 homemade of course!
I would love to send you my MP3 credits from Amazon. There is only $4.00 worth, but I will not use them. It is the least I can do for all that you do to inspire me to be the best homemaker I can be. I am not sure how to contact you, but if you would like them, they are yours. Let me know! Thanks!Lisa
Lisa, I don’t know how to transfer credits, but I know you can buy songs as gifts to send to another person’s account. (I went looking and that’s all I can find). That is so sweet of you! My email is brandy (at) the prudent homemaker (dot) com Send me an email and we’ll work something out! Thanks!
Just sent you the email. I never used them out of my SB account, so they are yours!! Have a wonderful evening!
Earlier in the year I created a rather large document for my six year old daughter, who loves to travel, loves maps, and loves to learn about different countries. It’s roughly based on the Little Passports idea of giving her a country a month to explore, with an added one for her to open on Christmas day. Each country kit includes colouring sheets, a paper doll, a recipe (I’ve printed them on 4×6 cards and included a cheap little brag book so she’ll have her own international cookbook by the end of it), a craft from that country, a folk tale, legend, or fairy tale from that country, a couple of postcards, and a two-page fact sheet. I’m also including a large world wall map, souvenirs for each country, boarding passes (there’s a website that allows you to print off your own boarding passes), and a souvenir from each country. The countries selected are those countries that are included in the Oriental Trading Co. passports – she’s also getting the passport and each country kit also has a passport sticker she can put in her passport. I’m also including a large binder so that she can collect the fact sheets, crafts, stories, etc. in one easy place for future reference. I’ve put each country’s kit in a manilla envelope with the boarding pass on the outside and a sticker that says “Do Not Open Until” with the month. If you were really organised you could just arrange to ‘find’ a kit in the mail each month; I don’t trust myself to remember; and I don’t really care if she wants to open it all at once – that’s up to her. The idea is that it’s a gift that will last all year, give us lots of fun things to do together, and help her better understand her world. If anyone is interested in using it for their own little munchkins here’s a link – https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1Ytzy0UCG3BSDA2TzBvd1h5T28/edit?pli=1 Feel free to use it however you’d like, but please don’t sell it!
OK, Holy Moly I just checked out your document. You made that? I’m really impressed, and downloaded it for my sons. They love looking at maps right now, and this will be perfect for them.
“Compiled” is probably a better word. If I were to do the artwork myself, it would consist entirely of stick figures. I hope your sons like it. I kind of see it as a jumping-off point, with lots of different options as to how you can take it – throw in some suggested reading lists, have ‘theme days’, use it as a jumping-off point to study history or culture, etc. If you want to print off boarding passes here’s the link to that – http://omatic.musicairport.com/ I tried to be as authentic as possible with the recipes, crafts, stories, colouring sheets, etc. Having said that of course I took some liberties – the mermaid doll from Cuba, for instance, is clearly not accurate. The facts all come from the CIA Factbook and as such, some might be out by a year or two (for instance, the population figures) but I am confident they are the most reliable figures available.
Wow! Thank you for sharing! I aprpeciate it so much.My children, too, are into maps right now so this is perfect! And I love the idea of having it stretch all year.Lea
I am working on more handmade gifts this year, as well. However, I wonder how you get this done with all the children in the house? I can’t seem to get one gift per person made most years, especially not baby or toddler years! Also, I find that items at Goodwill, yard sales, or consignment sales cost less than buying the materials to make them…would you share all your tips on getting material costs down?
I sew in the evenings when the kids are playing/learning with their dad or watching a movie, or after they go to bed. If I have a project that I really, really want to do, he will take them out for a few hours on Saturday (usually to the transfer station, the library and the grocery store–errands that need to get done anyway). To keep costs down, I always check the remnant bin at JoAnn’s, use coupons and clearance sales, plus I try to work with what I already have on hand.
I make non-clothes-related presents a couple of years ahead of time, so that way even if the kids see me working on them, they’ll (hopefully) forget by the time it ends up under the tree. I find this is easier to do if you work by ‘themes’ – for instance next year is ‘reading theme’ and each kid is getting some bookmarks, bookplates, a library bag, a nice reading pillow, and some hollowed-out book safes; the year after that is ‘beach’ and each kid is getting a beach mat, beach bag, wet bag for their wet swim suit, and some games you can play at the beach. Obviously making them a couple years ahead of time doesn’t work for clothes or anything perishable like play doh or cookie mixes. I also repurpose old clothes, pillowcases, etc. A second-hand pillowcase can be turned into an apron with enough left over for a chef’s hat, bag, or book cover for a composition book. Write recipes in the composition book; or throw some thrift-store kitchen tools (wooden spoons, a ladle, etc.) into the bag; or add a cookie-mix-in-a-jar kit to the chef’s hat; and you’ve got a great little gift for an aspiring chef.
Hi Quimby!!Dang, I should have known you’d be planning (and doing) this far out. Holy cow! And the “travel” thing you are making for your 6 year old (is she really 6 already?!) is awesome! Thanks for posting the link to it, I think I’ll print it out for my 9 year old.Good to see you around, we haven’t chatted in forever!How on earth do all of you find the time/will power to do these things? I’m STILL working on an embroidered Halloween table runner that I finished embroidering like 3 years ago and just have to sew the pieces together. Can’t even think about Christmas gifts yet! Andrea In SLC
Holy cow it’s been ages!!! I’ll have to send you an e-mail but probably not today (tomorrow’s Halloween party has just gone from 4 to 6 which wouldn’t be such a big deal but I spent so much time making sure everything was even-steven and now I’ve got to redo it all). I miss you!!!
Heather, I work during afternoon naptime and at night after the children are in bed.I do find used (and new) items at garage sales and occasional at thrift stores, but I love making gifts and I do lots of thigns to keepo the cost down. Because people know I sew, I am often gifted leftovers from others sewing projects. I also repurpose items. Click on the “sewing” link on the right to see how I keep my costs down for sewing. There are a few different posts there about how I keep costs low.
Hi everyone it has been a great Christmas week I found a box of clearance from michaels what a blessing I bought this during the summerwhen I had a better job. I just am mentioning this because everthing was at least 90 % off and wanted to mention look at michaels for Christmas clearance during the summer. The glass mugs with lids 30 centsmatching socks 10 cents, wooden puzzels for the kiddos 5 cents ages 2 ,all the way up to adults. Rubber duckies 1 cent , playing cards 10 cents little girls jewelry really cute 5 cents ,really nice pen and sets 50 this was the most expensive item but I have 2 brother in love that will really like these. Other items also more than enough forChristmas. I am so excited I will still make some hand made things . I ask the lady this summer about the prices and she said they were almost ready to donate them. I got 2 giant bags for $8.00 dollarsfor both.Hopefully some of you have one of these stores in your areato check during the summer. I have friend that just lost her job. So Iam hoping to have enough for her kids too. Also gleaned persimons from my moms tree. She has hundreds and will only eat a few.Have a blessed week Patti
I came back to ask if you have made any shoes for your girls before or if this will be the first time, I was looking into it about a week before you posted this, so it really caught my eye.
I love this idea. Thank you for much for sharing. I will definitely make these this year for Christmas.
Quimby, i love the “country kit” idea but i can’t get the document you created to open. any help would be appreciated. thanks
I don’t know what to tell you, Sue. I’m sorry. The link worked okay for me (I just tried it). It’s a very big document and so it takes a very, very long time to load. If you’d like you can e-mail me at fmhquimby at gmail dot com and I’ll try sending the link through to you or else try attaching it and sending it through that way? I use that e-mail address for junky-type things (no offense) so just make sure you put ‘from Prudent Homemaker’ or something like that in the subject line so I don’t accidently delete your e-mail.
1. Sew clothing for dolls and barbies (FREE… I have everything home)2. Make Christmas cards (FREE with what I have home)3. Make Owl tag toys for my new baby goddaughter, my BFF little girl and my baby nephew. http://courtneykeb.blogspot.ca/2010/11/owl-tag-toys.html I will probably do cubes too.Linda S
My children are grown and some of my grandchildren are older, so I am putting together a recipe book with my favorite (and theirs) recipes, plus recipes from both their grandmothers. I am including photos of all 28 of my grandchildren in various stages of cooking, helping stir, setting the table, etc. It’s been fun.
Amazing amazing and so generous to share!! Thank you! x
Bows, arrows and quivers for my boys, hats and mittens, a sock monkey, a doll, refreshed an old rocking horse, magnetic paperdolls, bean bags, and I still need to find a few more things for my 10 yo boy.
Sue, it loaded fine for me too. Very cute Quimby!