Hand embroidered gifts to make for Christmas – the ultimate handmade holiday gift guide
Making hand embroidered gifts for the people we love is a labor of love that brings us much joy. If you are a maker, it does not matter if you have been stitching your gifts for years or are just getting started. Eventually, we all run out of ideas and need fresh inspiration for what new and original we could create this year.
This handmade holiday gift guide and downloadable Christmas gift making planner will help you brainstorm personalized hand embroidered gifts you could stitch this year. It will also help you keep track of your progress so you do not forget anything or anyone, and create with peace of mind.
The charm of hand embroidered gifts
For some, Christmas gift shopping is exciting and fun. Others think it’s expensive, time-consuming, and unsustainable, and the gifts from the shops are boring. For this reason, makers prefer to create holiday gifts with their hands: we knit, crochet, stitch, sew, build, glue, assemble, or embroider our Christmas presents.
When you opt for a hand embroidered Christmas gift, you will have many options:
- Make hand embroidery as a gift. You can frame your work in a hoop, make a banner, or frame it as a picture.
- Create a gift from scratch and then embroider it. It could be a tea towel, pillow cover, clothing, bento bag, or zipper pouch. Anything you can make and embellish.
- Buy a blank object and personalize it with hand embroidery. Consider simple tote bags or t-shirts and personalize them with your embroidery.
Planning hand embroidered Christmas gifts
If you plan on making more than a couple of hand-stitched gifts, a plan and a list will help you keep track of your ideas and all the people you want to surprise this festive season. Download a free Christmas gift making planner and brainstorm the list of handmade embroidered gifts you could create for your friends and family.
Things to consider when you’re brainstorming:
- How much time will you have for stitching? Is it a busy season at work or at home?
- What kinds of things do you want to make? Does it have to be practical and functional or decorative and fun? Consider mittens, throw pillows, tote bags, zipper pouches, or personalized sweatshirts for practical gifts. On the other hand, tree ornaments, banners, or hoop art make great decorative presents.
- What is your skill level? If you are an embroidery beginner, consider basic projects like simple ornaments, bookmarks, or small monogrammed handkerchiefs. Intermediate projects like small wall hangings, cushion covers, or mini hoop art with festive designs are great for more advanced stitchers with more time. Personalized table linens or detailed embroidered portraits are great gift ideas for advanced embroiderers.
- To whom do you want to give gifts? Make a complete list of people you want or need to make gifts to.
- Who would appreciate handmade gifts? Not everyone is happy to receive handmade gifts – and that is fine. Divide the list of the people you just made into two groups. Make gifts for one group and buy them for another group. This way, your gifts will be appreciated and loved.
- Do you want to make all your gifts from scratch? Are there things you can buy and then add embroidery to save time?
Hand embroidered Christmas gift guide
Now that you know who you are making a gift for and how much time you have, look at the list of hand embroidered gifts you can create and choose which idea best suits your skill levels and needs.
Hand embroidered Christmas decorations and cards
Hand embroidered Christmas ornaments, decorations, cards, or gift tags are fast and fun to create and make great gifts for friends, colleagues, and family members. You can craft a set of Christmas ornaments or add one decoration to a more significant gift you made or bought. Consider adding a hand-embroidered tag to a simple wrapping to make it memorable, or write and send a hand-embroidered Christmas card by post.
Here are some patterns you might like:
DIY hand embroidered gifts for the home
If you want to give a gift that will add a Christmas vibe and coziness to the gift receiver’s home, consider pillows, table runners, napkins, or wall hangings. You can opt for a traditional, rustic, or modern holiday aesthetic.
For a simple and fast-to-make gift, embroider a tea towel or set of fabric napkins with simple Christmas motives. If you have more time and skill, go for bigger objects like tablecloths or a cohesive set of table runners and napkins.
Here are some projects to consider:
Wearable hand embroidered Christmas gifts
Clothes and accessories like T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, scarves, mittens, hats, aprons, or handkerchiefs with festive designs are great gifts to embroider. You can choose festive motives to embellish clothes or accessories or make them evergreen by decorating with neutral designs, favorite cartoon or movie characters, or meaningful quotes.
Here are some patterns that would look lovely hand embroidered on clothes or accessories:
Eco-friendly embroidered presents
If you have friends or family members interested in sustainability and making great efforts to live greener, help them by gifting hand-embroidered reusable items like tote bags, produce bags, shoppers, bread bags, laundry bags, scented bags, or reusable makeup pads. These gifts will demonstrate how well you know their receivers and how much you support their effort to live sustainably.
To make the gift even more sustainable, consider sewing the gifts using fabric remnants, choosing ecological materials from fair trade producers, using recycled fabrics, or embroidering with recycled threads like DMC Eco Vita.
You can embroider a green message or a festive motive on the reusable textile gift. Here are some ideas:
Christmas hand embroidery ideas
If you plan to hand embroider and gift Christmas-themed hoop art, read the article “Christmas hand embroidery designs to stitch,” where I shortlisted 15 hand embroidery patterns of various styles and complexity or the article “Christmas Embroidery Ideas for Every Skill Level“, where Christmas patterns are divided by their difficulty. Stitch one of these lovely patterns and frame it in a hoop.
Did you know that the back of the hoop is a fantastic space to add some personalization? Read the article “How to Frame Embroidery in a Hoop: Six Methods of Finishing the Back of the Hoop” and learn how to personalize the back and choose the best framing method that suits your style.
How to personalize hand embroidered gifts
You could hand embroider various Christmas gifts – from clothes to household textiles, photo frames, and greeting cards. To make a present even more special and one of a kind, you can additionally personalize it. Here are some ways to add personalization to hand embroidered gifts:
- Embroider the initials of a gift receiver. Household textiles, clothing items, and even Christmas tree ornaments can be personalized with a monogram.
- Embroider a date. This will create a special memory of the year the gift was received. Personalization with a date is especially significant for the baby’s first Christmas, just married couples or families that moved houses.
- Personalize color pallet. If you know the gift receiver’s favorite color or color combination, adjust the pattern to match the person’s preferences.
- Add meaningful symbols or phrases. From zodiac signs or birth flowers to moon phases or peace signs. Anything that speaks the language of the gift receiver will be appreciated.
Over to you
Making unique hand embroidered Christmas gifts is a lovely way to express care and creativity. Whether it’s a cozy cushion, a monogrammed towel, or an eco-friendly produce bag, these handcrafted gems will demonstrate your thoughtfulness and dedication.
Let this guide save you time searching for ideas and inspire you to create something beautiful, fun, and personal. Hopefully, it will help you enjoy the process of creating original gifts for your loved ones. Remember, handmade gifts are as much a joy for you as they are for the recipient, so savor the journey, from brainstorming to the final stitch.
Download free gift planner, choose your Christmas embroidery projects, and prepare to stitch the holiday cheer.
