Easy and Inexpensive Handmade Christmas Gifts that will melt your heart

Some people are worth melting for – (Olaf the snowman) and some melt your heart with the most thoughtful and carefully chosen handmade Christmas gifts ever.

That’s what my friends did for me, and if one of the ideas can sparkle your creativity and cause you to make and gift something handmade this year, it will melt my heart again!

Pattern for the crocheted potholder, shared below…..

Let me explain  – 

Each year, our circle of friends, have a Christmas tree party and gift exchange.  The only rule that applies is that all the gifts must be personally handcrafted.

Now, these ladies are not trained creatives. The majority are homemakers. If they don’t knit, crochet or sew, they talk and eat too much (cake)!

So…if they can do it, so can you!

Let’s dive into their awesome creations:

Some of the links are affiliated.  If you make a purchase as a result thereof, I will be compensated, at no additional cost to you.  Thanks for supporting me!

Prayer Jar

My friend, Elna knits or crochets 24/7!

She made the two pillows in the image above.  In total she gifted us with 16 similar makes.

She knitted or crocheted a block, sewed some lace or a fabric insert to it, just slightly smaller than the finished pillow.

The whole square was then hand stitched onto the pillowcase.

Add pom-poms or tassels to the corners and you’ll be amazed at how quick and easy this has been!

fabric Christmas trees

Cut triangles from fabric of your choice.

Embellish the front piece with ribbon, lace and beads (optional) 

or

glue the embellishments onto the finished triangle.

With right sides facing, sew the piece together, leaving a small opening.  Fill with filling and sew the opening closed by hand or your sewing machine.

Add some jute, beads and wooden trinkets.

And….you have a fabric Christmas tree!

PS – if you want to add beads to the top, use a jewellery making head pin, thread beads onto it, insert through the top and secure with a dab of glue.

crocheted potholder

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Hook size:  6mm, I used a 10mm

(Click here for a link to crochet hooks with soft rubber grips)

Yarn:           T-shirt yarn 

Piece of ribbon

ABBREVIATIONS (US TERMS):  

Ch – Chain

Sc – Single crochet (in UK = double crochet)

SS – Slip Stitch

St –  Stitch

For more US // UK conversions, read this article here.

CROCHET POTHOLDER PATTERN

• Make a magic ring and sc 8, close with ss into first st and pull yarn to close.
• In first chain from the hook, work  2sc, and 2sc into each st around = 16 sc’s, close round with ss into first sc of round.
• Third round – *1sc into the first st and 2sc into the following st**. Continue alternating the 1sc and 2sc  to the end.  Close with ss.
• Forth round – sc in all st around, close with ss.
• Fifth round – ***1sc into the first st, sc in next st, 2sc into the following st****(sc in next 2 st, sc2 in following st). Continue to the end.  Close with ss.
• Sixth round – sc in all st around, close with ss.
• Seventh round – ***1sc into the first st, sc in next 2sts, 2sc into the following st****(sc in next 3 st, sc2 in following st) Continue to the end.  Close with ss.
• Eight round – ***1sc into the first st, sc in next 3sts, 2sc into the following st****(sc in next 4 st, sc2 in following st) Continue to the end.  Close with ss.
• Last round – sc in all st around, close with ss.
• Cut the yarn and fasten off (by pulling the yarn through the last st.
• Cut a piece of ribbon, fold it and attach with a heart or ribbon.

The proof is not in thinking you can not make anything, the proof is in starting!  Through trial and error, you will gain more confidence.  Who knows, next year, I may be writing about one of your makes!

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