22 Quick Crafts for DIY Christmas Gifts (And Instant Adoration)
- Words by Laura Jackson
Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast.
I’m a big believer that a DIY gift is the best gift of all, because it isn’t just about the present; it’s about time, consideration and love. A jar of pickles made from tomatoes you grew, a scrunchie sewn with fabric off-cuts, a painting of a pretty flower that you saw on a walk, or a photo of us together in a frame you decorated… STAHP! I love it too much! Bring it to me, friend, because I will treasure it as I should.
So, if your fingers are twitching for some crafting, take a peep at this list of marvellous makes that can be whipped up in a flash. If money and time are slim for you right now – as they are for many of us – these projects will help you avoid the chaos and consumerism of the malls, scratch that creative itch and produce a pressie that won’t break the bank.
NO-SEW BRAIDED VELVET HEADBAND / A BEAUTIFUL MESS
A scrunchie makes a great gift (see below) but if you’re in the market for a fresh take on stand-out hair accessories, get a wiggle on and check out Carmen Christine’s Maxi Wiggle headband tutorial.
GATHERED / YOGA MAT BAG
Limber up and stretch your sewing skills with this nifty gift for the flexible friends in your life, because fitness can be ‘fashun’ too.
THALIAS THREAD STORE / WAVELENGTH TOTE BAG
Wave goodbye to boring bags and whip up this curved creation. With three sizes to choose from this totally terrific tote will bring a smile to every dial.
PAPER & STITCH / AIR DRY CLAY PAINT PALETTE
Got an arty type on your Christmas list? Why not show them your own creative prowess by crafting them a personalised paint palette? How lovely to think that you’ll be on their mind whilst they paint the days away. When mate becomes muse!
DELICIOUS / 100 INCREDIBLE EDIBLE GIFTS
Got a friend who doesn’t have a lot of space for trinkets and treasures? Why not give the gift of gastronomy? Edible gifts are a wonderful way to give a festive gesture without taking up space on the mantlepiece. They’re also a top tier option for the office Secret Santa gift!
CROCHET IN THE SUN / CROCHET COFFEE CUP COSY
Love your ceramic coffee cup but don’t love burning your digits? Gotcha. Enter: the crocheted coffee cup cozy. This perfect beginner crochet pattern is not only adorable to look at but fabulously functional too! Better yet, it’s a quick project – perfect for those last-minute present panic moments!
MIMO SEWING CLUB / RUFFLED LAPTOP OR E-READER SLEEVE
Just because we live in a digital world does not mean that all our techy tools have to be black and grey. Give your laptop a lap-POP with this darling ruffled sleeve. How lovely to know your friend or fam will be able to take a little creative piece of you with them to work and play!
SEW MUCH ADO / HEART BACKPACK
Be still our beating hearts. This cute-as-a-button heart backpack is the perfect choice for the little (or big) loves in your life. Personalise it with patches, embroidery or bag charms (see below for an adorable charm project!) for the perfect practical gift.
KYLIE AND THE MACHINE / DOWNLOADABLE POSTERS
A creative space should be inspiring, so why not gift the creative in your life some wall art? These downloadable posters can be easily printed off and popped in a fabulous frame, all ready to adorn the walls of a sewing room, creative space or basically any wall, anywhere!
HSATOLYETR / UTILITY POUCH BOOK SLEEVE
Give the gift of organisation this year with this beautiful and handy Utility Pouch Book Sleeve. With sections for all the important bits and bobs and an easy snap closure this project is not only useful but also a wonderful scrap-buster!
GRACE POOL / LITTLE FELT PATCHES
In need of a portable project this gift-giving season? Grab a basket and fill it with coloured felt, embroidery cotton and a pair of pinking shears. Don’t forget to pack your imagination and you’ve got everything you need for crafting little felt patches to gift, on the go!
SCULPD / CLAY KEYCHAIN CHARMS
Keychains are all the rage right now and they make for a delightful DIY gift. Use cutters to press out your shapes or make little paper stencils to trace out your trinkets. Dry them, paint them, then link those beauties together, maybe add a tassel or a bead and voila! Buy a kit from Sculpd to create multiple handmade gifts, or gift your pal a kit to DIY themselves!
WIGGLE HEADBAND / CARMEN CHRISTINE
A scrunchie makes a great gift (see below) but if you’re in the market for a fresh take on stand-out hair accessories, get a wiggle on and check out Carmen Christine’s Maxi Wiggle headband tutorial.
CROCHET BOWLS / MEZZA CRAFT
You want a quick craft? Have your hook at the ready, my friends! These sweet-as bowls come together super-fast. Bonus: they’re beginner-friendly!
RAFFIA BAG / HONESTLYWTF
If adorning an existing item is your jam, take a look at this pimped-up raffia bag. Perfect for market days, beach days, brunch days… all of the days!
COOKIE MIX IN A JAR/ RECIPETIN EATS
A gift I can eat?! Yes, please! Nothing beats a recipe in a jar and this white-chocolate-and-cranberry mix from Nagi of RecipeTin Eats takes the cake (or cookie). All the recipient has to do is mix in a few fridge staples, toss it all in the oven and, tada, cookies! Hooray!
RUFFLE TOTE / ALICE NIGHTINGALE
ICYMI the delightful Alice Nightingale has the cutest tote bag pattern in the latest issue of our Sew&Tell digital magazine. Best of all, you don’t need to brave the crowds to buy fabric because this baby can be made from a pillowcase!
STRAWBERRY POUCH / MA & ME DESIGNS
One for you and one for me! We reckon you ought to make many of these – the berry cutest of drawstring bags!
FRILLY SCRUNCHIE / DIY DAISY
Like we said, scrunchies are a solid handmade gift. But you know what’s better? A frilly scrunchie! DIY Daisy’s free tutorial will show you how to dress up your scrunchies with those little bits of trim that are too small for other projects.
CUSTOM PERFUME / BIOME
Lean into your inner witch and mix up a bespoke potion for someone you love. This guide from Biome will help you create a unique blend that can be rolled on and enjoyed throughout the day.
FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS / SARAH MAKER
It’s always hard to decide who gets the “BE FRI” and who’ll have the “ST ENDS”, but don’t sweat it, besties! Sarah Maker’s tutorial will show you how to whip up a matching pair, which means no-one has to compromise (#BeFri4Ever!).
STANDING VASES / COLLECTIVE GEN
Give the gift of long-lasting florals with a set of polymer-clay dried-flower vases, the vision of DIY queen Geneva Vanderzeil. Make them cute or make them minimal, then add dried blooms for the perfect Secret Santa present!
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A toast to the old you 🥂
We wholeheartedly love this post from the brilliant @EmilyOnLife:
“2026: Reinvent, burn it down, let it go (whatever it is). Year of the Snake it up. Exercise your boundaries, exercise your body, take one teeny step every day towards a life that feels better to be in.
But don’t you dare shit on your old self while you do it.
Hold yourself with reverence and tenderness and respect, because you got you this far. You did your very best with the information and tools you had at the time. You scraped yourself together, you made it work, you survived what felt impossible to survive: again and again and again.
You are perpetually in the process of becoming, whether you can feel it or not, whether or not you add it to your 2026 to-do list.“
Some very wise words from @Damon.Gameau to take us into 2026 🙌🏼
⭐️ We made it!!! ⭐️
Happy New Year, friends. To those who smashed their goals and achieved their dreams, and to those who are crawling over the finish line hoping to never speak of this year again (and everyone else in between): we made it. However you got here is enough. Be proud.
It’s been a tough year for many of us in small business, so here’s to a better year in 2026. We’re forever grateful for all your support and are jumping for joy to still be here bringing you creativity, kindness and community.
We’re also excited to be leaping into the NY with our special release sewing pattern – the Waratah Wrap Dress!
How great are our fabulous models: @Melt.Stitches, @KatieMakesADress and @Tricky.Pockets - and also our incredible Sewing Manager @Laura_The_Maker! 🙌🏼
Ok 2026: let’s do this. 💪🏼
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Putting together our annual Stitch Up brings on all the feels! We feel humbled that you’ve chosen to sew Peppermint patterns, we feel inspired by the versions you’ve created and we feel proud of you.
Where to begin?! As always, there has been a plethora of Peppermint patterns flooding our feeds this year, and we wish we could showcase more than just a handful of magnificent makes from you, our clever community. We encourage you to flip through the me-made items in your wardrobe or scroll through your grid and remind yourself of the beauty you’ve created with your own two hands (and maybe a seam ripper and some choice words). Congratulations to all of us for our creative achievements this year!
We’ve put together some (but absolutely not all) of our favourites from 2025 over on our website. We hope it inspires your next make!
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Pictured: @FrocksAndFrouFrou @MazzlesMakes @KatieMakesADress @_Marueli_ @IUsedToBeACurtain @Nanalevine.Couture @PiperInFullColour @MadeByMeJessieB @SarahMalkawi @Made.By.Little.Mama
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For Perth photographer Amanda Battle, the deep blue has brought sisterhood and second chances. Growing up in Shoalwater Marine Park, the ocean was both her playground and sanctuary, and a balm for body and soul during challenging times. Born from her own healing journey, Amanda’s @WomenOfWaterProject, book and documentary showcases a community of women who found belonging and connection in shared experiences in the ocean.
“Every single woman arrived with her own story – grief, trauma, joy, resilience – and every single woman showed up exactly as they were in that moment. Photographing over 100 women in the ocean for the Women of Water book has been the most humbling privilege of my life.”
Discover Amanda’s work and story in ‘Saltwater salve’ in issue 64, at newsagents and stockists now!
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