As a crafter, I always have the overwhelming urge to hand-make things at Christmas. As I’m often on the prowl for ideas of gifts to make that people will actually like, I thought I’d share all the things I’ve made this year for others (and a few I made for me to enjoy!)

1. Dresses

I made five dresses this year using this PDF pattern from an Etsy seller called TinyDesignPattern. I altered the pattern slightly so that the top was lined and the opening in the back was less wide. As the pattern is in age ranges (1.5-2, 2-3, 3-4 etc.), it was a little different to what I was used to but extremely easy otherwise. Of course, I had to add in a matching dress for my niece’s dolly.

The buttons I used were some hand-me-down buttons I was thankfully gifted in my work Secret-Santa. The fabric I used was all from Spotlight (click on the images for links). I couldn’t find the Indigenous pattern online, but it’s from Spotlight too.

2. Stockings

Using an old free printable PDF I found on Google somewhere, I made the above two stockings for two boys who had their first Christmas this year. I have mainly used fabric from The Sewing Basket - an organisation that sells donated fabric and provides employment for people with disability. Below are some of the same that I made last year:

3. A linen bag

With one group of friends, we do a Secret Santa where the rules are that gifts must be hand-made, second-hand, environmentally conscious or re-gifts. Luckily I knew the colours well of the person I was “buying” for so I could make her a bag to suit! I didn’t use a pattern, and as you’ll see, I added a pocket on the outside – I also lined it.

4. Choc-chip cookies

My husband and I baked five(?) batches of these amazing choc-chip cookies by Clare Saffitz to gift to colleagues, family and friends, and take to various Christmassy events. They’re a little more involved than regular cookies but extremely worth it.

5. A Wreath

I hosted a wreath-making night with some friends. It was a BYO wreath, and I picked up some flowers at the Sydney Flower Markets in the morning, along with some ribbon.

6. Cricut T-Shirt

While I didn’t make the T-shirt itself, I used my Cricut to create this T-shirt for my 2-year-old nephew, who requested all that you see.

7. Bows for my Christmas tree

Okay, so it might be cheating to add them to this list because they were so easy, but I made these red velvet bows for my Christmas tree. After buying some op-shop red velvet fabric, I tore it up and tied these bows. They stayed in by themselves, so a pretty simple project all up.

8. Star Wands

Using fabric scraps, ribbon, stuffing and dowels, I created these star wands for some little girls for Christmas! I didn’t use a pattern but sewed the stars, leaving an opening at the bottom for the dowel. I attached the dowel to the star with hot glue and strategically used the ribbon to cover the remaining hole. I also hot-glued each ribbon around the dowel to allow some intense magic-making without the ribbon sliding off (as demonstrated in the last image!)

9. Star Cake

On the theme of stars, I had the pleasure of making the delicious family “Star Cake” for Christmas. It’s a family recipe from my mother-in-law, and I don’t know how secret it is, but it’s an almond cake named for the tin it’s made in. Served with berries and ice cream, it was a delicious end to my Christmas-making!

Thanks for reading, and I’d love to know what you made this year for Christmas!