I love making gifts for the people I care about. Nearly every time I get an invitation for a wedding or a housewarming or hear a baby is expected I get excited and think “oooh, I’ll make a gift!”. Sadly though, my creative time is limited and if I made a gift for every single occasion I don’t think there would be any time left to make anything else. As a result, I have to make choices and often the choice is made for me because I simply run out of time (planning these gifts and starting way ahead of time is not my strongest point). That gets me in a whole different spot of trouble because now I suddenly have to think about what to buy. Of course I didn’t give that any thought since I was going to make something and thus spend all my time thinking about what I was going to make and how I was going to do that.
Last week was no exception. I had a housewarming this weekend and decided weeks ago that I was going to make something (like I always do). But what to make? Hmm, since it is a housewarming I suppose it would be nice if the gift is somehow house-related. An apron, maybe? It is a bit of an obvious gift and I think most people already own at least one. For example, we have 3 and I didn’t make or buy any of those myself so chances are she already has one. A pillow? Could be nice, but I’m not sure whether she changed her décor during the move and what if I pick completely wrong colours?
Then I suddenly realise the housewarming is this weekend so I am running out of time (again!). On top of that I have a busy week at work, work several long days and am tired. Crafting doesn’t really happen when I am tired. Still, I stubbornly think I’ll manage to squeeze out a gift at some point, not sure when though. And what, that too.
Some of the options that crossed my mind the last couple of days:
- Fabric bunting, it can be really festive to decorate your home with bunting for a birthday. Not sure though if someone living on her own is going to use it. Probably better to save this idea for families with young children.
- A cherrystone pillow! That is really warm and cosy when it is cold outside. Problem, how on earth am I going to get my hands on cherrystones to fill a pillow and still have enough time left to actually make one? Might be a good idea for a future gift however!
- Ooh, I know! A set of fabric napkins! That is really nice to have when you have some people over for dinner. And I can use the rolled hem feature on my overlock machine! That should make it a fast make too! And then I discovered that it is advised that you use fray-check or something to secure the thread ends. The only store I know in Leiden that might have stocked something like that closed its doors last weekend. Perhaps I should make sure to get some fray-check for future napkin endeavours.
- I could of course make fabric napkins with mitered corners. But, do I really want to make 24 perfect mitered corners when I am tired? Not really, but perhaps I could make a set of 4 instead of 6? But that is still 16 corners, don’t think so, I’ll probably give up after napkin #1.
This time I was smart enough to admit a day before the party that it just wasn’t going to happen (I don’t really want to know how often I’ve had to rush on the day itself to get a gift). I went ahead and bought a set of nice, thick, soft, organic cotton kitchen towels in a lovely green colour that I think my friend likes as well.
Am I learning from all this? I sure hope so, it’s about time I get realistic about what I can actually achieve in the time and energy I have available. So, for now I have decided to only attempt to make gifts for newborn babies because that is something I really enjoy doing (probably until their numbers rise to ridiculous figures at which point I’ll have to get realistic again). For other occasions I am first going to see what I can buy. If I’ve already bought something I won’t be tempted to think I can still make something and waste a lot of time thinking about projects I never end up making in the process. I’ve already given at least one handmade gift to most of the important people in my life anyway. I will continue to make gifts but I’ll just be more selective in choosing the occasion.
After buying the gift for the housewarming on Friday I blissfully watched the men’s 5k speedskating on Saturday, which couldn’t have gone better for the Dutch team. Today I watched the women’s 3k speedskating which also went very well and finished a quilt top (also a gift by the way…).
Does anyone recognise these gift making dilemma’s? How do you prioritise ?
Oh yes! I’m right with you in the dilemma stakes! I decided at Christmas that I’d only make pressies for those who would appreciate the time and effort that goes into them!
I find it takes longer to decide what to make that actually make it.
I’m hoping to make a few things and have a gift box with pressies ready. This is a brink em tho as so far I’ve loved everything I make and want to keep it!!
Oh the time that goes into thinking. I suppose that’s how my creative process works but it feels so unproductive sometimes. I’ve tried making things in advance but it didn’t really work because I usually choose fabrics and design for a project based on the person I make it for. Only for baby gifts I’ve had some success with making stuff in advance because tiny t-shirts are cute anyway.
Oops, end bit should say ‘this is a problem tho…’ ✂️
Housewarming gifts for the tired and busy: make a quilt sandwich with a nice piece of fabric, some batting and backing. It needs to be the size of 4 place mats. Quilt it, doing something easy like cross hatching or parallel wiggly lines. Cut it in 4. Bind the 4 sections. There you are, hand made placemats. Or make two pot holders/heat pads the same way. Buy a couple of matching tea towels. Personalise them with some nice satin-stitch applique. You can buy a bunch of tea towels in advance and keep them for the purpose. Quick. Easy.
I never thought of making 4 placemats in one go, that’s brilliant and I’m going to keep it in mind!
That is brilliant! I made some quilted placemats recently, and discovered that you can get 8 15″x17″ placemats, which are a very good size, out of a (US-)standard crib-sized piece of batting. So next time I will just cut that batting in half, do my quilting, and then cut and bind like you say 🙂
I love your enthusiasm and impulse to make gifts – especially when your time is limited and clothes always beckon! I’m too new and slow to make many things as gifts but I hope to in the future.
I’ve knitted three scarves for people (easy patterns). I tend to decide to make something as a gift but never tie myself down to a date or occasion – when it’s finished, it’s finished! I also don’t tell them in advance, just in case it doesn’t turn out well ; )
I’ve actually decided to try and make a gift for someone using your pillow/cushion case tutorial – so I’ll post as to how it goes.
I also never tell them in advance. Unless I have already started working on it, really want to finish it and completely missed the deadline I’ll tell them the gift is in progress. Then it’s usually meant for a family member anyway and they are much more understanding.
Can’t wait to see how your pillow turns out!
I have so little time for crafting. When I make something, I usually have someone in mind, and that’s that. I had dreams when I was younger of mapping out gift making through the year, so I could do handmade gifts for everyone for Christmas. I probably don’t need to tell you how that turned out. So, my family has a few things here and there, and I’ve made things for a few friends, but if a gift is needed for other occasions, I usually buy something.
Your approach is a much more sensible one. I’ve realised I’m not good with sewing related deadlines because these projects don’t get priority in the grander scheme of things. For example I don’t think my boss would be very amused if I regularly decide to take the day off because “I really need to finish that quilt by this weekend…”. And when I’m tired resting seems (and is!) more important.
Oh, I hear you. I always have these great ideas for gifts but do I actually make them? Nope. It’s a time issue, and a skill issue too. All these ideas on pinterest stay just that, pins 😉 lol
I’m telling myself that once grad school is over I WILL HAVE TIME! We’ll see!
~ Franzi
I always tell myself that I’ll have time at some later point. I mean I’m busy now, but I won’t be as busy next month, right??? Somehow it never really works out as I thought it would…
For my friend’s birthdays I often decide at the beginning of the year on a present and make several so they are all sitting there ready for when the birthdays arrive. Last year most people got lovely bookmarks.
For a house warming I’d buy some plain tea towels and appliqué a design on them. Of course not everyone likes or appreciates homemade gifts so those folk get something bought.
That is so organised. I fear I am too much of a procastinator to plan that far ahead. Or, I could plan it and then I think I’ll still have ages to complete everything and then suddenly I need it tomorrow. The people that I suspect don’t appreciate hand-made always get storebought.