12 Christmas Sewing Projects: Quick Handmade Gifts and Decorations

Part of our guide on easy sewing projects problems

Plan your Christmas sewing

Holiday sewing goes wrong when everything starts on December 20th. Pick one big project and three or four quick ones, buy the fabric in one trip and cut everything in a single session - cutting is the slow part, sewing goes fast.

Every project here works on a basic sewing machine. Felt needs no hemming at all, and quilting cotton in holiday prints is easy to handle.

1. Reusable Fabric Gift Bags

Drawstring gift bags replace wrapping paper and get used again every year. Make them in three sizes from holiday cotton and add a ribbon instead of a cord. Sew a stack of them in one evening.

• Time: 20-30 minutes each
• Fabric: 1/2 yd holiday cotton for 2 medium bags
• Tip: French seams keep the inside tidy

2. Felt Christmas Ornaments

Cut two felt shapes - trees, stars, gingerbread people, mittens - stitch around the edge with a blanket stitch or a machine straight stitch, stuff lightly and add a ribbon loop. Kids can help with the cutting and the button decorations. We go through quilting ideas problems step by step elsewhere on the site.

• Time: about 15 minutes each
• Fabric: wool-blend felt sheets
• Tip: wool-blend felt holds its shape better than acrylic

Start with the gifts you need most of - six fabric gift bags will wrap six presents and never get thrown away.

3. Classic Christmas Stocking

A lined stocking with a contrast cuff is a beginner-friendly holiday classic. Trace a stocking you own for the pattern, add 1/2 inch seam allowance and a hanging loop at the back seam. Quilted cotton or velvet looks rich.

• Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Fabric: 1/2 yd outer + 1/2 yd lining + cuff
• Tip: clip the curves before turning

4. Holiday Table Runner

A table runner is a long, simple patchwork project - squares or strips sewn together, layered with batting and quilted in straight lines. It's a great first quilting project that's done in an evening.

• Time: 2 to 3 hours
• Fabric: 4-6 fat quarters + batting + backing
• Tip: aim for about 14 x 60 in on a 6-seat table

5. Christmas Napkins

Holiday napkins are four hems each - perfect for batch sewing. Use red check, plaid or a festive print, and press mitered corners for a crisp, professional finish.

• Time: 15 minutes each
• Fabric: 1 yd makes four 18 in napkins
• Tip: linen blends look elegant and wash well

6. Mug Rugs

A mug rug is a mini quilt big enough for a mug and a cookie - about 6 x 9 inches. Pair one with a bag of cocoa for a quick teacher or neighbor gift.

• Time: about 30 minutes
• Fabric: scraps + batting
• Tip: quilt straight lines with a walking foot

7. Plaid Envelope Pillow Covers

Swap your everyday pillow covers for holiday ones. An envelope back means no zipper, and buffalo plaid flannel or a cozy knit looks wintry in minutes.

• Time: about 30 minutes each
• Fabric: about 1/2 yd per 18 in cover
• Tip: match plaid lines across the overlap

8. Fabric Christmas Trees

Stuffed cone-shaped trees made from quilting cotton or velvet look lovely on a mantel. Cut a quarter circle, sew it into a cone, stuff it and close the base with a cardboard circle.

• Time: about 30 minutes each
• Fabric: velvet or cotton scraps
• Tip: weight the base with rice so they stand

9. Fleece Throw Blanket

A fleece throw is cozy, quick and hard to get wrong - fleece doesn't fray, so a simple hem or a blanket stitch around the edge is enough. Use a ballpoint needle and a slightly longer stitch.

• Time: about 1 hour
• Fabric: 1.5 to 2 yd fleece
• Tip: no prewashing needed for polyester fleece

10. Flannel Pajama Pants

Matching family pajama pants are a favorite Christmas morning gift. Flannel is easy to sew and forgiving; use an elastic waist and an existing pair to check the size.

• Time: 2 to 3 hours per pair
• Fabric: 2-2.5 yd flannel per adult pair
• Tip: prewash flannel - it shrinks

11. Advent Calendar Pockets

Twenty-four small numbered pockets on a fabric panel make an heirloom advent calendar. Sew the pockets in rows, add numbers with felt or fabric paint and hang it from a dowel.

• Time: a weekend
• Fabric: 1 yd background + scraps for pockets
• Tip: start by Thanksgiving to hang it on December 1

12. Christmas Tree Skirt

A tree skirt is a big circle with a center hole and a back opening - straightforward, just large. Patchwork wedges, a quilted circle or simple felt with a ruffle all work. Bind the edges for a clean finish.

• Time: a weekend
• Fabric: 1.5-2 yd + backing + batting
• Tip: 48 in across suits most 6-7 ft trees

A simple holiday sewing schedule

Early November: buy fabric and cut the big projects. Mid-November: sew the tree skirt or advent calendar. Late November: batch-sew napkins, gift bags and ornaments. December: quick gifts - mug rugs, scrunchies and pajama pants.

Leave the last week for wrapping (in your new gift bags) rather than sewing.

Still wondering?

Every December I cut twenty gift bags in one sitting - by Christmas they've replaced every roll of wrapping paper in the house.