Do you love giving handmade gifts? They are such a great way of showing you appreciate someone or celebrating a special event and sometimes you get to make something fun that you wouldn't have made for yourself.
Why spent time Creating a handmade Gifting Stash?
It's lovely to be able to consider the person and their individual tastes and needs when creating a special gift for someone you're close to. Sometimes, though, it's hard to find enough time to make something special between hearing someone's news and needing to have a gift ready and other times you want an small gift for someone you don't know especially well, like a child's teacher or a colleague who helped you out at work. Creating a handmade gifting stash is perfect for these kind of situations.
What to include in a handmade Gifting Stash
You should consider knitting or crocheting items for the gift stash that can be useful or enjoyable to as many people as possible and perhaps a good mixture of items and different colours. Many crafters find that handmade gift ideas for men are harder to find than for women, so I've tried to include a few ideas below that can work well with traditional male styling too. A nice mix of items for babies (handmade gifts are popular for newborns) children and adults, with a focus on gender neutral items in different types of colours (darks, brights, pastels and neutrals) would be ideal to have most possible recipients covered.
You'll want to be sure that the item you're making will be fun and interesting/relaxing for you to make too if you are going to be making several of the same thing. Quick makes are ideal too, especially when building up the gifting stash. It's also a good idea to keep the budget low when you are making without having a specific person in mind and make sure the item is easy to care for. I would focusing on making mostly small projects from patterns that are free or that you already have and that can use up leftover yarn from other projects.
Handmade Gifting Stash Pattern Ideas
I have collected together some of my own patterns and asked a few other designers to share ideas too, so here are some fun ideas to get your handmade gift stash underway.
Rainbow Lanyard from Garnknuten (crochet)
Many of the people who look after us and our children have to carry a visible ID/entry card at work or even just a set of keys. Thank them for their care and help them keep their keys and card safe with this colourful crocheted lanyard. Find the pattern on the Garnknuten website.
The Exact Bookmark (crochet)
A bookmark is a great gift for booklovers of any age and this one is quick to make and really light so it's easy and inexpensive to send to someone who lives far away and could also be a great accompaniment to add a personal touch to a gift of a book or voucher. Find the pattern on my blog.
Baby socks from Knit & Crochet Blog (knitted)
These are a great standby to have at hand for whenever news of a newborn baby might arrive without much warning. They are quick and easy to make and perfect for using up colourful scraps of yarn. Plus they are adaptable, allowing new knitters to work plain and simple ones while more confident makers can vary the stitches used to avoid getting bored by working up the same pattern. Find the pattern on Knit & Crochet Blog.
The Scraptacular baskets from Elimee Designs (crochet)
These are sure to be a winner with anyone who likes to keep their home tidy but has a lot of stuff, so I think they'd be a great gift for any of your crafty friends and they could also be a treat for someone starting a new job where they'll have a boring office desk in need of a little personality! Find the pattern on the Elimee Designs website.
The Mermaid Bow Band (Tunisian crochet)
This is a multi-purpose one: it could be a sweet gift of a choker, curtain tie back or hair accessory but it's also perfect to tie around a bunch of flowers or a wrapped gift to make it look extra special. Find the pattern on my blog.
Easy Plant Hanger from Garnknuten (crochet)
An easy crocheted plant hanger that's perfect for a new home gift and could hold a real or artificial plant. Find the pattern on the Garnknuten website.
Knit Scrunchie from The Fairythorn (knit)
This is the perfect pattern for using up yarn scraps, both pretty and plain, and is a fast make in a simple stitch that is really relaxing and creates a fantastic small gift that will be appreciated by a recipient with medium or long hair. Find the pattern on The Fairythorn website.
Mytikas Scarf from Elimee Designs (crochet)
This is a gender neutral child's sized scarf with an interesting pattern of eyelets that will be really motivating to see develop as you crochet. If you love the design and don't mind spending a little extra time creating gifts, there is also an adult sized version of the same pattern, enabling you to to create parent and child or family matching sets. Find the video pattern tutorial on YouTube.
Erskine the Baby Mouse from Little Seal Designs (crochet)
Any small child who loves make-believe play or even a parent who loves using a baby carrier is going to adore Erskine, a baby mouse in a wrapped style carrier that can be worn by the child's other small dolls or soft toys and, if you get a taste for making amigurumi, perhaps by one of the many little crocheted creatures that you'll find patterns for in the Little Seal's Designs online stores. I think it would be a great addition to a key fob or as a fiddle type charm to fix safely onto your baby carrier too. Get the pattern by signing up to the Little Seal Designs Mailing List.
Reusable Cotton Scrubbies from Eryn Makes Designs (circular knitting machine)
Now this is a really speedy option for anyone with a 22 pin circular knitting machine (Addi/Sentro type) and a little stash of cotton yarn scraps. If you don't have a machine, I think your could probably follow her instructions after casting on 22 sts in the round. I love these scrubbies and think they would be so much fun to make (anyone else love cinching stitches rather than needing to cast them off?) and really handy additions to the recipient's kitchen, bathroom or even the glove compartment of their car. video pattern tutorial on YouTube.
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