Cardboard Loom Gifts: 15 Cozy Things You Can Weave With a Free Box

Cardboard Loom Gifts are the coziest surprise of the season, and the best part is that the loom costs nothing at all. Grab an old shipping box, cut a row of small notches along two edges, wrap it with yarn and you have a little weaving frame that works just like the real thing. Weavers online have shown mittens, pouches and mini rugs made this way, and the videos keep pulling in millions of views because the over and under rhythm is so calming. Every piece uses up yarn scraps you already own, and the finished gifts look handmade in the very best way. Below you will find 15 warm, useful ideas you can weave on a quiet evening, from mittens and mug cozies to a little tote that holds the whole present. Put the kettle on and let’s start weaving..

Cardboard Loom Gifts Start With Cozy Woven Mittens

Cardboard Loom Gifts do not get more famous than these mittens. Weaver Studio Rosie showed how to trace a hand on cardboard, notch the outline and weave a mitten shape in one piece, and millions of people tried it. You weave the front and back, stitch them together and get a soft pair that looks like it came from a mountain shop. Pick three colors that suit the person you love, and they will think of you every cold morning. Who on your list always has frozen fingers..

You will need: Sturdy cardboard, a pencil, scissors, chunky wool yarn in three colors, a large tapestry needle.

How to make it: 1. Trace a hand with a wide margin and cut two mitten shapes from cardboard. 2. Notch the top and bottom edges every half inch and wrap the warp yarn. 3. Weave over and under in stripes, slide the weaving off and stitch the two pieces together.

A Striped Mug Cozy for the Cocoa Lover

A mug cozy is the quickest win in this list. It is just a short rectangle, so a small loom cut from a cereal box works fine, and you can finish one during a movie. Wrap it around a plain white mug, add a packet of cocoa and a candy cane, and you have a sweet gift for a teacher, a neighbor or a coworker. Choose cheerful stripes and the mug suddenly looks like it came from a cozy cafe. How many could you make before the holidays?

You will need: A small cardboard rectangle, cotton or wool yarn, a tapestry needle, one wooden button.

How to make it: 1. Cut a loom about as wide as the mug is tall and notch both ends. 2. Weave stripes until the piece wraps around the mug with a small overlap. 3. Tie off the warp, add a yarn loop on one end and sew a button on the other.

A Soft Ear Warmer Headband

Some people never wear hats, but almost everyone loves an ear warmer. Weave a long band on a narrow loom, then twist the ends together in the middle for that pretty knotted look you see in boutiques. Soft chunky yarn in blush, cream or gray makes it feel extra special. It also packs flat, so it slides easily into a card or a stocking. Measure around the head of the person you are weaving for, or simply make it a little stretchy. Would your sister wear this on her morning walk?

You will need: A long strip of cardboard, chunky soft yarn, a tapestry needle, a tape measure.

How to make it: 1. Cut a loom about 20 inches long and 3 inches wide and notch both ends. 2. Weave the whole band in a soft color, keeping the edges straight. 3. Fold the ends, twist them together in the middle and stitch them closed.

Cardboard Loom Gifts for Phones: A Little Drawstring Pouch

Cardboard Loom Gifts can be practical too, and this pouch proves it. A woven sleeve keeps a phone safe from scratches in a purse or a coat pocket, and the drawstring top makes it look neat and finished. Teens love them in bright stripes, while parents often like calm colors like mustard and cream. You can also size it for earbuds, a small charger or a handful of hair ties. Weave it as a tube on both sides of the cardboard so you have fewer seams. What color would your teenager pick?

You will need: Cardboard a little larger than the phone, cotton yarn, a tapestry needle, cord for the drawstring.

How to make it: 1. Notch the top and bottom of the cardboard and wrap the warp all the way around both sides. 2. Weave around and around so the piece forms a tube. 3. Slide it off, close the bottom and thread a cord through the top row.

A Farmhouse Pot Holder in Red and White

A red and white pot holder looks like it came straight out of grandma’s kitchen, and it makes a lovely hostess gift. Use 100 percent cotton yarn, because cotton handles warmth much better than acrylic, and weave it thick and tight. For real kitchen use, make two squares and stitch them together so the pot holder is double layered. Add a little hanging loop in one corner. Tuck it into a basket with a wooden spoon and a family recipe card. Who hosts your holiday dinner this year?

You will need: A square of thick cardboard, 100 percent cotton yarn, a tapestry needle.

How to make it: 1. Cut an 8 inch square loom and notch two opposite sides. 2. Weave tight red and white stripes, pushing each row down firmly. 3. Make a second square, stitch both together and add a loop in one corner.

A Tiny Zip Coin Purse

A coin purse is small, quick and surprisingly useful for loose change, earrings or lip balm. Weave one long rectangle, fold it in half and sew a short zipper into the top. If zippers make you nervous, a snap or a button and loop works just as well. Mixing two colors row by row gives a speckled tweed look that hides any small mistakes. Tie a ribbon around it and slip a gift card or a few dollars inside for a gift that is two in one. Who would love finding money inside?

You will need: A small cardboard loom, cotton yarn in two colors, a short zipper or a snap, needle and thread.

How to make it: 1. Weave a rectangle twice as long as you want the purse to be. 2. Fold it in half and stitch up both sides. 3. Hand sew the zipper or snap into the open top.

Cardboard Loom Gifts for Kids: A Dollhouse Rug

Cardboard Loom Gifts for little ones can be tiny and still steal the show. A woven mini rug with fringe makes a dollhouse look instantly cozy, and kids love decorating the rooms with real handmade pieces. This is also a great first project to make with a child, since the loom is small and the stripes come together fast. Make a few in different colors so the dollhouse gets a whole new look for the holidays. Add a tiny matching blanket for the doll bed. Could you weave one with your grandkids?

You will need: A piece of cardboard about the size of a postcard, scrap yarn in bright colors, a plastic kids needle.

How to make it: 1. Notch both short ends and wrap the warp. 2. Weave bright stripes, changing color every few rows. 3. Cut the warp, knot the ends in pairs and trim them into an even fringe.

A Cozy Glasses Case for Grandma

Reading glasses always seem to vanish into the couch, so a soft case is a gift that gets used every single day. Weave a narrow pouch in a calm blue or gray, leave the top open and maybe add a little button flap. The thick weave protects the lenses from scratches in a purse or a coat pocket. If your grandma reads every night, pair it with a new paperback and a bookmark. It takes about an hour, and it feels far more personal than a store case. Who in your family loses their glasses the most?

You will need: A narrow cardboard loom, soft wool or cotton yarn, a tapestry needle, one button.

How to make it: 1. Cut a loom about 3.5 inches wide and 7 inches long and wrap the warp around both sides. 2. Weave around the loom to form a pocket. 3. Slide it off, close the bottom and add a button flap if you like.

Mini Weavings That Double as Gift Tags

Here is a sweet idea that turns plain brown paper into something special. Weave little squares on a loom made from a cereal box, then tie them onto presents with twine instead of paper tags. Write the name on a small card tucked behind, or stitch the first letter right into the weaving. After the gift is opened, the tag can hang on the tree or a doorknob as a keepsake. They are perfect for using every last bit of your yarn scraps. How many presents are under your tree this year?

You will need: A small cardboard square, yarn scraps, twine, a tapestry needle, small paper cards.

How to make it: 1. Cut a loom about 3 inches square and notch two sides. 2. Weave quick stripes and tie off the ends. 3. Attach each weaving to a present with twine and tuck a name card behind it.

Cardboard Loom Gifts for Pets: A Striped Cat Mat

Cardboard Loom Gifts are not only for people, and cats seem to agree. A soft woven mat gives a kitty a warm spot on a cold floor, and it looks far nicer than a towel. Use a large flat box as your loom and thick chunky yarn so the mat grows quickly. Cream and gray stripes match almost any home, so it is a great gift for a friend with a new pet too. Wash it gently by hand and lay it flat to dry. Does your cat already have a favorite sunny spot?

You will need: A large flat cardboard box, chunky cotton or wool yarn, a big tapestry needle.

How to make it: 1. Cut a loom about 14 by 18 inches and notch the short ends. 2. Weave wide cream and gray stripes, packing the rows down firmly. 3. Tie off the warp in pairs and tuck the ends neatly underneath.

Bright Tassel Keychains

Small, cheerful and fast, these keychains make perfect stocking stuffers or little gifts for classmates and coworkers. Weave narrow strips in bold zigzag stripes, fold one end through a key ring and finish the other end with a fluffy tassel. Each one uses only a few yards of yarn, so a single evening can give you a whole basket of them. They also sell well at school fairs if you want to make a few extra dollars. Which colors would your best friend choose?

You will need: A narrow strip of cardboard, embroidery floss or thin yarn, metal key rings, scissors.

How to make it: 1. Wrap a narrow loom with about 8 warp threads. 2. Weave a short strip in bright stripes. 3. Loop one end through a key ring, stitch it closed and add a tassel to the other end.

Lavender Drawer Sachets

These little sachets make a dresser drawer or a linen closet smell lovely for months. Weave a small pouch, fill it with dried lavender from the garden or the craft store, and tie the top with a silky ribbon. Cream and soft purple yarn makes them look like they came from a French market. Give them in a set of three with a pretty card, or tuck one into a gift bag with a handmade scarf. When the scent fades, simply refill them. Who do you know with a garden full of lavender?

You will need: A small cardboard loom, soft cream and lilac yarn, dried lavender, ribbon, a tapestry needle.

How to make it: 1. Weave a small tube by wrapping the warp around both sides of the loom. 2. Slide it off and close the bottom with a few stitches. 3. Fill it with dried lavender and tie the top shut with a ribbon.

Cardboard Loom Gifts for Writers: A Journal Cover

Cardboard Loom Gifts look especially thoughtful when they wrap something useful. A woven journal cover turns a plain notebook into a keepsake that feels earthy and warm. Weave a panel the same height as the book, then stitch pockets on each end so the covers slide in. Rust, olive and cream are perfect for anyone who loves nature walks or keeps a garden diary. Add a pencil and a pressed leaf on the first page. Who on your list is always writing things down?

You will need: A cardboard loom a little taller than the notebook, wool yarn in earthy colors, a tapestry needle, a notebook.

How to make it: 1. Measure the open notebook and weave a panel that wraps around it plus 3 inches on each side. 2. Fold the extra on each end inward and stitch the top and bottom to make pockets. 3. Slide the notebook covers into the pockets.

Button Cuff Bracelets

Woven cuffs are a fun way to try new color combinations without a big project. Each one is a short strip with a buttonhole loop on one end and a wooden button on the other, so it fits any wrist. Make a stack in different stripes and let friends pick their favorite at a holiday get together. They pair beautifully with sweaters and denim jackets, and they cost only pennies. Teens and grown ups both enjoy wearing them. Which stripe would you keep for yourself?

You will need: A narrow cardboard loom, cotton yarn in several colors, small wooden buttons, needle and thread.

How to make it: 1. Weave a strip about 7 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. 2. Make a small yarn loop at one end. 3. Sew a wooden button on the other end so the loop fastens over it.

Cardboard Loom Gifts to Finish: A Little Woven Tote

Cardboard Loom Gifts can even become the wrapping itself. Weave two panels from a big box, stitch them into a little tote and add soft cotton rope handles. Fill it with yarn and a cardboard loom so your friend can start weaving too, or pack it with cocoa and cookies. It is the kind of gift that gets used long after the holidays as a knitting bag or a lunch tote. If you loved these ideas, our chunky knit blankets are another cozy gift you can make without needles. Who will you weave for first?

You will need: A large cardboard box, chunky cotton yarn in several colors, cotton rope for handles, a tapestry needle.

How to make it: 1. Weave two matching panels about 10 by 12 inches. 2. Place them together and stitch up the sides and bottom. 3. Sew a rope handle firmly inside each top edge.