Easy Christmas Sewing Projects: 14 Handmade Gifts You Can Stitch in One Evening

Easy Christmas sewing projects are having a big moment, and it is not hard to see why. A handmade fabric gift feels warm, useful and personal in a way store bought things never do. Right now small sewing gifts are all over YouTube, and one little fabric gift bag video from a channel with fewer than 50,000 subscribers passed 7 million views in a month. The best part is that most of these projects need only straight seams, a few fat quarters and one cozy evening. Many of them even use up the fabric scraps you have been saving. Below are fourteen sweet ideas, from gift bags and fabric trees to bowl cozies and mini stockings. Thread your machine and let us make something lovely..

Easy Christmas Sewing Projects Start With a Drawstring Gift Bag

If you only make one thing this year, make a stack of lined drawstring gift bags. They replace wrapping paper, they can be used again every Christmas, and they make even a small gift look special. Red plaid, green gingham and plain linen look beautiful side by side. Each bag is two rectangles for the outside, two for the lining and a channel at the top for a ribbon or cord. Once you make the first one, the rest go fast. Your family will start handing them back to you every year, and that is half the fun..

You will need: Cotton or flannel fabric for the outside, cotton for the lining, cord or ribbon, a safety pin, a sewing machine, thread, pins.

How to make it: 1. Cut two outer and two lining rectangles the same size. 2. Sew the outer pieces and lining pieces into two bags. 3. Put one bag inside the other, stitch the top edge, and sew a channel about one inch down. 4. Thread the cord through with a safety pin.

Triangle Mini Zipper Pouches

These little triangle pouches are the project that went viral. The DK Sewing video of this tiny bag passed 7 million views in about a month, and people keep sharing it because the shape is so clever. You sew a simple zipper tube, then pinch the ends in opposite directions so it pops into a pyramid. They are perfect for candy, earbuds, hair ties or a gift card. Make them in plaid, gingham and star print for a matching set. How many could you sew in one evening?

You will need: Two fabric rectangles about 6 by 10 inches, a 6 inch zipper, a small strip for the loop tab, a zipper foot, thread.

How to make it: 1. Sew the zipper between the two short ends to make a tube. 2. Turn it so the zipper sits in the center and sew one end closed with the loop tab inside. 3. Open the zipper, pinch the other end the opposite way and sew it closed. 4. Turn right side out and press.

Easy Christmas Sewing Projects From Kitchen Towels

Here is a clever shortcut. A Christmas kitchen towel already has finished edges, so turning it into a gift bag takes about ten minutes. Fold the towel in half, sew up the two sides and you are done. Fill it with a jar of cookies, a cocoa mix or a rolling pin, then tie it with twine and a wooden spoon. The person gets two gifts in one, because the bag goes right back into the kitchen as a towel. A video of this idea hit 752,000 views this month. Who on your list loves to bake?

You will need: Christmas kitchen towels, thread to match, a sewing machine, twine, wooden spoons, gifts to fill.

How to make it: 1. Fold the towel in half with the right sides together. 2. Sew both sides with a short stitch. 3. Turn right side out and press the corners. 4. Fill, gather the top and tie with twine and a wooden spoon.

Stuffed Fabric Christmas Trees

Of all the easy Christmas sewing projects here, a little forest of fabric trees is the decor people ask about most. Each tree is two tree shapes sewn together, turned and stuffed, then pushed onto a short wooden dowel set in a wood slice base. Mix plaid, gingham, linen and tiny floral prints for a cottage look. They are lovely on a shelf, a mantel or the middle of the table, and they make great gifts for anyone who loves vintage Christmas. Ask an adult to drill the hole in the wood slice. Which fabrics would you mix?

You will need: Fabric scraps, a tree template, polyester stuffing, wooden dowels, wood slices with a drilled hole (adult help), fabric glue, thread.

How to make it: 1. Cut two tree shapes for each tree. 2. Sew around the edge, leaving the bottom open. 3. Turn, press and stuff firmly. 4. Push a dowel into the stuffing, glue the opening around it and set it in the base.

Easy Christmas Sewing Projects for the Coffee Table: Mug Rugs

A mug rug is a little bigger than a coaster, with room for your mug and a cookie. It is also the perfect first quilting project, because it is small and quick. Sew a few scrap squares together, layer them with batting and a backing, stitch some straight lines and bind the edges. A set of four tied with ribbon makes a sweet gift for a friend who loves tea or coffee. Add a bag of cocoa and you are done. Do you have a pile of scraps ready to use?

You will need: Fabric scraps, a piece of thin batting, backing fabric, binding strips, a sewing machine, thread, pins.

How to make it: 1. Sew scraps into a patchwork rectangle about 6 by 9 inches. 2. Layer the top, batting and backing. 3. Quilt with a few straight lines. 4. Trim and sew binding around the edge.

Fabric Bowl Cozies

Bowl cozies are the easy Christmas sewing projects everyone ends up loving. They are padded fabric holders with darted corners that hug a soup bowl, so you can carry it without touching the hot dish. Use 100 percent cotton fabric, cotton batting and cotton thread, because some synthetics are not safe in a microwave. Make a set in plaid, holly and cream and tie them with a ribbon. Add a soup mix or a pretty ladle and you have a cozy winter gift. Who in your family eats soup every day in winter?

You will need: Two 10 inch squares of 100 percent cotton fabric per cozy, 100 percent cotton batting, cotton thread, a ruler, pins.

How to make it: 1. Layer the fabric squares and batting and sew a cross through the center. 2. Fold each side and sew a dart at all four corners. 3. Sew the outer and lining together, leaving a gap. 4. Turn, press and topstitch the edge.

Patchwork Pillow Cover With an Envelope Back

Among easy Christmas sewing projects, a patchwork pillow cover looks the most like a boutique piece, but it is just squares sewn in rows. Red plaid, green gingham, linen and a little holly print give it that cozy farmhouse feel. The envelope back means no zipper at all, just two overlapping hemmed pieces. Slip it over an old pillow and the whole sofa feels like Christmas. If you would rather skip the machine, try our no sew pillow covers instead. Which room needs a holiday pillow?

You will need: Sixteen 5 inch fabric squares, two backing pieces, a pillow insert, a sewing machine, thread, an iron.

How to make it: 1. Sew the squares into four rows of four and press the seams. 2. Sew the rows together. 3. Hem one long edge of each backing piece and overlap them on the front, right sides together. 4. Sew all around, turn and insert the pillow.

Buffalo Plaid Table Runner

A table runner is one of those easy Christmas sewing projects that is just a long rectangle, which makes it one of the easiest ways to dress a whole room. Red and green buffalo plaid flannel with a cream linen border looks classic and warm. Sew the border around the plaid like a frame, press it well and your table instantly feels ready for guests. Add little rosemary trees, pine cones and a bowl of red apples and you have a centerpiece in minutes. It also makes a great hostess gift folded with a ribbon. How long is your table?

You will need: Plaid flannel for the center, linen for the border, a ruler, a rotary cutter or scissors, a sewing machine, an iron.

How to make it: 1. Cut the plaid center about 12 inches wide and as long as you like. 2. Cut four border strips. 3. Sew the strips around the center, mitering or squaring the corners. 4. Add a backing, turn and topstitch.

Easy Christmas Sewing Projects for the Tree: Fabric Ornament Balls

Fabric ornament balls are soft, unbreakable and so pretty in a bowl or on the tree. Each one is made from six curved panels sewn together like a beach ball, then stuffed and topped with a wooden bead and twine loop. Mix plaid, gingham and star print and no two will match. They are a great way to use tiny scraps, and kids and pets cannot break them. A bowl full of them makes a lovely gift on its own. Ready to start a new family tradition?

You will need: Fabric scraps, a curved panel template, polyester stuffing, wooden beads, twine, a needle, thread.

How to make it: 1. Cut six curved panels from different fabrics. 2. Sew the panels together side by side, leaving a small gap. 3. Turn, stuff firmly and hand stitch the gap closed. 4. Thread twine through a wooden bead and stitch it to the top.

Burlap Fabric Stars

Simple stuffed stars made from burlap or linen look rustic and handmade in the best way. Cut two star shapes, sew around the edges with the seam showing on the outside, and stuff them lightly. A wooden button in the center is the finishing touch. Pile them in a basket, string them on twine or hang them on the tree. Burlap frays, so leave a little raw edge on purpose for that farmhouse look. Would you add a button or keep them plain?

You will need: Burlap or linen scraps, a star template, a little stuffing, wooden buttons, twine, a needle, thread.

How to make it: 1. Cut two stars for each ornament. 2. Sew around the edge about a quarter inch in, leaving a small gap. 3. Stuff lightly and sew the gap shut. 4. Sew a button to the center and add a twine loop.

Easy Christmas Sewing Projects for Gifts: Lined Zipper Pouches

A lined zipper pouch is one of the most useful gifts you can sew. It holds makeup, pencils, chargers or a travel sewing kit, and everyone can use one more. Once you learn to sew a zipper between the outer fabric and the lining, it takes about twenty minutes. Pick a bold zipper color that pops against the lining for a little designer touch. Fill it with something small before you give it. Who on your list is always looking for their charger?

You will need: Outer fabric and lining fabric, a 9 inch zipper, light interfacing, a zipper foot, thread, pins.

How to make it: 1. Iron interfacing to the outer pieces. 2. Sandwich the zipper between one outer and one lining piece and sew; repeat on the other side. 3. Open the zipper halfway and sew around the outer pieces and the lining pieces, leaving a gap in the lining. 4. Turn, sew the gap and press.

Plaid Flannel Rice Bags

A plaid flannel rice bag is one of the coziest easy Christmas sewing projects for cold winter nights. It is a simple rectangle sewn into a few channels and filled with plain dry rice, so the filling stays spread out. To warm it, people should microwave it in short bursts of 20 to 30 seconds, check it carefully with their hand, and never leave it unattended in the microwave. Add a small tag with those directions. Red, green and gray plaid makes a set that looks like it came from a mountain lodge. Who always has cold hands at your house?

You will need: 100 percent cotton flannel, plain dry rice, cotton thread, a funnel, a ruler, a small kraft tag.

How to make it: 1. Cut two flannel rectangles and sew three sides. 2. Turn and sew vertical lines to make three or four channels. 3. Fill each channel with rice using a funnel. 4. Fold the open edge in and sew it shut twice.

Mini Stocking Card Holders

These easy Christmas sewing projects are about the size of your hand, which makes them perfect for holding gift cards, cash or little notes. Sew a whole row in plaid, velvet, linen and gingham with fluffy white cuffs, then hang them from a wooden dowel on the wall. They work as an advent display, a place for holiday cards or a cute way to give money to the grandkids. Each one takes only a few minutes once you have the pattern. Who would you fill the first one for?

You will need: Fabric scraps, white sherpa or fleece for the cuffs, a small stocking template, twine, a wooden dowel, a sewing machine.

How to make it: 1. Cut two stocking shapes and one cuff for each. 2. Sew the stocking pieces together and turn. 3. Sew the cuff into a loop, slip it on the top and stitch. 4. Add a twine loop and hang from the dowel.

Easy Christmas Sewing Projects for Scraps: Fabric Bunting

Bunting is the best way to use every last scrap. Cut triangles, sew them in pairs, turn them and stitch them along a strip of bias tape. Use only red, green and cream fabrics and it becomes a Christmas garland for the mantel, the porch or a kitchen window. Mixed prints give it a happy, collected look. It also makes a lovely gift for a new homeowner. With all of these easy Christmas sewing projects, you will have gifts and decor done before December even starts. Which one will you sew first?

You will need: Fabric scraps, a triangle template, double fold bias tape, a sewing machine, thread, pinking shears (optional).

How to make it: 1. Cut two triangles for each flag. 2. Sew the long sides, turn and press. 3. Space the flags inside the folded bias tape and pin. 4. Sew along the full length of the tape.