Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas Closet: 15 Handmade Gifts to Start Making Now

Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas planning started long before December, and her clever habit is one every gift giver can borrow this year. As First Lady she kept a special Christmas Closet on the third floor of the White House, filled with presents gathered over many months. She shopped and made gifts for five children, their families, thirteen grandchildren and a long list of friends, and she still found joy in every package. The secret was simple: start early, keep a list and tuck each finished gift away. Below are 15 handmade gifts in her thoughtful, practical spirit, from stitched handkerchiefs to a footstool like the ones made at her Val-Kill workshop. Pick one or two, clear a shelf and start your own gift closet today..

Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas Closet: Start a Gift Shelf Now

Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas giving was a year round project. According to the White House Historical Association, she stored her holiday gifts in a Christmas Closet in the third floor solarium and spent many hours there wrapping and marking packages. You do not need a White House to copy her. One shelf in a hall closet or a lidded bin under the bed works just as well. Add each finished gift as you go, and December suddenly feels calm. Which shelf in your home could become your gift closet..

You will need: One empty shelf or a large lidded bin, a few small baskets, a notebook, a pencil and sticky notes.

How to make it: 1. Clear one shelf and line it with baskets for each family group. 2. Add a notebook on the shelf for names and gift ideas. 3. Place each finished gift in its basket with a sticky note showing who it is for.

Hand Stitched Handkerchiefs With a Single Initial

A crisp handkerchief was a classic gift in the 1930s, and it is coming back as a thoughtful, low waste present. Buy plain cotton squares or cut them from an old cotton shirt, then stitch one initial in a corner. A simple backstitch letter takes about twenty minutes while you watch a show. Add a tiny holly sprig for a holiday touch. Tie three together with ribbon and you have a gift that will be used and kept for years. Who on your list would love one with their initial?

You will need: Plain cotton handkerchiefs or cotton fabric squares, embroidery floss, a needle, a small hoop and a washable fabric pen.

How to make it: 1. Draw the initial lightly in one corner with the fabric pen. 2. Backstitch over the letter with two strands of floss. 3. Add a small berry sprig, rinse out the pen marks and press flat.

Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas Jam Jars With Fabric Tops

An Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas list was long, so small kitchen gifts made sense. A batch of jam in summer or fall turns into a dozen gifts that wait happily on the shelf until December. The fabric top is what makes it special. Cut a circle from gingham or flannel scraps, set it over the lid and tie it with twine. Keep the jars in a cool dark spot until you hand them out. Which flavor would your neighbors love most?

You will need: Sealed jars of homemade or store bought jam, fabric scraps, pinking shears, a small plate to trace, baker’s twine and kraft tags.

How to make it: 1. Trace a circle about two inches wider than the lid and cut it with pinking shears. 2. Center it on the lid and hold it with a rubber band. 3. Tie twine over the band and add a tag.

Pressed Flower Notecards for Letter Writers

Eleanor Roosevelt was a famous letter writer, so a set of notecards feels like a fitting nod to her. Press flowers from the garden in summer between heavy books, then fix them to blank cards in the fall. Clear contact film or a thin coat of craft glue keeps petals safe in the mail. Six cards and envelopes tied with ribbon make a lovely gift for anyone who still sends real letters. When did you last write a note by hand?

You will need: Pressed flowers and leaves, blank cards with envelopes, tweezers, clear self adhesive film or decoupage glue, a soft brush and ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Arrange the pressed flowers on the card front with tweezers. 2. Press clear film over them or brush on a thin glue layer. 3. Let dry, stack with envelopes and tie with ribbon.

A Hand Painted Wooden Keepsake Box

Every family has letters, photos and little treasures that need a home. A plain wooden box from the craft store becomes an heirloom with a coat of cream paint and a simple folk art design. Poinsettias, holly or a name on the lid all work. Seal it with a clear water based varnish so it lasts. Tuck a handwritten note inside before you wrap it, the way a thoughtful gift giver would. Whose treasures would you keep in one?

You will need: An unfinished wooden box, fine sandpaper, cream chalk paint, acrylic craft paints, small brushes and clear water based varnish.

How to make it: 1. Sand the box lightly and paint two coats of cream. 2. Paint the flowers with simple brush strokes. 3. Let dry overnight and add two thin coats of varnish.

Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas Footstool in Early American Style

In 1926 Eleanor Roosevelt helped start Val-Kill Industries near Hyde Park, New York, a small shop where local workers made handcrafted copies of Early American furniture. A simple footstool is a beginner friendly way to honor that idea. Many hardware stores sell turned legs and ready cut tops, so you only need to sand, screw and stain. Ask an adult helper for the drill. It is a gift that gets used every single evening. Who needs a spot to rest tired feet?

You will need: A precut pine or maple top, four turned legs with mounting plates, screws, a drill (adult help), sandpaper, wood stain and a soft rag.

How to make it: 1. Sand the top and legs smooth. 2. Screw the mounting plates under the corners and twist in the legs. 3. Wipe on stain, let dry and finish with clear wax.

A Handwritten Family Recipe Booklet

Grandma’s best recipes deserve better than a stained index card. Copy ten favorites by hand into a small booklet, add a little drawing on each page and bind it with twine. Ask relatives for one recipe each and you have a family keepsake that is also a great gift for newlyweds or college kids. Start now and you can add one page a week until the holidays. Which family recipe would you write in first?

You will need: Heavy cardstock pages, a cloth or kraft cover, a hole punch, twine, a fine pen and colored pencils.

How to make it: 1. Write one recipe per page and add a small sketch. 2. Punch two holes along the left edge of every page and the cover. 3. Thread twine through and tie a neat bow.

Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas Sachets From Fabric Scraps

Thrifty gifts suited the Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas spirit, and sachets use the smallest fabric scraps in your bin. Sew two squares together, fill them with dried lavender and tie the top. They make drawers and closets smell fresh and look sweet tied onto a larger gift. You can sew a dozen in one afternoon. Keep a jar of them in your gift closet for teachers, neighbors and surprise guests. How many could you make from your scrap pile?

You will need: Cotton fabric scraps, dried lavender buds, a funnel, needle and thread or a sewing machine, and thin ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Cut two five inch squares and sew three sides, right sides together. 2. Turn out, fill halfway with lavender using a funnel. 3. Gather the top and tie it tightly with ribbon.

A Hand Stamped Stationery Set

Mrs. Roosevelt answered thousands of letters and wrote a daily newspaper column, so a stationery set is a gift with a story behind it. Carve a simple pine bough from a soft rubber block or use a store bought stamp, then print along the top of plain paper. Match a few envelopes and tie the set with ribbon. It costs very little and makes letter writing feel special again. Who on your list loves sending mail?

You will need: Plain writing paper and envelopes, a soft carving block or stamps, a carving tool (adult help), ink pads and ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Carve or choose a small stamp design. 2. Print a border along the top of each sheet and the envelope flaps. 3. Let dry, stack and tie with ribbon.

Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas Calendar for Family Birthdays

Keeping track of a big family was part of every Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas, and a hand lettered calendar helps any family stay close. Fill in every birthday and anniversary before you give it, so no one is forgotten next year. A simple grid drawn with a ruler and a small painted wreath on each page is plenty. Clip the pages to a wooden hanger and roll it up with ribbon. Who is the family organizer in your house?

You will need: Twelve sheets of kraft or watercolor paper, a ruler, a fine marker, watercolors, a wooden clip hanger and ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Draw a month grid on each sheet with a ruler. 2. Letter the month and paint a small wreath. 3. Add family birthdays, stack the pages and clip them to the hanger.

Rag Rug Coasters From Old Shirts

Rag rugs were a classic make do craft in the Depression years, when Mrs. Roosevelt was First Lady. The same braid shrinks down to charming coasters that use worn out shirts. Cut long strips, braid three together and coil the braid into a circle, stitching as you go. A set of four tied with twine is a perfect hostess gift. They wash well and look better with age. Which old shirts could become coasters?

You will need: Old cotton shirts or fabric, scissors, a large needle, strong thread, safety pins and twine.

How to make it: 1. Cut strips about one inch wide and join them end to end. 2. Braid three strips together tightly. 3. Coil the braid into a flat circle, stitching each round, and tuck the end under.

A Gift Notebook So No One Gets the Same Present Twice

Here is the smartest part of her system. Mrs. Roosevelt kept a notebook with each person’s name and a record of what she had already given them, so no one got the same gift twice. Make your own with a small notebook and a page per person. Note sizes, favorite colors and past gifts. A blank version with a pretty cover also makes a lovely present for the planner in your family. Would a gift notebook make your December easier?

You will need: A small notebook, washi tape, a fine pen and a few colored pencils.

How to make it: 1. Give each person or family a page. 2. Write past gifts, sizes and favorite things. 3. Check off each gift as it goes into your closet.

Knitted Wrist Warmers for Cold Hands

Mrs. Roosevelt was often photographed with her knitting, and knitted gifts were a popular way to give in her day. Wrist warmers are a fast first project. Knit a simple rectangle, then stitch the long sides together, leaving a gap for the thumb. They keep hands warm while typing, reading or walking the dog. Make one pair a month and you will have a stack ready by the holidays. Which color would you knit first?

You will need: Worsted wool yarn, size 8 knitting needles, a yarn needle and scissors.

How to make it: 1. Cast on 36 stitches and knit a rectangle about seven inches long. 2. Fold it and sew the long edge, leaving a one inch thumb gap. 3. Weave in the ends.

Hand Stamped Wrapping Paper for Wrapping Day

Mrs. Roosevelt spent many hours before Christmas wrapping and marking her packages, and you can make that job fun. Plain kraft paper turns festive with a potato stamp or a cut sponge. Print a big roll in one afternoon and let it dry flat. Every gift from your closet will match, and the paper looks charming under the tree. Kids can help with the stamping while an adult cuts the potatoes. What shape would you stamp first?

You will need: A roll of brown kraft paper, potatoes or craft sponges, a small knife (adult help), acrylic paint, paper plates and red string.

How to make it: 1. Cut a simple tree or snowflake shape into a halved potato. 2. Dab paint on a plate and stamp across the paper. 3. Let it dry flat, then wrap and tie with string.

Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas Wrapping Station and Gift Tags

End your Eleanor Roosevelt Christmas project with a wrapping station that keeps everything in one place. A small table with paper, ribbon, tape and handmade tags turns wrapping into a cozy evening ritual. Cut tags from old Christmas cards and write each name in your neatest hand. Check each gift off in your notebook as it is wrapped, just as she did. For more ideas for the people you love most, see our DIY gifts for grandma. Which of these 15 gifts will you start first?

You will need: A small table, kraft paper, ribbon, tape, scissors, old Christmas cards, a hole punch and your gift notebook.

How to make it: 1. Set out paper, ribbon and tools on one table. 2. Cut tags from old cards and punch a hole in each. 3. Wrap, tag and check each gift off in your notebook.