Brand New Free Pattern + Gift Ideas to Make for Friends Who Sew

Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy crazy-weekend-after-Thanksgiving. I hope you've had a festive week but also time to pause and celebrate gratitude with people you care about. I can't believe December starts in 2 days. (Wasn't last Christmas only a couple of months ago?!)

This week I've got a brand new tutorial for EASY lined drawstring bag in 3 different sizes. Also some of my favorite ideas for handmade gifts you can get a jump on before December gets out of control as well as some fun and simple Advent Calendar ideas as we start the countdown to Christmas.

New Free PATTERN: Lined Drawstring Bag in 3 Sizes

Do you ever just want a quick, useful project that you can finish in an afternoon - especially when you've already got a lot going on getting ready for Christmas? This week I’ve been sewing the sweetest little lined drawstring bags and I’m excited to share the free tutorial with you!

They come in three handy sizes and are perfect for reusable gift wrapping, stocking stuffers, organizing small gifts, or corralling all those little bits that appear during holiday prep.

I also put together a free PDF pattern you can download and save for later.

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly project (or a fast “palette cleanser” between big quilts), this might be just the thing.

Ideas for Handmade Gifts to Make for Friends Who Sew

Last week I shared my Gift Guide for Quilters. This week I've got a bunch of ideas for handmade gifts.

As quilters yourselves, you already know that it’s a lot of fun to make a sweet little gift for other friends who sew. It’s just that much more rewarding to give a handmade gift to someone who also values handmade items!

Now is a great time to get a head start on Christmas gifts for friends who quilt! Over the years, I’ve been gathering and updating a list with a variety of handmade gift ideas ranging from large and elaborate for a special someone, to quick and simple projects that you can mass produce all at once for a guild or group of stitch-loving friends.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sales

I've put together a list of lots of Black Friday/Cyber Weekend Sales happening if you're looking for the perfect gift for a friend or to stock up on essentials like notions, quilt backs, etc for yourself.

Here are a few:

• I've found a few great notions markdowns on Amazon right now including Oliso mini craft iron is 20% off, Gingher dressmaker scissors 26% off, and 25% off a portable wool pressing mat​
• ​Fat Quarter Shop is having 20% off site wide today (Saturday) with other deals through Cyber Monday.
• Gorgeous embroidery kits and notions 10-20% off from Matryoshka Doll Shop
• ​SoJo Fabrics has almost the whole shop marked down 10-30% off. Including yardage, bundles, kits, notions and patterns.
• It's Small Business Saturday and lots of ETSY shops are having specials. A great time to shop handmade and support small businesses.

For more details and deals on big ticket items like Sewing Machines and quilt design software, etc. And don't forget to support Small Businesses this shopping weekend!

Check out the whole list here:

If you're looking for Gift Ideas click here for my 2025 Gift Guide . Many of them are marked down this weekend and also from Small Businesses so it's a win-win situation.

Fun Finds on the Web - Advent Calendar Ideas

With December 1 coming on Monday, here are some fun Countdown to Christmas/Advent Calendar ideas

Suzy Quilts shares a free pattern for a simple, pockets-style handmade Advent Calendar.​

You could make something similar by embellishing a pre-made shoe organizer!

Here's another tutorial for a simple, modern advent calendar.​

Good old Martha Stewart has a free template for a countdown advent made with simple felt stockings​

I love this concept from The Idea Room using favorite Christmas books to countdown to Christmas.

I hope that you enjoyed a weekend with people that you love. (And maybe a little bit of patience with the people you love who also drive you a little bit crazy. 😉 It's all part of family life. 😅)

Two of my kids were in states across the country. I'm still at the stage where it's weird to celebrate a major holiday without some of my kids, but I'm grateful for those who hosted and fed them and for technology that let us all talk together even though we were spread far and wide. It's pretty amazing.

I'm starting to haul out the holly around here. I've got a kid home from college so I'm "letting" him help with the final leaf raking (can we please be done?) and carrying boxes up the stairs. We make him lots of food while he's home, so he's a good sport about helping. :)

It looks like we're getting snow tomorrow and I'm actually kind of excited about it. Makes it easier to accept the fact that December is actually here.

Also, bring on the Christmas music!

Wishing you all the best. See you next week!

xo,

Amy

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