Gifts to Sew For Friends Who Sew

Yes, you read that correctly! As sewists, we seek out friends with like-minded hobbies and interests, right? Of course we do.

And, if you don’t have a sewing bestie, you need one!! Search high and low. Scour the interwebs. Find a local craft club or attend a big conference like Crafcation.

Sewing besties are out there; you might even need to join a local, *GASP, quilt club. I know, but times can be tough.

Anywho, after you find your sewing bestie—I’ve had a few over the years—you’ll occasionally want to buy or make them a gift. I vote for the latter.

I’ve had many friends in the past who sew. I am always on the hunt for new ideas and gifts to sew up for my friends.

I’ve compiled a simple list of ideas for you, below. Some I’ve sewn, some are still on the “make someday” list. And, some I’ve received as gifts.

Grab a notepad, a cup of tea, and let’s dive in!

Get ready to take notes.

Bags

1. Overnight Bag

2. Makeup Bag

3. Zipper Pouch

4. Glasses Pouch

5. Purse or Handbag

Overnight & Makeup Bags

This is a fun gift idea for a friend. But, you’re not going to sew up just any old boring overnight bag. You’re going to win extra points if it’s a fabric they love, has a unique style, and it's something they’ll be proud of carrying on a weekend trip.

I’ve made a couple of overnight bags to give as gifts. I even made myself one.

This is a great pattern I found on Etsy a few years ago. Audrey’s travel bag is a circle shape, and it has a retro vibe.

I made the large size for my friend for her birthday with purple Hawaiian pinup fabric. And, I made myself the smaller one to use as a makeup bag when I travel.

Audrey’s Travel Bag

It’s circular and just cute! Anyone would love getting a bag like this. I know I loved making it and giving it as a gift. To be honest, I can’t remember what the inside looks like. But, she loves her bag!!

Small Version of Audrey’s Travel Bag

I made the makeup bag for myself with cute pinup fabric I bought at Joann. RIP. I use it every time I travel. It’s held up for almost 5 years. It has elastic straps to hold makeup and brushes. The mesh pockets are great too, you can see everything inside!

Another easy overnight bag pattern. I made this for myself to match my makeup bag. I use this if we go away for a single night. But if we’re going away for a week, I use this as my toiletry bag. I take everything with me, inside this bag.

• blow dryer

• curling iron

• hair flowers

• hairspray, lotion, etc.

• Full-size shampoo and conditioner

• And, sooo much more!

Betty Bowler Overnight Bag

Grab the pattern here. It’s an easy sew and has 2 front outer pockets and one small inner pocket. It’s nice and roomy and is such a cute bag.

Okay, onto the next bag ideas. Zipper pouches, glasses pouches, and totes.

Let’s face it, we use bags. Every. Single. Day. I used to make and sell these in my Etsy shop, and I was known to gift one to a friend here and there. That was a nice thing— to have a stock of handmade gifts to shop from. Haha, I still shop my leftover stock for gifts sometimes.

But, giving a sewing friend a handmade gift is different than a non-sewist.

You have to put thought into it. And, you have to make something a little more extraordinary. You want to wow your sewing friend!!

Retro glasses pouch

To make this cute glasses pouch:

• Trace around a large pair of sunglasses onto paper to get sizing. Add 1/2” seam allowance.

• Fold the paper in half to make sure the pattern piece is symmetrical.

• If you’d like to add a fun applique as I did, Google a shape you want and print it out.

• Use Heat n Bond with fabric pieces.

• Sew the rest of the bag like a regular zipper pouch.

• Easy peasy!

Purse & Crossbody

This is the absolute best crossbody bag I’ve ever made or seen. Here’s a whole blog post on it.

Another handbag idea is to just wing it. Here’s a custom purse tutorial. This is my favorite type of sewing project. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure.

Home Decor

The trick to sewing for a friend who knows how to sew is to make them something they wouldn’t normally make for themselves.

For example, I’d never make myself a fancy tote bag with lace and bows. But, if you made that for me, I’d use the heck out of it!

I usually only sew practical things for myself. I don’t ever make myself embroidered kitchen towels or mug rugs to use under my coffee cup. But if someone made me one, I’d use it.

1. Kitchen Towels

2. Mixing Bowl Cover

3. Throw Pillows for the Living Room or Bedroom

4. Mug Rug or Coasters

5. Holiday Table Runner

I’m on the Gin & Tonic diet, so far I have lost 2 days, embroidered towel.

Tea Towels

If you have an embroidery machine or know how to do hand embroidery, you could make a sentimental gift starting with a store-bought towel.

I made this for a friend, and she loved it. Humorous gifts are always fun to make and give.

You can also make simple towels by adding ruffles or appliques to them. Kitchen towels are great gifts!

Stand Mixer Cover

I haven’t made one, but I’d love one. You could sew a mixer cover and a matching bowl cover. Pinterest has tons of patterns.

Pillows

Fun pillows for the bedroom or living room. You can use fun fabrics or appliqué designs on them. I made a matching set of pillows for a friend who moved away. So, she’ll always have a piece of me hanging out in her living room. Ha!

Cat Mug Rug

Grab the pattern and read the simple tutorial here. I’ve received these as gifts from sewing friends. You can adjust the size and shape and create a set to make coasters as well.

Table decor for the kitchen or coffee table is always a welcome gift. You can choose between holiday themes or use fabric that is sewing-related.

Table runner for Valentine’s Day.

More Gift Ideas

Think outside the box.

Like I said above, if you’re making something for a friend who sews, you have to make it extra special. Now, if you’re new to sewing, a simple zipper pouch is wonderful! But, if you’re a seasoned sewist, you gotta make something extra special.

What other hobbies does your friend have?

• Do they love gardening? Make a gardening apron

• Do they bake? Sew up a fun, frilly apron

• Perhaps they have chickens or ducks and would benefit from an egg gathering apron?

• One friend made me a beautiful pink apron with ruffles, and it’s still my absolute favorite to this day!

Fun egg gathering apron complete with chicken fabric and lace.

Grab this pattern and tutorial here. I have made a few of these and given them as gifts to my small farm friends.

Sewing Books

Books, gadgets, and more always make wonderful gifts. We could always use an extra pair of scissors, rotary blade refills, thread, fun fabric, silly sewing signs, etc.

Fabric Baskets

And, when all else fails, give your purchased items in a handmade fabric basket or simple tote bag. We can all use a little more storage and organization.

Pinup Hair Scarf

If your friend is a Rockabilly or Pinup fan, sewing a simple hair scarf would be exciting! Use fabric that would match what they wear.

There are many more things to sew, I’m sure.

Clothing is more difficult if you want to keep the gift a surprise. Quilts are good too, but can be time-consuming. A quick Pinterest search will give you lots and lots of ideas.

I usually stick with bags, home decor, or other little fun items. I’ve given many and received many handmade gifts throughout the years. I wanted to share with you what’s worked.

My biggest advice for giving a sewing friend something you make is to make it extra special. You don’t want to give them something that they have five of.

Think outside the box. Add extra details to give it the personal touch. And, make sure it’s made with love!

Happy gift making,

Annette

A Photographer Skirt

Camera fabric for a new skirt.

If you’re anything like me, you have many hobbies and interests. I love sewing, gardening, farm animal-ing, photography, cooking (sometimes, ha!), and Netflixing. As a photographer who sews, I have the skills to make my clothing in exciting prints that speak to me.

Novelty prints are my favorite. So, when I saw this fun camera fabric at Hobby Lobby, I bought the remainder of the bolt. I planned on making a skirt and hoped I had enough left for a few other small projects. Hint: I’m going to make another bag using leftover pieces.

This tutorial is super simple. We’re going to make a gathered skirt. It requires 2 yards or less of fabric. Since “Cove Cove,” aka the 2020 pandemonium, I’ve gained a few pounds. Elastic waistbands are my best friend, so I made the waistband with elastic in the back. The front has a flat waistband. Business in the front, party in the back!

Interested in making one? Let’s go.

What You Need:

1. 2 yards of fabric

2. 1” Elastic, measuring half the width of your waist, plus 1” for overlap

3. Matching thread

4. Sewing machine

5. Scissors, a chalk marker, ruler, etc.

6. Pins or clips

7. Safety pin to thread the elastic

8. Measuring tape

9. Pencil and paper to create your pattern

10. Scrap fabric for pockets

11. Pocket pattern piece

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Pockets

If you don’t want to self-draft a pocket piece, here are a couple of easy ways to find a pocket pattern.

• Grab a pocket piece from another sewing pattern you already own. Most skirt, dress, and pants patterns usually have a pocket. Check your envelopes to find an in-seam pocket pattern piece.

• Look online for a free PDF one. A quick Pinterest or Google search will give you lots of patterns.

Cut 4 pieces from some matching or contrasting fabric scraps. Sometimes it’s fun to have colorful pockets. Use solids, patterns, polka dots, or cut animal print fabric for your pockets. Make it fun!

Pocket pattern and yellow fabric for the pockets.

Skirt Instructions

Measure the length from your waist to your leg (calf, above, or below your knee) that you want your skirt, then add 2-4” for a hem. I wanted to make mine 20” long. So, I cut my fabric 22” long. I used quilting cotton that was roughly 44” wide. I cut my fabric 22” by 44”.

Cut 2. This will be your front and back.

My waist is 35”, so this created a lightly gathered skirt. If your waist is larger, you will have less gathers. If you like lots of gathers you might need more fabric. If your waist is smaller, you will have more gathers.

Pinning the pockets to the front of the skirt.

I measured 1.5” down from the top and made a notch. This is where you want your pocket to be placed. This is customizable, depending on how tall or short you are.

Pin the pocket RST to the front of the skirt. Then sew using a 1/4”-3/8” seam allowance. Press open. Repeat on the other side.

Do the same for the back skirt piece. You will now have two pieces that look like rectangles with floppy elephant ears.

Place front and back pieces RST, and pin the side seam starting at the bottom, going around the pockets, and up to the top. Sew in that order, sewing around pocket pieces. Use a 5/8” Seam allowance.

As an extra precaution, I do a few extra back-and-forth stitches at the corners where I pivot for my pockets.

I chose yellow pockets to match the branding for my photography business. I usually wear this skirt when I have a vendor show or meet a new client. It’s a fun conversation piece.

Sew around the pinned pocket. It will get pressed and tuck away nicely within the skirt seam.

You inseam pocket should look something like the one below. Yes, I used the selvedge of my fabric and we all know that’s a big no-no. Shhh, don’t tell anyone.

The pocket is tucked inside nice and neat.

Secret yellow pocket.

Gathering your skirt.

Sew 2 rows of stitching along the top with a 5-7mm length. Pull to gather the skirt. Go slowly so you don’t break a thread.

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Waistband Fun

Time to sew the waistband. This part is a little more tricky than a regular waistband. You’re going to gather the back with a piece of elastic while leaving the front flat. It gives a nice look while adding comfort.

• Cut the front waistband strip half your waist measurement, plus 1” for seam allowance. If your waist is 30”, cut the piece 16”.15”+1”=16”. Use a 1/2” seam allowance for the waistband. I like easy math.

• I made my waistband 2.5” tall, this is completely customizable for you and what you want.

Example: Cut 2 front strips 16” wide by 2.5” tall.

• Add interfacing to one strip, this will be the outer piece.

• Sew right sides together, along the top long edge, only. Press open.

Making your waistband.

• For the back waistband piece, you’ll cut 2 strips the same height, 2.5” (or your preferred height) by the fabric width measurement.

• I cut mine 2.5” by 35”. The width can be fudged a little here, it’ll be gathered anyway. Sew along the top with the 2 pieces facing RST, just like you did with the front waistband. Press open.

Pin and sew the short sides of the waistband pieces together, creating a super-duper long loop. Press the seams open.

Pin the waistband to the skirt gathers, starting at the side seams.

Pin your waistband strip to the skirt along the gathered top.

• Pin at the side seams first.

• Then, pin the front waistband piece along the front skirt.

• Fold the back piece in half and mark it with chalk. Pin that to the center back of the skirt. This can be finicky because you’re pinning 2 gathered pieces to each other, go slow and it’ll work out. Use lots of pins or clips.

You can hand sew the waistband- which is the correct way but, hand sewing is not my favorite thing. I turn the edge under on the inner waistband and pin it from the outside, making sure I catch the seam.

Pin from the outside and remove the pins as you stitch in the ditch.

Tricky Part of the Waistband

Stitch in the ditch when sewing the waistband. This means keeping your needle in the area where the waistband and skirt meet up. It’s a hidden stitch.

Make sure to leave a 2” gap in the side seams for inserting your elastic.

Use a bodkin or safety pin to insert your elastic.

Use a safety pin or bodkin to insert your elastic into the waistband. Insert through one open side seam.

When you get to the other side, stitch over the side seam to lock the elastic in place. Repeat on the other side. Gather back fabric evenly, then stitch to close the openings.

You are “locking” the elastic in place by sewing over it, on the side seams. The elastic will only go in the back of the skirt.

The front looks nice and flat, the back is gathered for comfort.

Closer look at the gathered back waistband.

Front waistband is flat.

The hem is the easy part. Fold your hem up however much you want1-2”, then press, then fold up again 1-2”. Pin, and stitch using a 3-3.5mm stitch length. I chose to do a shorter hem here, but I usually do a 2” hem.

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I love my skirt! I made this to wear when I have events for my photography business. I usually pair it with a yellow top to match my branding. It’s simply perfect!

What do you think? Do you plan on making a skirt with elastic in the back? I call it a mullet skirt. Business in the front, comfort in the back. LOL

Happy sewing,

Annette

Back of the skirt hanging on my dressform.

Front of the skirt on the dressform.

Beetlejuice Handbag by Swoon Patterns

Coffee and sewing just go together!

Beetlejuice…Beetlejuice…Beetleju……Ha, I’m not saying it!

Do you ever feel like you need a bigger bag? All of your life doesn’t quite fit into your current bag, and it’d be nice to have a larger one, right? I sewed a big bag using Swoon Patterns “Annette Tote” sewing pattern. And, OMGSH! I am not joking when I say it’s a bigger bag. The bag is huge! I’ve made many Swoon patterns, and this one was no different. It’s well thought out, every pattern piece matches up, and the result is very professional-looking, as always.

I had some bright green Beetlejuice fabric and knew I wanted it for this bag. I also had black vinyl in my stash so, this was going to be a perfect bag for the spooky season. And, bonus, the new Beetlejuice movie came out around the same time I finished my bag. Yay!

If you’re new to bag-making, it can be a little intimidating. The most important thing is buying good quality interfacings and vinyl. Don’t skimp on these things. And, press, press, press.

Bonus, the pattern is my name, so you knew I was going to make a few of these, right?

Supply List:

• Annette Tote sewing pattern

• By Annie’s soft n stable (there are other brands, but this is THE best) Also, available on Amazon

• Sewing machine

• Wonder Clips. Pins are nice, but clips are my go-to for bag-making, especially if you use vinyl or leather

• Fabric for the outside (roughly1.5 yards)

• Lining fabric (1.5 yards)

• 2 Zippers- 1 for interior pocket, 1 for bag

• Interfacings

• Rotary cutter and mat

• Double-sided tape, I like Tandy leather

• Chalk marker

• Rulers

• Iron and board

• Marine Vinyl for handles and outside pockets, don’t skimp on this.

• Purse feet (optional)

• Metal hardware for handles

• Matching thread

• Printer, paper, and tape

I might have forgotten a thing or two, I’m going off memory here. There’s a whole list of what you’ll need in the pattern instructions. The fabric amount is probably wrong as well, make sure to check the pattern.

Annette Satchel first steps.

Interface everything!

• After you’ve printed the PDF pattern, cut, and taped everything together, it’s time to start the bag.

• Trace your pieces onto the fabric. Cut all the extra pieces there aren’t actual pattern pieces for.

• Interface everything! You have to sew the foam to the interfaced fabric main pieces. A serger is nice for this, or use the zigzag stitch on your machine.

• Cut out the vinyl handle pieces and place them onto the purse front and back. This is easy to do by folding the purse front in half and marking the CF. Use your ruler and chalk to mark placement spots for the handles. Use your double-sided tape to attach the handle in place.

Sew the handle connectors on.

Clip the 2 pieces of the side pockets together, matching placement points. This will feel funny, but it creates a nice big pocket. This pocket will fit a few cell phones, a small water bottle, a stuffed puppy, or a pair of flip-flops.

My Beetlejuice bag is coming along nicely.

Create the interior pocket. Leave a large gap in the bottom, this is how you will turn the bag right side out after it’s completed.

Purse feet are nice to have but not necessary.

You will sew the bottom base to the front and back of the bag. Topstitch. Below is what the outer will look like.

Now it’s time for the interior of the bag. I had some fun stripe fabric left over from a Halloween quilt I made last year. I didn’t have enough for the whole interior, but I made it work. Making bags is fun because you can use scraps for inside pockets and other small areas.

The intereior of the bag. Stripe fabric for the sides and Beetlejuice fabric on the bottom base.

Now the bag starts coming together.

Take the bag's main piece and side pocket pieces, and get your clips.

Start by clipping at the top, then the middle marked spot, and go from there.

Sew from one top edge, down and around, and up to the other edge. Repeat for both sides.

Clip, clip, hooray!

After the outside is finished, sew the interior the same way. This will be easier because there isn’t a layer of thick foam.

Add your own label. This is the chef’s kiss!

Clip around the top of the inside and outside. Sew!

Use lots and lots of clips.

Turn inside out through the interior pocket. This is tough, but you’ll persevere. LOL

The last step is to make the handles.

I usually make mine a little shorter or longer than what patterns call for. I measure the length I prefer with a soft measuring tape, draped over my shoulder.

Fold the handle in half, mark, then fold each side to the mark down the middle. Using the double-sided tape really helps with this part. Clip and sew.

When sewing vinyl, you cannot backstitch. The needle leaves permanent holes, so go slow and sew carefully.

Mark the center point, fold each edge to the line. Then fold onto itself, clip, then sew.

Insert into the hardware rings on your purse. Sew a few rows of stitching across the vinyl.

Dress accordingly and go see the new Beeltejuice movie.

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That’s it! Your big beautiful handbag is ready to get filled with everything on the planet.

It’s a fairly simple handbag to sew. I’ve made the smaller version as well and love it.

I’ve never had a handbag this large before so, I do feel a little funny shopping with it. I haven’t knocked anything over inside a store, yet. Haha! Oh, and it takes up a whole seat at a restaurant, but it fits everything! My laptop and camera both fit inside, which is nice if I’m on a photoshoot.

Do you need a huge carpet bag like this? I plan on making another in a different fabric- one that is more suitable for year-round use. I also might make a third using some leftover camera fabric from this skirt project.

Here’s a silly reel I made on Instagram showing what fits inside the bag.

Happy bag-making!

Annette

Movie theater goofball photos.