Handmade Christmas gift ideas

The festive season is about celebrating and togetherness, yet it can at times feel stressful and costly as we rush around buying gifts and stocking stuffers at the eleventh hour. With a little forward planning and imagination, why not try your hand at creating your own thoughtful, from-the-heart Christmas gifts this year?

Here are a few ideas to get you started…

Handmade books

From selecting beautiful paper to sewing the binding, there are plenty of ways to make a personalised book where your loved ones can write their thoughts and musings. If sewing a binding is a stretch (Google is a big help here!), opt for a booklet with some brown string fastening the centre fold. Write your own inscriptions, design the front cover and share with love.

Crocheted heat pads and pot holders

Enjoy the feeling that your gift will be put to good use every day with a gorgeous hand-made crocheted heat pad – the perfect resting place for that brewing pot of tea, or handy for picking up that piping hot saucepan. Create in colours and shapes that match your friends and family’s personalities and don’t forget to make one for yourself!

Homemade candles

Once you’ve mastered the art of homemade candles, you’ll be whipping them up for gifts every Christmas and birthday. Make candles unique with different scent combinations and colours and mix up the vessels you pour your wax into, from tea cups to vintage cut glass.

Chutneys and relishes

Need a big batch of gifts for loved ones? Spend a weekend simmering and bottling a round of luscious chutneys or relishes for them to devour. Delectable options include pear, onion and rosemary, mango and apple, rhubarb and date or spiced orange and beetroot. Cap off your gifts with some beautiful hand-written, personalised labels.

Mince pies, puddings and cakes

Long after the wrapping has been thrown away and the last of the turkey polished off, having a home-made pie or pudding to savour as you farewell Christmas for another year is a treat. If you’re having a bulk cook-off with a new recipe, be sure to have a practice round – for quality control!