Wanting to make handmade gifts for friends and family this year, but not sure where to start? Check out our full list of hand embroidery gifts I can make at home! Each idea is simple, beginner-friendly and easy on the wallet!
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When it comes to gifting, is there anything better than creating gifts yourself?
I love creating thoughtful, personalized gifts for my friends and family. (It’s kind of what Home Sweet Harps is all about!!)
Hand embroidery gifts are one of the best ways to share these kinds of gifts with others. You can take any basic item and upgrade it with a few embroidered touches.
Hand Embroidery Gifts You Can Make at Home
There are so many great ideas for hand embroidery gifts. I simplified my favorites into these categories:
- Clothing
- Paper
- Towels
- Housewarming
- Christmas
Although each individual project has its’ own set of materials, there are a few basic materials to have on hand.
Materials:
- Fabric/Material – You can add embroidery to almost all materials, but a good fabric like this is helpful when you are beginning.
- Needles
- Embroidery Hoops – I like to use a basic 6″ hoops as I’m sewing, but I use 4″ hoops for the final product. I also have grown fond of these imitated wood hoops, especially the oval shape!
- Floss
- Embroidery Pens to draw or trace your design or
- Water Soluble Printable Paper
- Scissors – I started with just a small pair of scissors we already had at home, but you can buy some basic embroidery scissors.
Clothing
Reverse Applique
Reverse applique is a great way to use materials you already have to create something new! Whether it’s matching shirts for you and your mini, or something patriotic, the possibilities are endless!
(This is a great way to use those precious baby onesies you have saved!)
Birth Flowers
My embroidery journey started with birth flowers!
Florals are versatile and can be added to any fabric. Birth flowers are a great way to commemorate children and other family members – the perfect gift for mom or grandma!
My favorite are birth flower hoops or pocket tees 🙂
Initials/Names
Adding someone’s initials or name to a clothing item is a simple way to personalize a gift they will remember!
Sweatshirt Cuff
This is one of those quick “let me try this” projects that turned into one of my favorite projects!
You can add a simple flower chain or pattern to a sleeve cuff and completely change the entire thing! I talk about it here.
Paper Items
Bookmarks
I have created several free bookmark templates over the years!
My bookmarks for book lovers DIY is a fan favorite, but I also have these adorable fall bookmarks, and some cozy winter bookmarks as well!
Cards
Another paper favorite is my homemade cards!
I give a step-by-step guide with these Valentine’s Day cards, but you can make an embroidered paper card for any occasion!
Banners
I tried the viral toilet paper roll hack, and made the cutest spring banner!
Such a fun, simple way to use up items you already have at home and add a touch of stitching!
Towels or Napkins
Towels and cloth napkins are a great gift idea! There are so many options and you can personalize them how you’d like.
The hand-embroidered Christmas tree napkins are a favorite here at Home Sweet Harps, as well as our fall pattern!
Housewarming
House Portrait
An easy way to commemorate buying a home, or moving, is with a hand-embroidered house portrait!
I made one when we bought our first house and love how it turned out! It always gets compliments!
Wedding Portrait
A sweet gift for someone’s new home (and a great wedding gift!) are these beautiful wedding portraits.
A simple outline of the couple, with a pop of color for the bouquet makes for an easy gift for a loved one!
Home State
A nod to someone’s home state is a great housewarming gift!
You simply trace the state on your preferred fabric and use a simple backstitch, or stem stitch to outline!
Two lazy daisy stitches can make a cute little heart wherever they live!
Christmas
Christmas Tree Sweatshirt
I made this adorable sweatshirt for my sister-in-law a few Christmases ago, and turned it into a free pattern for you!
I am all about simple and beginner-friendly and this project is just that! You can find all the info here!
Gift Tags
This could also have a place in the paper section as these gift tags are made with cardstock materials!
You can add stamps or people’s names, or just leave them blank to use year after year!
You can find all the details here!
Child’s Handwriting Embroidered Ornament
These hand embroidered handwriting ornaments are such a sweet way to capture a child’s handwriting for their mama.
The perfect gift for mom or grandma! You can use this same step-by-step for handwriting from family members who have passed, or a sweet note from a loved one.
Questions:
How can I create hand embroidery designs?
There are so many free and affordable embroidery designs and patterns all over the internet (we have tons of freebies on this site!), but creating your own design is simple, and it guarantees you get exactly what you want.
I use ProCreate on my iPad to create patterns that I can share with this community, however, it can be much simpler than that.
If you don’t feel comfortable drawing by hand, you can piece together shapes and images online, or even use coloring pages as patterns!
How do I trace an embroidery pattern onto my fabric?
When I draw a design on paper, I simply place it behind the fabric in my hoop, hold it up against a window, and trace! Just make sure you make your lines dark enough to see through the fabric.
You always have the option to print on water soluble printer paper, if you have a digital pattern.
Looking for more gift ideas and patterns? Check out these posts:
- How to Embroider Thanksgiving Napkins
- Hand Embroidered Christmas Ribbon
- Reverse Applique Mommy and Me Heart Shaped Pattern
- How to Use Hand Embroidery As Home Decor for Beginners
- Embroidered Paper Bookmarks for Book Lovers DIY
- Women’s Hand Embroidered Sweatshirt Sleeve Cuff
- Winter Embroidered Paper Bookmarks Patterns
