Handmade presents that won't go in the bin?

[prezzz]

I'm not working at the moment, so I have more time than money. Christmas and gift-giving is important to me, and I'd love to give people some useful and thoughtful presents that won't bankrupt me. I also love crafting and DIY, but am well aware that a lot of handmade presents can actually be a bit crap.

Is two months too short a time to learn how to crochet or knit something that's actually nice and/or useful? I did a bit of both about ten years ago, so I'm not a complete novice, but definitely still a beginner...

Any other ideas?

I need presents for a range of ages and both for men and women.

I'd never put a handcrafted gift in the bin! It might gather dust in a corner but I would have been thrilled and touched to receive it.

I haven't got any good suggestions, because my craft projects each take way too long to be scaleable for multiple Christmas gifts.

Just adding that I've obviously googled this, but I have a track record of seeing "easy" online tutorials, thinking, oh, I can do that, and ending up with a near-breakdown instead of a finished product... so hoping to get some more guidance on what is actually feasible!

Homemade cake 😋

Cookies, cakes, biscuits, preserves. Always eaten in this house!

@ProfoundlyPeculiarAndWeird same! But unfortunately I don't think DH's family feel the same way 😂

Make something edible and wrap it nicely.

Id love some home made fudge, or festive cakes. And would definitely eat them!

If you’re thinking knitting or crochet don’t underestimate the cost of wool.

With crochet/knitting I’d stick to something practical and useable like a scarf, but the costs can quickly add up if you use decent yarn!

Maybe jam? Sweet chilli jam to go with a cheeseboard or in homemade sausage rolls at Christmas - yum.

Nice tin of homemade shortbread? Fiona Cairns’ recipe is great, makes tonnes.

Jar of dried citrus slices to put in drinks.

It's not necessarily that cheap. Materials are expensive unless you have existing supplies to use up. Eg, if you were spending a fiver, then I'd rather have a book token. I'm not keen on 'stuff'.

Unless it's food. I love food 😋 I'm aware some people dont like home-made food so there's that to beware of as well.

Sorry, Im not being helpful am I.

@TheJaneyB this did cross my mind. I thought it might still work out cheaper than, say, £60 per item (which is what I'd usually spend on MIL for example) but maybe I'm being unrealistic?

Can you bake? Edible offerings are more likely to be greeted with thanks. The Works had gift basket kits. You could do fancy cookies and cupcakes, ginger cake, sticky toffee pudding. Fudge is fun to make.

I thought this was going to be about awkwardly shaped gifts that you just cannot get into the kitchen bin no matter how hard you bend or snap them.
P

I recently learned to Crochet and there's a beginner pattern in a book I bought for some lovely fingerless winter gloves. If I had the time, that's what I'd make!

If you have anyone who is interested in sustainability you could make things like reusable paper towels, wax wraps, bowl holders (for hot soup) etc from scraps of material that you can recycle from charity shop linens.

ETA: meant to say, you can crochet pan scrubbies, shower pouffs etc and they don’t need to be perfect.

It’s probably best to tailor the present to the recipient. Some May love homemade cake, biscuits etc. some people may like Christmas decorations, others something for the garden. You can paint stones either herb or veg names on to use as plant markers. If you can knit or crochet a hot water bottle cover.
Paper napkin decoupage is an easy and cheap craft with lots of options .

Handmade Christmas decorations. Can go on their tree 😃

Thanks for all the suggestions so far - lots of food ones in there which is great as I do love baking! I have a great-aunt who gives everyone WAY too much jam (we're still working our way through the 2023 batch...) so I'd mentally put this in the "unwanted" category, but maybe it's a good regifting opportunity...

If you want cheap and easy to learn, try needle felting?

I've made baubles and ornaments quite easily and the great thing is you can correct your work very simply too.

Apart from people who like all matchy-matchy, I can't think of anyone not finding room for another Christmas decoration on the tree.

You can certainly learn to eg knit a scarf in that time, but I’d query whether that will save you money- decent yarn is quite expensive and it would be hard to buy enough for a scarf for less than you could just buy a cheap scarf for (appreciate that something homemade is much more personal but you’ve asked the question in a way that suggests saving money is at least part of the focus).

You can make lovely hedgerow jelly out of whatever you can find in a hedge (sloes, bullace, damson, hips, late blackberries- all free) plus crabapples (free) or cooking apples (cheap) plus sugar (cheap). Decorate the jars nicely.

Sloe gin, limoncello and other flavoured spirits- easy and fun but not cheap.

Apple chutney

Mini Christmas pud truffles?

You can paint stones either herb or veg names on to use as plant markers- love this idea! What paint do you use?

Not nearly enough time. I just knitted my first single bed sized blanket and it took me 6 months to do. And that was just plain knit.

I have previously made chilli and garlic oil as a home made gift. But tbh with the price of olive oil now, got might as well buy a small gift without all the labour anyway 😂

There's nothing worse than receiving a gift that you dislike but are supposed to treasure and display.
That's why I would give edibles - they are meant to be disposed of!. Hopefully they will be eagerly eaten but if they go straight in the bin then nobody is the wiser (as long as the recipient is good at white lies).
I suppose toiletries fit in here, too. Bath bombs etc.

I got a huge pack of different colours of synthetic yarn that is super soft - it doesn't have to be expensive! I bet you could find yarn that people don't want / on Vinted or marketplace, and plenty of free patterns online. There's a pound shop near me that I've seen huge balls of yarn in. I'm sure wool is expensive but I have found that cheaper synthetic yarn can often feel nicer and softer, and wash better. Though probably won't be as warm mind!

@TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis ahhh thanks! I follow a few creators online who do very impressive things with needle felting - obviously won't be able to get to that level, but worth a try...

@Offloadontome thank you!

One of my friends makes sloe gin and blackberry gin to give as Christmas presents.