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 won’t eat food gifts after a particularly horrible incident after having home made marmalade. I’ll just say I was lucky enough to be in the bathroom when it struck. Someone else in the family was not that lucky…

This has killed me 😆

You're making them what?

I can't believe no-one else has questioned this. Or is it an autocorrect?

<mind boggled>

Shortbread biscuits and homemade fudge

What??! I missed that!! What on earth is an angora gusset? 😂

Is it like a merkin but it goes all the way round to your bum?

Kim Kardashian’s has a new range of ‘Skims’ apparently which are very popular.

@MagpiePiYou have missed off the crochet toilet roll cover! We had an avocado bathroom in my teens. Can be a fun colour!

The crocheted toilet roll cover was the original suggestion for the handmade gift.
It took me right back to my grandmother’s house.

I love the phone beanbag idea, great for stocking fillers, I now know what I'll be making for everyone this year.
If you get second hand books you could make cross stitch bookmarks to go with them.
Bulbs seem like a good compromise too, even if the recipient isn't particularly green- fingered (that sounds very wrong) then at least they will have something pretty to stick on a windowsill for the holiday season.
Too many potential issues with edible gifts imo, and as has already been said unless you're really good at knitting/crocheting then it's probably best to give that a miss. My DM prewarned me when I took up pottery as a hobby that she didn't want any 'gifts' 😂

and you think that doesn't happen in hospitality - the chef not washing their hands after using the loo or sneezing, or a waitresses not putting her hands in her mouth as they eat a chip from the serving point in the kitchen. None of these things should happen, but they do in very many hospitality venues.

The main thing I would want from a homemade gift (in fact, all gifts) is something I can eat, wear, or actually use in my daily life. I don't need more ornaments or trinkets. Especially bloody gonks.

But then I know there are people out there who won't eat homemade food and/or adore gonks and crap made from old tea sets, so I think you need to know your audience!

well done for shoe horning in a bit of advertising there @FloraNoraa
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Seeing that you have time available why not make your own gift certificates using your time to help the people you want to give gifts to eg babysitting, dog walking or waiting in their place for a delivery. I am sure people would find things like that most helpful.

I believe the 'in' thing these days is Terry's Chocolate Orange covers.

I am absolutely serious. There are patterns on Ravelry and everything.

I’d second the recommendation for cooking and baking, but I’d also say two months isn’t too long to learn crochet! To make multiple gifts in that time you’d have to stick to relatively easy or small projects, but I think if you’ve got the time it’s more than doable and a really rewarding hobby as well 😊

In the past few years, I've been given a pair of Tunnock's teacake cosies (without teacakes) and a Lindt ball inside a tiny custom-made bobble cap on random non-occasions. And once, I confess, I knitted bath bomb cosies for my youngest daughters so that they could hang a smelly bath bomb up as a room fragrancer. (This is not a suggestion for the OP.)

£1.79 for yarnsmiths yarn recently. I just finished a blanket for a friend, using 6 balls of the chunky. However, I have been crocheting for 8 years so I’m quite quick now.

I normally do my dad a hamper of things he likes, usually a bottle of beer, cake, different cheeses and chocolates and sweets. He is always pleased.