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 would agree with @Craftysue and go for something crafty and personalized eg with place names or initials or patterns - eg a cat silhouette for a cat lover.

Not giving crafty gifts myself but I made a denim shopping bag and personalized it with sea-themed shapes of fish, shells, waves etc.

I think the next one might be something along the lines of Costa del Southsea coz I love Southsea 🌊

I would go for fabric type crafts rather than crochet/knit which might take too long.

I made Christmas Pudding vodka one year - it went down very well. Also Scottish tablet (though it needs lots of stirring!). Edible things are good as they will get used up, as long as the recipient isn't someone who gets worried about eating things other people have made.

I never forget that primarily I do the crafting for myself because I really enjoy it. I am quite good at it and what I produce is objectively of a good standard (I have been asked to do some of it for money in the past, but what you'd have to charge would be insane because of the time and the cost of the wool, plus I already have a job and don't want a lovely hobby to become a chore). But I do only give crafted gifts to people who I think would like them. If the person I am buying for has a fairly minimalist house and I haven't seen them wearing woolly things, I assume they don't want woolly things or knick-knacks and shop accordingly!

I do cross stitch but would never dream of giving pieces away as gifts. I do pictures and patterns that I like, and have mostly made up myself so I'd hate to get something that someone has created from a kit or pattern in a magazine.

I did make very small christmassy ones a few years ago and turned them in to cards, but they can be chucked after christmas if the recipient doesn't like them.

😆
Ha! I agree!

Not jams and chutney!

I know they are meant well and made with love but I have a whole cupboard full of them from friends and family, and there are only so many you can get through. Not to mention I make my own to suit my family's taste (awkward sods who don't like seeds in jam) so don't really need any.

Yes, planted bulbs would be lovely.

Buy a few containers from the charity shop, top with moss you can buy in florist, add a bit of twig for structure and a little decoration or ribbon bow. You can wrap in cellophane.

I’d love this but it’s very difficult when you’ve previously been spending £60 per present. Not everyone likes or understands homemade presents. I have a sibling in this camp. Nearly self combusted when I suggested with the Christmas gift giving. Didn’t occur that maybe I couldn’t afford it!

If someone gave me homemade fudge wrapped nicely in gift wrap I would be a very happy bunny - I keep seeing recipes for gorgeous looking slow cooker fudge but never have the time to make it. A tote bag would also be very welcome - they are easy to make but again, I don't have the time. I always need them for carting stuff to and from work or for shopping.

Agreed - this is why Xmas decorations can work - they o my come out once a year!

My dear friend has made me 2 scarves, excellent knitting and high quality yarn. One is in a colour that makes me look ill and the other gives me a rash. I feel I can’t give them away. Do be careful. I think edible gifts are much safer.

@Abracadabrador too! This was for a tiny baby (name covered but pictured) 😂 Might make a really awful one for my dad though now you’ve said this just to make me laugh!

@prezzz Also remembered I did home made wrapping paper for books for my mum. She loved it but quite the waste of time as it all goes in the bin!

The options aren't a £60 present OR homemade tat though.

Fudge for me please!!

Friend of mine did a small bottle of homemade vanilla essence and some homemade chutney then whipped up a little pamphlet of 5 recipes using one or the other. It was really thoughtful and memorable

Fudge for me please!!

Fudge for me please!!

Fudge for me please!!

Fudge for me please!!

Fudge for me please!!

Fudge for me please!!

I make Paul hollywoods biscotti biscuits. I get the ingredients from Aldi or Lidl & make in bulk. I use the clear plastic bags from Amazon to pop them in but use the thin present ribbon stuff to tie them tightly.

i also make onion chutneys, as onions are cheap and chutney is easy to make, ask friends and neighbours for jars and scrub clean

lemon curd is another, but this has a limited shelf life and is more expensive

Do you like fudge @Wishimaywishimight ?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/hazelnut_and_orange_24808

https://www.paulhollywood.com/post/a-trio-of-biscotti

I swap around the 2 flavours, cranberries, orange zest and white chocolate works will for my friend who has a nut allergy

I’m one of those who would put handmade gifts in the bin. I hate them. A previous manager was a tightarse and while all the other departments got hampers and bottles of wine at Christmas we got the droppings of her crafting hobby and it was insulting. Strangely the only think I did appreciate was one year she knitted a cushion as a house warming gift, it was in hideous garish primary colours and therefore never saw the light of day but had it been tasteful, I would have used it.

So that’s the key. Tasteful. Tailored to the person. Or short shelf life - edibles. And I like the pp’s idea of spring bulbs in charity shop pots - that’s a lovely idea and wrapped in a nice gift bag would pass.

You can have mine. I don't put it straight into the bin, but I do shove it in the back of the cupboard and only ever eat some if it's an emergency (i.e. desperate for something sweet; nothing else available in the house). We've never eaten a whole bag though, probably not even more than one piece.

I also vote for felted Christmas tree decorations. Unless you know the recipients have a themed tree with all matching stuff, it'll probably be appreciated.