Handmade Holiday | Easy Gift Ideas

Nothing says holidays like handmade. Instead of spending all of your time this year trying to figure out what to buy for that special someone in your life, harness all of that creative energy into a unique crafty gift! Handcrafted gifts come from the heart, each stitch placed carefully with love.

Remember that when it comes to handmade gifts, Jenny always says “finished is better than perfect.” Wrap up any fears you have about creating a homemade gift and show off your craftsmanship with an easy gift idea that will be adored this holiday season! Get your holiday inspiration started by checking out some of these easy gift ideas below, or head over to our Handmade Holidays homepage for all of our great holiday fabric lines, ideas and project

Fabric Checkerboard

Give Love with the Fabric Checkerboard from Missouri Star Quilt Company!

It’s never too early to share your love of quilting with the children in your life. Playing a game of checkers on top of a festive Fabric Checkerboard is not only fun, it’s a fantastic holiday memory just waiting to be created. Add in a few Christmas decorations as checker pieces and you’ll be celebrating the holidays in no time!

Watch the Live Replay >

Browse Christmas Yardage >

Quilted Christmas Stocking

Give Love with a Quilted Christmas Stocking from Missouri Star Quilt Company!

Hang up this cute stocking with care! Whether or not you have a chimney, a Quilted Christmas Stocking is the perfect gift this year. Fill this fabulous piece of home decor with a few notions, some thread, and a charm pack and you’ll be the sewing Santa this holiday season! If you’re gift giving for someone who doesn’t sew, this versatile project will deliver any gift in style!

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Browse Christmas Yardage >

Blipper

Give Love with the Blipper from Missouri Star Quilt Company!

Home is where we are most comfortable, where we can relax and unwind from the day and find our own peace on earth. Give the gift of comfort while home for the holidays with the Blipper! A Blipper is a quilt with a pocket for your feet—part-blanket, part-slipper, entirely adorable and cozy! For a little added Christmas cheer, select a fuzzy cuddle fabric or some Christmas themed yardage and make this gift extra special!

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Download the Free Pattern >

Mug Rug

Give Love with a Mug Rug from Missouri Star Quilt Company!

Keep your Christmas cocoa cozy with a nice new mug rug! This simple to make, great stash-busting project is the perfect stocking stuffer for office parties, Secret Santa, or White Elephant gift exchanges! Even if you don’t have extra scrap fabric on hand, pick up your favorite pack of 5” squares and get stitching!

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Get a Missouri Star Wacky Web Template >

Home For Christmas Pillows

Give Love with the Home for Christmas Pillow Pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Company!

Simple and versatile, the Home for Christmas Pillows pattern comes together with ease by using your favorite 10” squares of precut fabric to create a terrific piece of holiday home decor! Imagine the excitement of unwrapping one of these fabulous Christmas pillows and a newly-made quilt, it’s everything you need to enjoy a cozy holiday at home!

Pick up the Home for Christmas Pillows Pattern >

Browse 10″ Squares of Precut Fabric >

Memory Quilt

Give Love with the Memory Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Company!

From ties to old t-shirts, found fabric is a fabulous addition to a homemade gift! This quilt will help keep the memories of the past alive and can be an incredibly sentimental present that is perfect for giving the gift of love for the holidays. There’s no limit to your creativity with this project as every family is different, but this gift will certainly be a treasured memory for years to come.

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Get the Sewing Supplies >

Reusable Gift Bag

Give Love with a Reusable Gift Bag from Missouri Star Quilt Company!

Sometimes the wrapping is half the fun, but many of us could do without! Fill this Reusable Gift Bag with any holiday creation this year and you’ve got a wonderful 2-in-1 gift! This reusable gift bag is a quick and easy way to add your creative flair to a store bought gift while giving the gift of a fabulous bag that can be used for years to come.

Watch the Live Replay >

Download the Free Printable Pattern >

Vinyl Zipper Pouch

Give Love with a Vinyl Zipper Pouch from Missouri Star Quilt Company!

Give the gift of quilting with this handy homemade vinyl zipper pouch! Fill this wonderful project with a pattern and a fat quarter for an incredible present for the quilter in your life. This bag comes together in a flash with a Zippity-Do Done! zipper that’s so easy to place we promise you can do it!

Watch the Live Replay >

Get the Zippity-Do Done! Zipper >

When we make with our hands, we give with our hearts. Explore what it means to create a Handmade Holiday and discover all you need to feel inspired this holiday season!


Watch this Fast & Fabulous Projects for Easy Presents playlist for more fun ideas!


Tell us, what handmade gifts are you giving this holiday season?

Celebrate Love with 6 Easy Valentine’s Day Projects

Love is more than turning a blind eye when an unexpected shipment of fabric arrives. Love is a gift. Valentine’s Day is closely approaching and this year, share your love of quilting and crafts with someone special in your life. Gifts made from the heart are the best kind of present; nothing is more treasured than a handmade Valentine that shows the time and commitment of the crafting process.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your Valentine this year, look no further! We’ve collected six of our favorite quick and easy Valentine’s Day projects that you can make today. Whether you’re creating a beautiful new quilt to snuggle under or a scrap busting token of affection, remember to add each stitch with love!

Zigzag Place Mats & Napkins

What’s the perfect complement to a Valentine’s Day homemade candle lit dinner? An adorable table setting! The Zigzag Place Mats and Napkins project is a quick and easy addition to your Valentine’s Day celebration that creates a beautiful atmosphere to get lost in your sweethearts company in. By using your favorite 5″ squares of precut quilting fabric, you can add a truly individualized touch to this fantastic table setting.

If you’re looking for inspiration or just wanting to go all out (it’s cute when it’s over the top isn’t it?), consider picking up a heart themed charm pack to really tie your place mats together. Heart to Heart Batiks Stamps by Kathy Engle for Island Batik are a sweet chic collection of groovy hearts, check, dots, and much more in a red, black, and white color scheme. These classic colors and symbols of love are perfect when illuminated by candle light!

Watch the LIVE Replay >

Get the Pattern >

Inside Out Heart Quilt

February can be a cold month, especially here in Hamilton, Missouri. Although the days are short and the nights are frigid, we can always count on our quilts to keep us warm. Keep it simple this Valentine’s Day and create a new quilt to cuddle under with your loved one! The Inside Out Heart quilt is a stunning geometric design that will not only be perfect for a Valentine’s Day at home, but also for a spring picnic when the weather is warm.

Jenny suggests using a colorful solid layer cake for this pattern as to not draw attention to the fabric and away from the design. The pastel spectrum will be your friend for this pattern, creating a muted and soft design that you just can’t help but smile at. Confetti Cottons Pastel 10″ Stackers for Riley Blake are perfect for this project; they are exactly the vibrancy you’ll be looking for and offer a wide variety of color choices! Don’t forget to expedite your quilt making with a Clearly Perfect Slotted Trimmer A to get this 36″ x 36″ lap quilt done in time to celebrate.

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Get the Supplies >

Loads of Love Tea Towel

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be fun, it doesn’t have to be all candlelit dinners and roses! Spruce up your home this season with a Loads of Love Tea Towel featuring an oh-so-cute applique truck that is loaded with love! This project can be completed in a day and the applique pattern is completely free and ready to print!

You’ll need a tea towel for this project, but don’t be afraid to just use one that’s been in your kitchen for years. With just a little scrap fabric and some Heat N Bond, you can upcycle it into a treasured seasonal decoration that you’ll use for years to come!

Download the Free Printable >

Watch the LIVE Replay >

Love is in the Air Wall Hanging

If you’re looking for more traditional décor, a Love is in the Air Wall Hanging is the way to go! This project is simple to create, like the Loads of Love Tea Towel, because it comes together quickly by using applique. Classic Valentine’s Day elements such as hearts and sprawling vines come together to create this piece of art that will be the perfect addition to your home or sewing room.

You’ll need a Layer Cake for this project, but you can certainly have some fun with the fabric! From the Heart 10″ Stackers from Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake feature red and cream 10″ squares of flowers, hearts, stripes, and other Valentine’s Day prints that are perfect for the mood of this project. These fun designs will better complement this project as they mirror the design!

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Shop Layer Cakes >

Mug Rug

When in doubt, the Mug Rug is a great go-to project for any level of quilter! There’s almost nothing better than a hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa and now you can make each cup extra special by serving it on a custom made Mug Rug that’s stitched with love. Not only will this quick and easy project protect your table from the heat and condensation of your cup, it makes waking up each morning extra special!

Bust out your Wacky Web template and a love-inspired Charm Pack and you’ll be halfway done with this fast moving project! If you’re gifting this project to your Valentine (we won’t judge if you want to make one for yourself) then Sending Love 5″ Stackers by My Mind’s Eye for Riley Blake will help bolster the emotional appeal of the season. As this can easily be an everyday use item however, you can always get a little creative and use a favorite color palette or design!

Watch the Free Mug Rug Tutorial >

Browse Charm Packs >

Artsi2 Valentine’s Quilt Board

Turn your fabric stash into art with an Artsi2 Valentine’s Quilt Board! These no-fuss boards require no sewing at all and can be ready in a flash to help decorate your home for the holiday. Using the back of a small seam ripper, just tuck your pieces of fabric into the precut grooves of the adhesive backed quilt board and there you have it; a unique decorative piece of art with little effort!

Quilt boards are great for inspiring others to start crafting, so instead of making this one for your secret admirer (or not so secret!), make it a date where you both can share the fun of creating something together.

Watch the LIVE Replay >

Shop Artsi2 Quilt Boards >

Have Yourself a Crafty Christmas – 6 Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas from the Main Shop of the Missouri Star Quilt Co. in Hamilton Missouri.
Christmas time at Missouri Star Quilt Co. Main Shop in Hamilton, Missouri.

Ready or not – Christmas is coming! The holidays are such a special time for crafters because it lets us share our creative gifts with friends, family and those in need. There is no better time of year to warm the hearts of your near and dear with a homemade gift (that just happens to show off your crafty abilities).

Shorter days and holiday activities can make it feel like there isn’t time to make handmade gifts (it’s already December!). While tackling a brand new quilt may be daunting, there are many festive projects that can be created quickly and bring cheer to those who receive them. And in a year like 2020, when social distancing means breaking time-honored traditions for the safety of our friends and loved ones, there is no better gift than something made from the heart and by your own hands.

Christmas Stocking

Quilted Christmas Stockings from the Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Create an awe-inspiring mantle display by gifting a Christmas Stocking that can be used for years to come!

What is more classic than a Christmas Stocking hung by the chimney with care? This holiday gift has an extra bonus – it’s already gift wrapped! Stitch up a quick and easy Quilted Christmas Stocking using 2.5 inch strips of precut fabric, and then fill them with all kinds of handy quilting notions, Missouri Star Gift Cards and sewing thread for a merry gift to the maker in your life! Even if sewing isn’t your recipient’s passion, that beautiful, handmade holiday stocking will become a part of their traditions every year.

For this quick and easy project, pick a festive fabric (we like Winter’s Grandeur 8 Holiday Metallic Roll Up by Liza Bea Studio for Robert Kaufman). These red, green and gold 2.5″ strips of quilting fabric sparkle with poinsettias, snowflakes, cardinals and plaid, adding charm to each square of your stocking. Cuff the top in a lovely plaid for a magical winter wonder.

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Shop Precut Fabric Here >

One Yard Apron

The One Yard Apron from the Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Misty relaxes in the kitchen in a cute red-checkered One Yard Apron.

A lot of the Christmas season takes place in the kitchen with holiday baking, festive family dinners and plenty of hot cocoa! The incredibly simple One Yard Apron is the perfect gift for the hostess in your life. It’s such a fast, easy project, you can use it to teach the kiddos in your life the joy of handmade gifts – with only one yard of your favorite fabric!

If you want to follow Misty’s lead, use Cozy Critters – Buffalo Check Red Yardage by M.J. Merrill for Wilmington Prints. This black and red plaid check fabric ties in well for the holidays, but is perfect for any home chef year round! If your stash needs to be reduced, just use ANY yard of fabric you have on hand!

Watch the Missouri Star LIVE Replay >

Shop Fabric by the Yard Here >

Mug Rug

Create a Mug Rug with the Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Basics can be beautiful, like this easy holiday Mug Rug.

This little Mug Rug is such an easy project, you’ll probably make a few for yourself along the way! Using a pack of 5″ squares of precut fabric, these cute table-savers keep your Christmas cocoa cozy. As a holiday bonus – this fast little gift is perfect for beginners!

When selecting your fabric, it’s not just about snowmen and snowflakes. Keep in mind the mug rug will serve as a protective layer for a hot drink, and also might soak up spilled drinks after enthusiastic cookie dunking! Avoid light fabrics that stain and try a thick flannel fabric such as a Woolies Flannel Holiday Warmth Charm Pack by Bonnie Sullivan for Maywood Studio. If you’re feeling ambitious, swap out the charm pack for a Layer Cake (10″ square of precut fabric) and create gorgeous table protectors for your holiday feast!

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Shop Precut Fabric Here >

Tree Skirt

Create a Christmas Tree Skirt with the Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Light up their Christmas with a quilted tree skirt they can use every year.

More so than all the other decorations, the Christmas tree is always the focal point of the holiday season – that’s where the presents go! Gifts get the perfect showcase when arranged on a quilted fabric Tree Skirt. This little quilt for your tree comes together simply with 5″ squares of precut quilting fabric.

The fabric is what makes this project shine! Of course you can design the exact skirt to suit your holiday style if you want to whip this up for yourself. If you’re making it for someone else, consider solids or batiks so it’s more likely to match their decorations. Season’s Splendor Batiks Stamps by Kathy Engle for Island Batik is a perfect combination of festive Christmas colors and classic motifs.

Watch the Free Quilting Tutorial >

Shop Precut Fabric Here >

Easy Zipper Pouch

The Easy Zipper Pouch from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
With festive new MSQC Fancy Zips, the Easy Zipper Pouch from Missouri Star Live is useful gift for anyone!

Give the gift of functionality this Christmas with the Easy Zipper Pouch, featuring the all new Missouri Star Fancy Zips! In this Missouri Star LIVE, Jenny and Misty teach us how to stitch up this extremely useful project that, with a little festive fabric from your stash, makes a thoughtful last minute gift idea. There are so many uses for this handy little bag. Add some vinyl to the interior for a cosmetics bag or add some batting for a notion holder!

You’ll need cut yardage no smaller than 14″ in length (the necessary length to add a Missouri Star Fancy Zip). For a festive holiday bag, select a beautiful cut of Christmas fabric by the yard. If you need a little extra help with this project, you can purchase a digital download of the Easy Zipper Pouch pattern so that you can start stitching immediately!

Watch the LIVE Replay >

Shop Fabric by the Yard Here>

Missouri Star Gift Card

The Missouri Star Gift Card and holiday gift card holder.
MSQC gift cards in festive gift card holders offer holiday cheer to your favorite maker!

If it’s the night before Christmas and you’re still having doubts, keep it simple and crafty and gift card it out! If there’s a quilter on your list who has it all, give them the gift of choice with a Missouri Star gift card! Available in both physical gift cards (definitely consider a holiday gift card holder for big MSQC fans!) and digital gift cards (that can be emailed same day), this last minute gift idea will save Christmas when your crafting time has run out.

Shop Missouri Star Gift Cards Here >

A Quilt-crastinator’s Gift Guide: 5 Last-Minute Hand-Sewn Gifts

Checking your list and realizing you forgot a few people? No worries! It happens to the best of us and guess what?! No one has to know! With these quick projects, your friends and family will be wondering when you had the time to whip up something so wonderful!

Gather up your scraps and start making!


Make some Mug Rugs to give away at the next Christmas Party.
These would make great stocking stuffers!

Missouri Star Mug Rugs, Periwinkle Table Topper, DIY Coasters

You’ll need:

WATCH THE TUTORIAL


Put together a personalized Pillow Case for someone you love.
Elegant, whimsical, simple, argyle? What fits your loved one’s style? Make it theirs.

Missouri Star Pillow Case, DIY Pillow Case

You’ll need:

  • 3/4 yd fabric for body
  • 1/4 yd fabric for cuff

WATCH TUTORIAL


Whip up a Scrap Buster Table Runner for a friend to display in their dining room.
Have an over-abundance of scraps? Make this runner reversible so your friend can use this gift no matter the occasion!

DIY table runner, scrap buster

You’ll need:

  • 8.5″ solid square
  • Several 2.5″ strips
  • Several 2.5″ squares
  • Binding Tool

WATCH TUTORIAL


Create a fun Zipper Pouch for a child to store supplies and treasures.
Make the project twice as fun by re-using one of their empty candy bags!

DIY pouch, zipper pouch, coin pouch

You’ll need:

WATCH ZIPPER POUCH TUTORIAL
WATCH CANDY BAG TUTORIAL


Keep your loved ones warm with a Cuddle Scarf.
Keep it solid or use fun prints to make your gift more special.

Cuddle scarf, DIY scarf

You’ll need:

WATCH TUTORIAL


Of course, if you’re real behind, a Missouri Star e-gift card never fails! Happy Holidays!


Have you ever given or received a hand-sewn gift? Show us in the comments!