Handmade Holiday Touches (Using What You Already Have)

We often think of the holidays as a time of bustling activity and crowded shopping malls, but what if we could instead embrace the holidays as a time for slowing down, cherishing our moments together, and savouring the season? Imagine if we could fill our homes with gifts, decorations, and memories, without the pressure of pulling out our credit cards. This year, we are bringing the spirit of slow stitching to the holiday season - and as crafters, you might be surprised at just how much we can do with what we already have on hand!

What does it mean to have a slow stitching-style holiday? It means that we are embracing the process behind the things we are doing, not just the end result; it means practicing sustainability and using what we have; it means connecting and sharing our stories through conversation and cloth. A slow stitching holiday means feeling grounded and calm and able to enjoy the season without all the stress and busyness.

Decking the Halls

There is something so fun about pulling the box of decorations out each year and turning our home into an extra sparkly, special place for just a few weeks. 

• Fabric scraps can be tied or wrapped around a spare embroidery hoop (or other circular frame you may have) for a handmade, scrappy wreath
• Display your work! If you're a maker of cozy things like quilts, table runners, shelf liners, or trivets, this is the perfect season to be displaying and using them. If they don't look particularly festive on their own, consider layering them with more festive pieces you may own.
• Be inspired by your stash. Are there orphan quilt blocks that could become a festive mantel texture? Do you have bits in red, green, and white that could come together to make a trivet or coaster? Perhaps you even have some scraps large enough to make some festive cloth napkins!  

Trimming the Tree

There is truly no shortage of fun things you can make to decorate your tree! From garlands to buntings to ornaments, the possibilities are endless.

• Fabric scraps could be tied around or sewn to a length of string to create a garland - this would be especially cute to match the scrap wreath above!
• Cut two bobble shapes from fabric or felt scraps, sew them together, and stuff them with scrap threads or bits of fabric for a sweet ornament that can be personalized and reused each year (and won't shatter in the box!)
• Look at your stash again here and consider what you have. Small bits could be used to create ornaments with appliqué; old wooden spools can be decorate and hung; buttons, lace trimmings, and ribbons could be added to ornaments. Even discarded sketches or paintings could be cut into shapes and stitched on. Get creative!

Stuffing the Stockings

There is a whole world of handmade gifts out there - you can find even more ideas in our blog posts here and here! So we'll keep this section short and practical:

• If you have lots of fabric remnants, you could patchwork them together and make small coasters, cushions, or pouches with them. This may also work for some orphan quilt blocks!

• Put together a kit for a friend! This could be a mending kit that includes some spare fabric for patches, a couple of needle sizes, and some threads. It could also be an embroidery kit with all the supplies someone might need for a certain pattern. You might even put together a Sashiko kit, where you could pre-draw a pattern onto fabric for someone and give them the supplies to stitch it!

• If you don't have a lot of time for handmade gifts, consider stitching reusable gift tags for a personal and handmade touch. You could stitch in the "to" and "from" and it could become an ornament the next year, or you could leave a slot to insert a paper with the details so the tag can be used as a tag again.

Extra tips for a slow stitching holiday:

• Want to embrace a slow season, but don't really have the time? Don't beat yourself up about going halfway - taking just a couple of small steps to slow down, or carving out a couple of pockets of time here and there to focus on these slower activities, can really be beneficial in helping you destress and enjoy the season. Don't think that just because you can't do it all it means you can't do any - a little bit is more than none!
• Having little "stitching stations" around the home can help you both in setting the holiday scene (what's cozier than a mending basket or knitting in progress, after all), and also in being more likely to stitch. Consider where you spend your time in your home, and try to keep some stitching or something creative in an arm's reach. As a bonus, I'm always more likely to reach for a piece of stitching rather than my phone if the stitching is easier to find!
• Don't forget the snacks! Baking some delicious treats is part of the holiday, and another delightful way to embrace slowness. Plus, you get to have something yummy to much on whilst you stitch or craft, and your home will smell lovely.

If you're someone who doesn't do a lot of making, or who gives away many of your makes, there are still some options! 

• Take a look at your everyday items. You may not have hand towels that are themed, but you might have a red one and a white one - hang them together and it already looks more festive. Consider this all over the home - throw blankets and pillows, coffee mugs, candles, coffee table books... Even a red plaid flannel thrown over the back of a chair can make a difference!
• Look at nature. Do you have a vase you could pop a couple of pine sprigs into? An old, de-labelled jar that you could fill with pine cones? Look at what you have and get creative!
• If you enjoy making, focus on making one or two special things for your own collection each year, and you'll have a collection of heirlooms before long.

Embrace Slowness

The holidays can often be an excuse for going over the top with buying, but we can experience abundance using what we already have and make our holidays more sustainable, and perhaps even more memorable, at the same time. Rather than reaching for the keys and running to the store, why not reach for your scrap box and make something special? You may just find yourself more grounded, calm, and able to enjoy the season.