10 Free Patterns to Make Beautiful Handmade Christmas Gifts for Kids
Nothing says "I care" more than a handmade gift. If you're looking to create something personal, heartfelt, and budget-friendly, here’s a list of 10 free patterns perfect for Christmas gifting. From cozy wearables to fun toys, there's something for kids of all ages on your list. Strap yourself in - it’s a long one or watch the video linked above to see my smiling face!
Image from Purl Soho - baby not included!
Starting with babies & very small children - I’ve got a few ideas (& these would be good for expectant mums too - if baby is due soon) I thought this little jumpsuit from Purl Soho was so cute & a bit different & could be paired with a few accessories too, such as bibs & hats. It’s a one-pattern-fits-most Fleece Baby Jumpsuit. With just a few easy adjustments, (the instructions include how to widen & lengthen it), this pattern will fit almost any baby from ages 0-9 months. The simple lines, limited seams and forgiving fabric make this Jumpsuit quick to whip up. You just need 1 1/2 to 2 yards Organic cotton Fleece & 2 snaps to fasten it.
Image from Bombshel Bling
2. Baby Blocks are a great scrap buster, easy to make & a wonderful gift for a young child or mum to be! The large fabric blocks are easy for young hands to hold. And the stuffing makes them soft and squishy there’s a few tutorials online such as this one from Bombshell Bling. You could add appliqué letters, maybe a simple picture on each or add sensory aspects to them.
Image of Monster Bag from I Think I Sew
3. I think little ones would love these Monster bags from I think I sew, they’re such fun, kids love carrying their treasures with them - conkers, sweeties, favourite toys. I think you could even get children to do a drawing & you could interpret it - I love how the zip forms the mouth & the naivety of it - as if its been drawn by a child. You just need 1/2 yard of canvas or cotton for the outer and cotton for the lining, 1/2 yard medium-weight interfacing, an 8“ zipper & 130cm long strap, (which you could make) plus a strap adjuster. It comes in 2 sizes & theres just 6 pages to download & a video tutorial to help sew along too https://ithinksew.com/monster-bag
My granddaughter Alice being creative
4. On the topic of interpreting a child’s drawing, another fun idea would be to get their drawings printed by Contrado onto cotton jersey & make up a t-shirt or sweater for them - I think kids would absolutely love that. (Contrado is a platform which allows consumers to make a few yards of uniquely designed fabric, there’s info on their website for how to upload you design). You will just need a yard/metre of fabric. I think this is great for both boys & girls & a lovely surprise for them when they realise you’ve used their drawing too - there’s tons of free t-shirt patterns online for kids here’s one that Spoonflower have on their website for free for ages 2 to 5, (they also print fabric but are based in the US) & if you want a long sleeved on here’s a unisex one, also for ages 2 to 5.
Image from Bombshell Bling
5. So similar to the bag is this kitty coin purse from Bombshell Bling - it’s such a cute fun thing for kids - with the little tail on the back you could pair it up with the bag, using matching fabric or as a stand alone gift. Or it would be a nice way to present cash or gift cards for older kids too this would be a great gift or if you know anyone who is a crazy cat lady. You just need main fabric – a fat quarter (or large scraps) quilting cotton & lining plus accent fabric – scraps of quilting cotton & fusible fleece, 2 safety eyes & 1 safety nose & a nylon zipper at least 7” long - it’s got a boxed bottom & looks simple to make as a last minute gift using whatever you have on hand or if you’re making for your kids friends I think this would be a lovely gift to batch make - probably easy enough to change to other animals too I think.
Here’s the tent we made!
6. One of the best things I’ve made for the grandchildren was this teepee/tent, it cost us next to nothing to make as I made it from an old duvet cover & 4 garden canes - but honestly this is great for boys & girls of all ages - we’ve had it in the garden as shelter from the sun, tea parties, she has pretended it’s a car- I just love the imagination - she loves to get grandad in there to do jigsaws or read stories. And of course you could use fabric for it too but it take up nearly 5 yards - these were £20-£30 in the garden centre so using a fun duvet cover will save you a fortune & the kids don’t care - you could put their initial on too - hardest part of this project is measuring out the fabric, it’s just straight lines & sewing tubes to insert the poles - You can find the pattern here & there’s also a video tutorial for it & if you really don’t fancy sewing one - there’s plenty if no sew versions if you google them too - have fun wrapping it! 😉
Image from Heather Handmade
7. Kids love to Dress up not just at halloween - whether it’s capes, tutus, dinosaur tails or princess outfits - the list goes on. So the tent could be a castle & your child could be a princess or a knight. I made my son a batman cape when he was about 4 & he lived in it! Homemade costumes are so much better than the shop bought ones, they will be better made, last longer & can be made from virtually anything -scrap fabric, old sheets, not the plastic tat you find in shops - so here’s a link to Heather handmade again who has 20+ free patterns for costumes ranging from Bluey & Bingo, owls, princesses, capes, pirate, dragons & of course batman - & here’s one to make a dinosaur tail - have fun with these, your kiddo will love you forever!
Image from Petite Stitchery
8. Another thing I’ve made for my granddaughter is a rag doll & the clothes to dress her - I think that you have to be careful that the children aren’t too little as the hair may be a concern if it’s not sewn in properly. I found these patterns from Petite Stitchery & co - the Dahlia Rag doll - which is a beginner friendly pattern for a woven rag doll pattern that provides lots of options. You can customize the doll from head to toe! You can select your fabrics, face design, hair style, and hair colour/texture by exploring different types of yarns! - You just need small amounts of fabrics for these so a great scrap buster & great for boys & girls as there’s 5 Different Faces (including 2 gender neutral options) -4 Different Hair Styles (Short Hair, Mini Buns, Down Hair Styles, and High Ponytail) & Options for Built in Dress & Socks too. There’s also a whole wardrobe to dress them too which is also free, so you can make dungarees, trousers, dresses skirts tops & coats in whatever colours you like.
Images from Petite Stitchery
9. For older children either a banana bag or bumbags. This Frost fanny pack from Petite Stitchery includes 3 size options Small, Medium and Large. Small is perfect for younger children too, Medium is a standard size and Large is oversized! There are multiple length waistbands to choose from. You just need about half a yard of fabric for the largest & if you make it in a fun fabric that reflects the person or you can make it in a neutral or denim. These are great for anyone who likes to travel light - enough room for phone, keys card & passport.
Something a bit more involved & would again suit older children & adults alike is the Aster Crossbody Bag! This sling style bag can be worn on the front or on the back and is big enough to carry all the essentials! There is an optional inner pocket and instructions for adding your own quilting details. You could add a fun lining too. It has an adjustable strap and a drop in lining for easy zipper construction! The finished measurements are 10" Length 7" Width 3" Depth so nice & compact. It looks like you need a yard of main fabric plus lining & interfacing a 16” zipper & slider & D ring.
Image from Heather Handmade
10. So I know PJs are a popular thing to make at Christmas, especially matching ones for the whole family & I’ve had a request to make my 2 some too but I thought I’d look at robes or dressing gowns, as there’s tons of free PJ patterns online - this is a great pattern for girls & boys, ages 3 to 10 . It’s knee length with a rounded hood and a tie belt and is great as a handmade gift. Its a beginner sewing project usIng a flannel fabric and you could make it in a theme they like - I’ve got some Miffy fleece tucked away somewhere. This is another pattern from the designer Heather Handmade, & is free if accessed through the Sew Modern Kids website. Its a beginner sewing project with a short video tutorial to accompany it.
That’s it for my ideas for gifts for children, I’ve stayed away from anything too Christmas themed, so that these would be great for birthdays too - if you’re looking for more ideas for adults too watch this video here or if you’re looking for gifts for yourself as a dressmaker here’s a video I made a while ago - look out for another one in the near future.
