Free Holiday Gift Ideas

Move over Anthropologie...

I've found a new source for handmade inspiration.

It's chock full of holiday gift ideas and, unlike all those holiday gift idea magazines...it's delivered to your mailbox and it doesn't cost a dime.

Sundance catalog.

That's it. And no. I don't work for Sundance. I don't know anyone who does work for them. And they haven't paid me to write this blog post.

They have, however, filled the pages of their holiday catalog full of hand knitted, sewn, beaded, and felted goodies.

So many ideas for making holiday gifts that I just had to point them out to you in case you missed it.

Top on my list are these embroidered belts...

Some belting from the craft store, embroidery floss, french knots and the buckle of your choice. And voila! A great gift and I think a good make-it-yourself project for my older nieces.

And these Chan Luu bracelets cost about $180-$220 in the catalog...

But you can make one yourself for a LOT less. I've written about these wrap bracelets before and, over the Summer, my niece made one very successfully. And, lucky for us, there are many, many videos on YouTube showing you how to make one. All for free.

The whole catalog is FULL of hand-knitted everything! Coats, leg warmers, vests, mittens, hats, sweaters...

And thanks to free e-mags like Knitty.com and free online communities like Ravelry...we can find a pattern for almost anything...and often for free.

For example, I love these hats and scarves knitted to dress up a gifted bottle of wine and I found a pattern and it's FREE on Ravelry.

I also found this pattern too which I love...but it will cost you $2...still pretty inexpensive.

And check out those long sleeve tees (above)...I'm thinking we pick up a long sleeve tee from a discount store...have the kids make one of those folded paper snowflakes...except using fabric...and then sew them onto a shirt. How easy is that!

And these stockings hung by the chimney with care...

Here's another free pattern from Ravelry for the stocking garland....How fun would it be to play with different patterns in a mini version? Wonderful.

And the other trend I noticed in this catalog was the prevalence of the ear flap hat...

They were on almost every page!

And my absolute fave was this flower covered one...check out the braided yarn trim and ties...

I found at least eight patterns for ear-flap hats free on Knitty and dozens of options to cull through on Ravelry.

My mind is swimming with possibilities for inexpensive, trendy and cool holiday handmades for those I love. I hope yours is too.

Have a great weekend everyone.

P.S. If you'd like a Sundance catalog for yourself, you can request one here.

P.P.S. I haven't completely foresworn my affinity for Anthropologie. They still have some great ideas too...Have some fun and go build your own charm necklace here.