Easy Handmade Mother’s Day Gifts You Can Craft on Your Own

Whether you have a mother, a wife, a sister, or a best friend, you most likely have someone in your life who deserves appreciation this Mother’s Day. However, buying a gift for the occasion can be heart-wrenching — what gift could show the light they give in your life? However, homemade or do-it-yourself (DIY) projects can be just the thing to show any mother the love they deserve.

Sewing projects, in particular, are inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and creative enough for any novice. To start, you’ll need to research beforehand, buy the materials, and craft it together. It’s often more work than simply buying a gift — which shows how much love you’re willing to put forth for the mother in your life.

There are also plenty of gifts you can create with a needle and thread. From dresses to embroidery, let’s look at a couple of ideas to get started on your Mother’s Day gift.

How Long Does It Take to DIY a Mother’s Day Gift?

Homemade gifts are often a time commitment. This is a plus, as it means you’re willing to spend time on your loved one. That said, you’ll have to be a bit strategic if you’re working with limited time.

For example, if you only have a day or even a couple of hours to make a gift, it may be best to pick a simple pattern. You can also pick tasks that may repurpose already existing gifts. You could repair their favorite jacket that they were considering throwing out, or paint a piece of furniture showing some wear and tear from time.

No matter the project, research each one and consider the time it will take in relation to the time you have on hand before committing. For example, if a template for a dress you want to sew says it will take 12 hours to make, and you only have an hour each day dedicated to the task, give yourself at least two weeks to finish. This way, you have spare time if you make mistakes, your sewing equipment fails, or an emergency happens. Of course, you should also account for the time it will take to receive your materials and equipment.

If you’re worried about how well the gift will turn out, you should also do a practice round or two and account for that time.

Choosing the Perfect Mother’s Day Gift

Although you may choose a DIY gift based on your skills and abilities, you should also factor in your loved one’s hobbies, interests, and personal style. The more thought you put into the gift, the more likely they will love it.

You should also personalize the gift as much as possible. Any mother would appreciate a sweet memento that brings back cherished memories. If they saved baby clothes and are considering donating them, you could always learn how to sew them together into a blanket. Not only is this a sweet memento, but it also saves space compared to an old box of clothes.

Gathering All Your Materials

Next, you’ll want to gather all the materials and equipment needed for your DIY project. If you’re painting the gift, you’ll, of course, need the paint and canvas. However, it can be a bit more complicated if you’re planning on sewing the gift, as you’ll need the following equipment and materials:

Sewing Machine

A sewing machine is necessary if you’re working on a tight schedule. If you’re working on a tight budget, you can always rent a sewing machine. However, buying a sewing machine can be a worthwhile investment — especially if you plan on making future sewing projects.

If you buy a sewing machine, you’ll need to maintain it regularly to ensure it doesn’t fail you in the final hour before you finish. Clean and oil the machine regularly to prevent the buildup of lint, dust, or other fabric material. Pay attention to all aspects of your machine for this care, particularly the bobbin.

Check the belt and motor occasionally to see if any pieces need replacement due to wear. Most importantly, replace the sewing needle regularly. Dull or old needles can not only ruin your project, but they can also be potentially dangerous to work with.

Fabric and Notions

Even if you decide to pass on a sewing machine, you’ll need, at a bare minimum, the following base materials for a sewing project:

• Fabric: When picking a fabric, it’s essential to keep the vision of your final project in mind. You should also consider fabric based on durability.
• Thread: Choose a color that aesthetically suits your project. You could choose a similarly colored thread to match the surrounding fabric or high-contrast colors to make a bold statement.
• Needles: Like the needles in a sewing machine, the needles you need to sew should be sharp and undented for your safety and the best results for your project.
• Scissors: This will be useful not only for cutting thread but also for fabric material.

With all of these materials, any crafting space can get crowded quickly. If you plan on working on the project for multiple days or weeks, it may be best to create a plan to organize your sewing materials. The more organized you are, the quicker you can finish the task without the physical clutter impeding your progress.

Sewing Furniture

Often, sewing projects take much longer than expected, and if you’re uncomfortably crammed on a coach or a kitchen table, you’ll be more likely to slow down or even dread the task. You don’t want to get a crick in the neck just to show your love for the mom in your life, after all. In addition, sewing projects can take a while if you don’t have the space to spread out your items properly. To avoid either outcome, consider the following sewing furniture items:

• Cutting tables: In any sewing project, you’ll need to cut precise lines, and instead of rotating yourself, the fabric, or the scissors constantly to get these cuts, you can invest in a cutting table that makes the process more efficient.
• Sewing cabinets: If your project area is always cluttered, you’ll have less space to spread your materials out when needed. Stow away items easily in a cabinet to focus on the task.
• Sewing chairs: Unlike a typical kitchen chair, sewing chairs can rise and lower. And unlike an office chair, they don’t have armrests that may get in the way while you sew.

With ergonomic furniture, you’ll be more encouraged to continue building your sewing hobby. Then, you can use any holiday or opportunity to make gifts for others!

Easy DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

If you’re first starting in the DIY world or you’re short on time, it may be best to look into a couple of easy gift ideas first. Here are a couple of ideas to inspire you:

• Bowl Cozy: Nothing is cozier than holding a hot bowl of soup, but if it’s too hot, it’s uncomfortable, or worse, unsafe. A bowl cozy can be great for any foodie. Luckily, these patterns are relatively easy — you can make them with a simple square cloth on either side.
• Cooling summer dresses: Since Mother’s Day is followed closely by summer, look into dress patterns to help the mom in your life stay cool. For example, a simple shift dress with a fashionable ruffle is relatively easy to construct and is perfect for warmer weather.
• A robe: Every mom needs a robe, and luckily, they’re easy to make. The more complicated aspects of this project may involve creating belt loops or the collar, but that’s relatively simple.

If you find yourself with more time, you can always make more than one gift or move on to more challenging projects to give.

Last-Minute DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Even if you are a skilled craftsperson, you may not always have all the time to complete a masterful sewing project for the mother in your life. These ideas may be just what you need:

• Travel-friendly tote bag adjustment: Most moms have at least one tote bag, and for good reason. They’re great to travel with since they can hold many items like spare jackets, water bottles, snacks, and more. However, they can be burdensome on the shoulders. You can make it more convenient by adding a slip on the side to slide over a suitcase — perfect for any mom who likes to travel. This should be relatively fast and can be finished in less than an hour.
• Homemade bandana: Bandanas are fashionable and practically hold back the hair of busy moms who may not have the time for a fully finished updo. You can make them in less than a couple of hours.
• Embroider flowers: If you don’t have time to sew an entirely new item, you can embroider or embellish any favorite clothing item. Depending on the design, it can take as little as a couple of hours.

You can make these projects as complicated as you want them. Just keep time at the top of your mind.

Mother’s Day Gifts for First-Time Moms

Giving to a new mom in your life for Mother’s Day is a great opportunity. It will be their first Mother’s Day as a mom, and there may be plenty of items they need not only for their babies but for themselves, including:

• Maternity tops: Most expectant first-time moms break their budget by buying a new wardrobe to adjust to their growing bodies. However, you can ease the burden by sewing a maternity top for which they’ll be eternally grateful.
• Nursing tops: Similar to maternity tops, not every mom has the budget to replace all of their tops to accommodate nursing or breastfeeding. Giving a nursing top makes their lives all the more convenient.
• Baby blankets: Baby blankets are sentimental for a reason. Moms can keep them as souvenirs long after their baby grows up.
• Baby booties: Kids constantly lose booties and socks, causing cold feet that many moms fret over. Baby booties can ease this pain point for a new mom.

Of course, like any other gift, pay attention to your loved one before giving. They may need other items as a new mom that they’ve been putting off buying.

No-Sew Handmade Mother’s Day Gifts

Sometimes, sewing may not be viable for you — you may be out of thread, you may not have time to buy new fabric, or maybe you’re simply discouraged by the endless costly patterns that exist online. However, there are still DIY gifts you can make with other materials, such as:

• Origami flowers: Not all flowers die — at least paper ones don’t. Origami flowers are unique and can brighten any room like any other bouquet.
• Homemade wreath: You can make a wreath out of any type of material, whether synthetic or natural. Design one based on the season or your loved one’s desired aesthetic.
• Painting: Whether you’re experimenting with oil, watercolor, or acrylic, a painting can be a sentimental gift for any mother to display in the home. To personalize it further, you can always paint their favorite flower, memory, or vacation spot.

Because these items may be more fragile than a sewn project, handle them with care when giving. For example, use bubble wrap if you plan on packaging the gift.

Mother’s Day Gifts You Can Make With Your Kids

If you’re giving a gift on behalf of your kids, why not include them in the project? The hands-on experience will be a great memory for them, and your mom will appreciate the gift even more. Here are a couple of sewing ideas that are kid-friendly:

• Pillows and pillowcases: Pillows are relatively easy to make, and you can always use decorative fabric that is fun for kids to work with and may liven up any room
• Backpacks: Similar to purses, most moms will appreciate any kind of bag to help store items while on the go. They’re also easy to make for kids.
• Beanies: Often, kids who are beginning to sew will start with beanies. Beanies are relatively easy to make, requiring only a couple of seams.

Remember that you’ll have to closely monitor your kiddos as they handle sharp objects like needles and scissors. However, don’t let that hold you back from encouraging them to develop a hobby in sewing and other art projects.

No matter what you end up giving to the moms in your life, a homemade gift can be just the thing to lift everyone’s spirits. They’ll be happy about the time and care you put in on their behalf. Diving into a new creative hobby will inspire you. With Arrow Sewing furniture in your arsenal as well, gift-giving — especially for your mom, wife, sister, or friend —  just got a lot easier, efficient, and fun.

FAQs About DIY Mother’s Day Gifts

How Long Does it Take to Make a DIY Gift?

This largely depends on the task and your schedule. For example, if you want to sew a tote bag and only have an hour each day, you should dedicate a week to the task. However, more straightforward tasks, such as embroidery, might only take a few hours, depending on the design. Regardless, research and buy your materials early on, lest you scramble for time with no materials.

How Do I Pick Between Different DIY Gifts?

This decision depends on your skills and craftsmanship and the preferences of your loved one. If you’re worried about time and your abilities, it’s best to pick a relatively simple DIY gift, such as a headband or origami flowers. However, if you’re more confident, look into more complex gifts.

How Will I Know If They Like It?

Most mothers will love a homemade gift as long as it’s personal to them. If you’re worried, you can casually ask weeks or months beforehand about items they’ve been wanting.

How Can I Safely Transport the Gift?

If you need to ship the gift, wrap it with bubble wrap to prevent it from breaking. Also, label the package as “fragile.” However, gifts made from fabric can be a lot more forgiving than others. Just ensure there are no sharp objects inside the package that could tear it.

Where Can I Find Economical or Environmentally Friendly Materials?

You can source materials by reusing objects or searching through thrift stores. For example, you can sew together old t-shirts in the donation pile to make a comfy blanket.

How Do I Make the Gift Long-Lasting?

Use durable materials, such as high-quality fabrics or string, and opt for designs that aren’t likely to go out of style. You should also provide care instructions to prevent anything from shrinking in the dryer.

What Safety Precautions Should I Keep in Mind?

If you are sewing, be careful how you position your hands around the equipment and avoid distractions that could misdirect your attention. You should also make sure that any scissors you use are sharp to provide clean cuts and prevent accidents. Keep the area tidy and organized so you have enough space to maneuver around the equipment and material safely.