November 17 ~ Gifts for Girlfriends
| You can’t leave your best gal pals off your crafting/giving list, nor would you want to… Enjoy today’s great ideas for your friends (and if you’re lucky, maybe they’re reading today’s post too!). |  |
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Make It
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Chic & Easy Bamboo-Handle Purse We love this Chic & Easy Bamboo-Handle Purse Tutorial from Stacy at Little Birdie Secrets! They’re a great way to feature your favorite fabrics, and Stacy really does make it look quite easy to whip up several for a variety of people on your holiday list. |
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Life is Uneven Cowl Cat from Cut Out + Keep does it again with her wonderful Life is Uneven Cowl Pattern. |
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Louis Vuitton “Knock Off” Fabric Bead Necklace Kathy from froo*gal has another of our new, favorite ways to show off the fabrics we love (and make a girlfriend-worthy gift at the same time). Enjoy her Louis Vuitton “Knock Off” Fabric Bead Necklace Tutorial! |
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Monogrammed Handmade Handkerchief We think the Monogrammed Handmade Handkerchief Tutorial from Kathleen at Grosgrain is the perfect thing for our friends (and our grandparents, and teachers, and Dad, and…). |
Don’t miss these related tutorials from the SMS archives: Where to begin?!… Gift Compilations, Fabric Boxes, Embellish!, Purses, For Your Purse or Pocket, Tote Bags, and several projects in our Sewing for the Home tutorials.
Here are just a handful of fabrics we love for some of these projects. Click on the fabric images to visit the Sew,Mama,Sew! shop:
| Beth’s choice | Meg’s choice | Kristin’s choice | ||
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Buy It
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Tote Bags from Retrofied Rebecca makes a beautiful variety of bags for her Retrofied shop. Bags are handmade to order and many feature some of our favorite fabrics! |
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Clutches from Red Ruby Rose The clutches in Rowena’s Red Ruby Rose shop are stunning (and lined with silk!). They’d be extra-special gifts. |
Mix It
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Lemon & Lavender Scones Michelle from Je Mange la Ville has a Lemon & Lavender Scone Recipe for you to bake and enjoy over coffee with your good friends. |
Share It
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Holidays at Home and the Handmade Holidays photo pool! |
Win It
Knitting for Good!: A Guide to Creating Personal, Social, and Political Change, Stitch by Stitch
by Betsy Greer
Paperback original / Trumpeter / 224 pages / 6 1/2 x 8
ISBN 978-1-59030-471-6 / April 2008
From the publisher:
Every time we knit, we have the opportunity to create positive change in ourselves, our community, and in the world. That’s Betsy Greer’s fervent belief, and in this book she shows us how. Betsy explores the ways we can use knitting to slow down in a fast-paced culture, while using the craft to benefit charities in our communities, to advocate for worthwhile causes, and to support individuals and communities across the globe. Filled with insights from knitters and crafters on how they use craft to benefit others, Knitting for Good! will get you thinking about knitting in a whole new way.
To learn more about the author, visit her website: craftivism.com
Again, we’d like to thank Shambhala for this contribution. We know a few crafter/activists who’ll be getting a copy of this inspirational book this year. Visit Shambhala Publications for more information. Comment below for your chance to win (tell us what you’ll be giving your bff!) See the Handmade Holidays Prize List to check out the other goodies we’re giving away this month.
More Handmade Holiday Ideas
16 ~ Dads
15 ~ New Parents
14 ~ Holidays at Home
13 ~ Multi-taskers
12 ~ Sports Fans
11 ~ Bookworms
10 ~ Elementary Kids
9 ~ Snow Fiends
8 ~ Teachers
7 ~ Holidays at Home
6 ~ Pet Lovers
5 ~ Crafters
4 ~ Music Lovers
3 ~ Babies & Toddlers
2 ~ Travelers
1 ~ Tweens & Teens
We respect the copyright of all crafters. All links and photos from blogs on our Handmade Holidays posts are used with permission.
230 Responses to “November 17 ~ Gifts for Girlfriends”
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I’m pretty into trying that necklace.
I love, love the cowl — I wonder if I’ll have time to make myself one!
I’m making my bff a 50′s style retro apron. I made her an apron for her birthday last August (my first, actually) and she just loved it and asked for another one! Woot!
That book looks fantastic!
I’ve never been one for clutches, but that one from the Red Ruby Rose shop is too cute!
I think those scones will have to be the first thing I try. They sound heavenly. Everything else looks wonderful. Thank you so very much for everything.
Definitely going to try those fabric bracelets, What a neat idea!
cute bags!! I am loving all of these ideas!
Knitting for For Good ..what a positive idea!
Love the bead necklace, would be fun to make up in Christmas fabrics too for some inexpensive holiday adornment.
ooo!
Have fancied a necklace like that for ages! and the clutches from red ruby rose are lovely.
Love the bamboo handle purse and adore the retrofied tote bag. What great fabrics!!
As much as I love my girlfriends, I think that I’ll be making most of these for myself… first!
Love the hankies!
My friends will LOVE the fabric bead necklaces!
So many girlfriends, so little time! I’m loving the lavender scones idea.
I’m loving this months posts
mmmm scones!
love all these ideas, but especially that necklace. I might be making that as a gift to myself. Thanks!
I am loving these ideas. I am also getting a little worried over my lack of planning and time so some of these will help with that! Thanks
LOVE the beads!!! Who wouldn’t want to revieve those as a gift from a girlfriend!!
Thanks again for more great ideas
My aunt made me a fabric beaded necklace like that in the 80s, only it wasn’t as cool.
Gifts for girlfriends is a great category. I always want a little something but not enough to make anyone feel obligated. Thanks for the ideas and tutorials.
I’m giving my bff, who happens to be my mom, a warm coat, but after the craziness settles down, something quilted with love.
I love the bag with the bamboo handles! That cowl looks great too.
looks like a great book!
I believe that some of my girlfriends are reading this post today!! It’s great to have those kind of friends isn’t it?
Those clutches are amazing! And the scones sounds yummy!
that clutch looks beautiful.
That handkerchief is so lovely. I must make some. THanks.
lavender and lemon scones – dreamy! I’m thinking the fabric basket tutorial from earlier this month with a dozen of these tasty scones would make a lovely hostess gift, teacher gift, for neighbors, coworkers, etc.
Love the louis vuiton knockoff.
I love the Handkerchief – so so cute!
BAGS, BAGS, BAGS…. that’s what my girls are getting.
Thanks for the other great ideas too. 
Thanks for another day of great ideas. I LOVE the Red Ruby Rose – such a wonderful shop! Also, I must make some of those fabric bead necklaces!
making a hankerchief, you would think had already come to mind but it might be a soloution for my niece.
I love those handkerchiefs. I think they would be the perfect gift for the eco-conscious on my gift list (or those I want to convert
). Thanks for the idea and tutorial!
I love them all! Can’t wait to try the bead necklace. Thank you!
I have a friend who woud love that knitting book! Thanks for keeping the good ideas coming.
Love those retrofied bags…
I have been wanting to make a cowl and have been just waiting for the right pattern. This is it! The knitting for good book looks fantastic!
Love these great ideas!
I’m making little make-up bags and if I have time, I’ll applique their initial on them.
i’m loving that necklace!
What great projects today – and I would love to see that book!
I want to buy the retrofied bag for myself
Love that cowl scarf. I can see my daughter wearing that. Once again, a list of great ideas!
Lorrie
i made the pumpkin spice scones for my daughter’s princess tea party over the weekend, and they were scrumptious! now, i’ll have to try these lemon and lavender ones!
The bamboo handle purse is really cute. And the scones sound delish!
All the ideas are great!
I love, love, love, Meg’s choice of fabric today.
I love the bamboo handle purse. It’s so cute!
great ideas! the bamboo handle purse reminded me that my mom always had a few bags like that around the house with her knitting projects in them. They were lined with satin so the projects wouldn’t get caught up in the bag.
Great ideas!
The handkerchief is so cute, and looks like so much fun.
oooo the cowl, the necklace, the handkerchief…so great! (i did purses last year!) i can also smell the scones baking! yum!
whoa! why didn’t i think of fabric necklaces before?? i know what part of my next order of garden party is gonna turn into.
Awesome gift ideas! I always have so much trouble finding things to make or buy for my girlies. Thank you!
I have never met a scone that I did not like! Thanks for all the great inspiration!
Love that cowl!
Gotta love all the great girlfriend worthy gifts!
Thanks for giving me great ideas this year!
Rane
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Those Monogrammed Handmade Handkerchief would be perfect!!!
oh man i really love that cowl!
I have a few friends who would love that book, myself included! I love the handmade handkerchief and plan on making a few of those for some very wonderful friends!
Wow lavander scones??? never heard nothing alike… I must try and make them…
Love the necklace, I will making many for girlfriends, my mom and myself!
I’m excited about the handkerchief — another idea that could actually work for my father-in-law, even though he’s not the target of today’s ideas!
I just loved the bead Louis Vuitton necklace!
The fabric necklace is beautiful.
I knit my BF a pair of socks. It’s a good things she’s so great or I’d be very tempted to keep them for myself!
Lovin’ the beads!!
I love, love, love the bag and the necklace! Can’t wait to get started! THANK YOU!!!!!
Thanks for adding the Retrofied link, I am in love with those bags! There are so many great designs and fabrics to choose from in her shop, it’s going to take me a week to settle on which one I want.
How fun! Thanks for sharing!
Looks like a great and meaningful book. I’ve been wondering how to do more crafting for the community. I’m planning to make a lovely linen wallet for my bff, and some of those recycled slippers from last year’s set of tutorials.
I’ll be giving my bff some handmade fabric bird ornaments and cinnamon cookie bird ornaments and a handmade scarf.
The scones look delicious, and I think that the book sounds like a good idea. Helping people while you craft is an awesome goal.
My bff is getting homebaked goodness- scones, ironically, but a differnt recipe… thanks!
I love all those ideas! I’m making an apron for my BFF. But I may change my mind now
I love the bags! I think I’m going to use the bamboo handled bag as a few gifts. I’m trying to make various bags instead of using boxes or other wrapping bags, and this would be perfect for a few people!
That clutch is lovely! Thanks for sharing!
I love the purses and bags!!! As always, the fabrics look delicious!
The bags and hankies are so cute!! Off to do some sewing!!
Love the purse idea. Totally going to use it.
Thanks for the cowl pattern link and the shop links for the purse and tote. Such great ideas! So much crafting to do for the holidays- I love it! The book looks amazing too.
Oh such great stuff!! I love purses & those scones sound fantastic!!
Man, do I have to make these things for my girlfriends? LOL
I want to keep them!
I like the necklace idea, I have a few friends who could really pull that off… and I have some bamboo handles in a drawer that I picked up at Value Village, I should introduce them to my stash and whip up that purse…
Again a wonderful post! I can’t wait to make the handbag, the handkerchief and of course the scones! Yummy. Thanks again for the wonderful ideas.
I love the look of that cowl!
Love all of these items – they are great.
I love the bamboo handle purse = } thanks so much!
I love the necklace! I wanna make one!!!!
there is a woman at ETSY and her name for her store is “cherryblossoms” and she has the CUTEST sock pattern for Flannel.. everyone is getting socks! you can make 10 pair with a yard!! Cute, comfy cozy and I read on parenting that you can make non slip socks by putting puff paint on the bottoms so I think I am going to put cute designs on them
P.S. learning to knit now, so this book would be great for me to win!!! Enter me – thanks!!!
More great ideas – I’m loving that fabric necklace, and of course the scones!
those scones look so yummy!
What great fabrics in the retrified bags.
My best and first roommate from college, who I still love to death, is now in Europe for her job- I’m sending her some cookies (gotta love the USPS!) and boy would this book be perfect for my mother-in-law who knits and crochets for Project Linus and the local cancer center
Great projects!! I really love the monogrammed handkerchief!
I love the cowl! I might just have to try that and the cute purse. Oh and the necklace! What great ideas for good friends.
Okay, with your site now my problem is not having no ideas, but having WAY TO MANY ideas. Each person on my list is going to be getting like 5 handmade things – I just can’t decide! Well, I take that back, I have 5 ideas for each person, we’ll see how many get made! haha! Happy Monday!
I’m loving the tote. I dont crochet but may have to learn how to make the cowl.
Love the bag. Definitely on the list for friends and sisters.
Ooh, I’m so making that purse for my sisters-in-law. And I’m loving the other tutorials at Little Birdie Secrets too. More things for the to-make list!
love the bag and the scone recipe
The ladies in my life are getting singlet-style shopping bags and I’m doing some makeup brush travel cases as stocking stuffers too. Thanks for the ideas
i’m already started on bold and beautiful bags for my girlfriends thsi christmas!
ooohhhh LOVE the bag and the necklace!
I saw that book at my local craft store – it’s so cool! They definitely cover the less-than-cute sides of crafting and have plenty of constructive tips to avoid waste and cruelty. Way to plug it!
I love this category… just need more time.
I’m hoping to make a purse, checkbook cover, tissue cover, and change purse for a gf on my list this year.
I love that necklace. Looks like it would be fun to make. I’m making some of my girlfriends the Gratitude Wrap from SouleMama. It’s a totally cute little folio to hold some stamps, notecards and a pen, so you don’t have to search around next time you need to write a Thank You note.
I love that first bag. I have made knitted bags similar to this but had never thought about fabric bags!
I really like the idea of handkerchiefs for gifts – particularly for my girlfriend’s. Adding the monogram and the case makes it special.
Of course, the knitter in me, thinks the cowl is a great idea.
Loooove the bamboo handled purse!!
That fabric beaded necklace is so cool. Might have to do that one!
these look so fun!
I’d love to win the book.
I love those monogrammed handkerchiefs!
Wow they are great – not to secretly forward i to my friends so I can get a great prez too!
I love it all!
Love the bamboo-handle purse! Thanks for the chance to win the book.
I love the necklace! I’ll have to try that one!
I love the clutches, so cute.
The bag is a great idea. Love it.
Love that Retrofied bag. Off to look.
That hankie is sooooo lady like! I love it! I think I may just do that for my gals!
Love the necklace.
I think that I am doing some cute purses and wallets… so many ideas!
I love the bamboo handled purse. It’s just what I’ve been looking for.
That necklace is great. Any way to showcase the scraps I can’t give up!
Love the fabric beads!
The cowl and necklace are superb! One more idea to put on my list.
I love that retro tote! How cute!!! I have to go to the site and look through it all!
Cute neckalaces!
I’m always a sucker for a bag!!
So fun! Where to begin?
I really like that cowl. Now we’ll see if my knitting skills are that good.
Great projects! Especially the necklace, I want to try that one!
What great ideas! I love all the great flowers from the archives, too. I hope my girlfriends are reading this! =)
I love the choice of fabric she has used for the bamboo handled purse – yummy!
I’m going to make the chic and easy bamboo handle purse.
Bags…oh I love bags, so do my girly girl friends. I can’t wait to whip some up for them. Just love that clutch!!!
The purse is so cute and the beaded necklace idea is very, very cool! I want to make both of them RIGHT NOW! lol! Thanks for all the great ideas.
What a fun necklace! Might just have to try it.
I’m definitely going to try the necklace, and I’ve already added Retrofied and Red Ruby Rose to my favorites on Etsy. Thanks yet again for such wonderful finds.
I never start soon enough! So many wonderful choices!
I have been trying to teach myself to knit…maybe this will help. Plus I love the bag and purses on these ideas. Can’t wait to try them.
everyone needs hankies! really! i take them skiing. and so should all my skiing gal pals.
the themes this year have been fabulous! Thank you again!
what an interesting book!
My step-MIL would love this!
The handkerchiefs are such a great idea!
that’s a pretty cool necklace
Oh this would be such a great gift!
I don’t know what I am making my girlfriend yet but maybe if I win this, it will be part of her gift!
I love the handbag!
Ooooo….faux vuitton necklace!!! Ooooo…handkerchief!! I love vintage stuff, especially embroidered! And ooooooo ruby red rose clutch! I LOVE IT ALL!!
I love the bags. The bamboo handle purse looks so simple yet so cute.
Do I have to make the necklace for a girl friend? Very cool projects!
I am making my bff a felted wool scarf for the holidays
LOVE the cowl on this one…
i am making my bff one of those fabric bead necklaces!!! oh, and i’ll be making one for moi as well
I’m making her marshmallows!
So many great ideas!
This is a very dangerous blog!! Too many projects and too little time. Thanks for so many ideas, my head is actually spinning. lol
I can’t wait to find time to try them all.
great ideas! The “buy it” purses are gorgeous too!
Great projects and fabric choices! I’ve made a bamboo handle purse just like that…it’s wonderful for spring and summer. I bet my sister would love that cowl. Hmmm.
I am so excited about the tutorial for the hankerchiefs and! they are perfect for my sister for christmas. I am also going to have to sew one of those purses–they would make a great diaper bag. thanks for all the wonderful ideas!!
In the 80′s the necklaces were made with marbles. A bit heavy!!! Wood much better!
What a great idea for a necklace!
Too many fun things to choose from! And the scones, yummy!
pick me…pick me
those scones sound really yummy and the bamboo handle bag looks awesome
I’ll be giving my BFF homemade Kahlua and Irish Cream. AllRecipes.com has great recipes, and I make custom labels for the bottles. I’m also knitting up some quick things like fingerless gloves, cowls, and coffee mug cozies for some girlfriends at work.
Great post!
I am going to try that purse!!!
Awesome necklace & loving the “buy it” today too!
I don’t really have a bff, except my cool male friend and my go-to gal pal. I’m hoping to knit up a throw blanket for the male friend and maybe sew up a quick wallet like one of the tutorials featured in the gift guide for things in your purse for the gal pal.
thanks for this gift guide!
Can’t wait to check out Betsy Greer’s blog some more
Very cute. Knitting becomes more appealing every day.
Love the cowl! I need to win the book so I can learn how to knit
I am in love with the colors of the gifts from today’s post!
I think I might give a try on that bambu bag..I need a nice bag to travel with my embroidery tools!
Wow! another great day of ideas, thanks so much.
Hand knit hats, home made apple cranberry jelly, and homemade salt scrub.
I would love to try making some of the bags with some great fabrics…
Lots of girlfriends will get scrappy necklaces! love this idea.
I’m going to try the purse,too. It looks perfect for toting around knitting or crochet projects!
The fabric beads look great – I’d love to give those a try.
Yum-SCONES! I have been working on quilted christmas table runners for my bff(s). I like them so much that I need to make one more!
that book looks so interesting! how have i not heard of this before? (in grad school, i wrote a bunch of papers about the possibility of craft as a tool for women’s development.)
i’m also excited about the hankie tute; just last week i added a bunch of those to my stocking stuffer list. thanks!
Love the purse, love the beads, love the fabric choices. Y’all are awesome!
Those clutches are absolutely gorgeous!
My BFFs will be receiving photographs that I have taken that carry a sentimental memory for us. You’ve given me many ideas for others.
great ideas for the girls – I just might have to try the beaded necklaces.
Love the bags!
I’ve visited a lavender field this past summer, and they were selling some lavender for cooking – now, with this lemon and lavender scone recipe, I have the perfect use for it!
This year I am making my sister a crazy quilt scarf. I am thinking that making that necklace into a bracelet with the same fabrics in the scarf would be cute. Thanks for the helpful ideas!
Those are great ideas, thank you.
The little purse is great!
Those clutches are fantastic!
Another day of great ideas!
I love the tote and necklace!
I love that clutch purse. And scones are my favorite baked good.
Love all these ideas…this is right where I live
Also enjoyed the tip about Retrofied. Fun shop I will keep in mind.
Wow, I just found your blog, and I’m blown away by so many cool ideas! I’m very into handmade gift-giving, and this year, one of the things I’ve made for just about everyone is a pack of 8 custom note cards, made with blank note cards and pretty/interesting/wacky pictures I’ve cut out of magazines and glued on. It was such fun to flip through magazines, tearing out pictures that made me think of each person on my list. I’m also doing bean bags for all the little boys I suddenly find myself surrounded by, including my own 16-month-old. =)
I love that bamboo handled purse!
Love your blog. I now have so many ideas my head is full!
Thanks for these! I’ll probably have to make the bag, but I’m curious to try the beads. And excellent choice for the book. I hadn’t seen that one. It looks like a must read.
Who doesn’t love a knockoff. The necklace is great.
What a great little bag, I have had a set of bamboo rings for a few years now.. not sure what to do with them! Can’t wait to try this!
loving the cowl pattern! I might have to try that one next year..no time left for now.
Wow, these are awesome tutes!
love the cowl!
Already bought everything to make a few of the very gorgeous Louis Vuitton “Knock Off” Necklaces. They will make such great gifts to my girlfriends. And I am also happy to get a chance to utilize all these scraps of fabric I’ve got lying around… =)
I love the bag and fabric beads! THanks again
Really beautiful and really fun. Thanks for the tutorials!
If I make that purse, I am not sure I can give it away.
Making marshmallows…
I think I’ll make the necklace for myself! Thanks for having these great lists!!!
I love that tote bag!
I love the bead necklace!
Love, love, love the ideas…and the book giveaway…
The fabric bead bracelet is fantastic. I’m going to have to try that out.
love the necklace. i will definitely have to try it!
I absolutely love that necklace tutorial! Thanks so much for sharing it!
What great handmade items! I love all the bags and the fabric necklace is too cool.
I’m a new sewer, so I’ve only made a pillowcase and apron so far, but hope to bust out a few gifts before the holidays.
Hope to make a bag soon – hope mine turn out as nice as the ones shown here someday
I love the bamboo handled purse. Very sweet.
Oh, I love the Fabric Bead Necklace.
A must project on my list!
Lovely. Thank you for the great ideas!
That necklace is divine !!
That book looks fantastic, it is going on my reading list for sure
I’ll be away from my sewing machine this winter so I’m going to have to pick up a new crafty hobby. That cowl looks like a great project for me to try.
Thank you so much for the necklace idea! I had no idea about what to make for my girlfriends. I just don’t like the idea of giving something that was simply taken from the shelf… I like the personal touches. And I realy don’t mind if it takes a bit longer to make a project. Only this time I really didn’t have much time left to make something for them. This necklace came in a great moment! It’s quick to make, uncomplicated, and the best: they loved it!
Super recomend it!
Manu – Brazil