inspiration: gift ideas from little things to sew

Sometimes I want to make gifts for other people’s kids, but not knowing sizing makes it too difficult to sew fitted garments.  Enter Liesl’s book, Little Things to Sew which is such a great kid gift resource.  There are quite a few projects that are quick to sew and work for a more generous size range (hats, mittens, toys, etc.).

And hey, if you have your own kids to sew for, love Oliver + S, and don’t own Little Things to Sew, now’s the time to pick it up online or at your local bookstore and sew up a few “one evening” gifts!  Or, you know, put the book itself on your Christmas list.

The book includes 20 patterns, many of which are not only multi-size/one size, but unisex!  You can see a list of all twenty projects by scrolling down to “details” on the main book page.

To me, all but maybe the tutu and the doll dress are great for girls and boys depending on your fabric choices.  That’s amazing, and, frankly, pretty hard to find.

Here are a few things I’ve made from Little Things to Sew (you can see all of them here on my blog).

It is, by far, my most-used sewing book.  These photos are just a small sample.  I love it.

For our friends Down Under, don’t forget one of my personal favorites, the Bucket Hat.  Perfect as summer approaches, and the pattern is available for free!

If anyone wants to go crazy and make a faux fur “coonskin cap” version, I’m here to say, it works!  I actually made one using the Bucket Hat pattern (no brim) as a part of a Moonrise Kingdom costume.  Just get the most ridiculously fuzzy faux fur you can find and sew it into a tube to add your “tail,” line it in jersey or fleece, and it’s a great gift to add to the dress up bin!

Here are a few other gift ideas.

A multi-pocketed explorer vest for a mini detective/fisherman/explorer kid (stuff the pockets with fun trinkets for maximum excitement):

explorer vest by a little gray

 

A cute, personalized smock for a little artist (pair it with art supplies):

 art smock by probably actually

 

A warm (and adorable) cozy hood to keep a little one’s ears warm (corduroy or velveteen with fleece lining, maybe)?

red winter hood by fake it while you make it

 

There are just so many fun options that will get kids excited too!

Shelley over at Bartacks & Singletrack is currently running a Little Things to Sew Cover to Cover Challenge and has sewn lots of amazing projects from the book already. Check it out and join in right here.

And remember, you can always browse a huge amount of inspiration by searching for Little Things to Sew in the Oliver + S Flickr Pool.  Fabrics, customizations–it’s all there, and lots of it.

What will you make?