easy gifts to make, (looking for)

**silkmomj** · 09-19-2005, 10:52 PM

Hi....I am looking for easy and inexpensive gifts to make. I do not knit, or crochet. I sew straight seams. I love to bake, and my family receives baked goods from me all of the time. I would love to find some crafts that I could make for some of our gifts this year. Thanks so much.

**Sara Noel** · 09-19-2005, 10:56 PM

Does anyone have any good ideas

This is pretty simple and frugal.

**sunshine** · 09-19-2005, 10:58 PM

I'm bumping some older threads that had wonderful information.

**Michele Annette** · 09-20-2005, 12:13 PM

Silkmomj, last year I made eye pillows for everyone in my family. You use them as a cold pack or heating pack. They are very inexpensive and easy to make. If you can sew only straight seams then you can do this too. If you have kids they can help too. These are filled with flax seed (which I find much more conforming and comfortable than rice) and the most economical way of purchasing it I found it through www.bulkfoods.com http://www.bulkfoods.com/search_resu...hParamTxt=1609

I bought the 10 lb bag witch is enough to make about 12 eye pillows. A 10 lb bag is $16.41 including shipping.

I used scrap fabric. Use 100% cotton fabric that was prewashed. For each eye pillow you need two rectangles (front and back), 10" x 4". Pin the two pieces of cut fabric with right sides together. Mark a beginning sewing point and ending sewing point on one of the long sides close to one end, for turning and filling. Give yourself a two inch opening. Sew (with 1/2" seam allowence) from beginning point all the way around the rectangle until the end point. Be sure to back stitch. Trim threads and clip your corners straight across to reduce bulk when turning. Turn your rectangle and push out the corners with a blunt object (such as a crochet needle). Press flat with seam allowances inside. Use a funnel inside the opening and pour in flax seed until it reaches the bottom of your funnel. Sew up the opening by hand and that's it! Put in a ziplock freezer bag and place in freezer for a few hours for a cold pack or heat in a microwave for 30 seconds at a time (Do Not heat it until it's hot or it may cause burns!) just warm to the touch is good. My family loved these! I love mine too! A quarter of a yard of fabric will make four eye pillows.

I also make covers for mine so they can be laundered. You do not want the flax seed to get wet or your pillow will be ruined. So I made covers to keep them clean... two pieces of the same or different 100% cotton fabric 10.5" x 4.5". Sew three sides (1/2" seam allowance) with right sides toghether leaving one narrow end open. Clip corners, turn and press. Press under top seam 1/4 of and inch. Turn down another 1/4 of and inch, press and sew top seam around edge. Put finished eye pillow into the cover. To launder, remove the cover and wash in hot, soapy water. Can be dried in dryer.

I made nice hand written tags with instructions how to use and launder.

Have fun!