Quick and Inexpensive Fleece Gifts for Everyone

There is a great little secret for making gifts for everyone in your family that most don't know of, but that doesn't cost a lot of money. And since the holidays can be a bit heavy on the pocketbook during times where every penny seems to count, every gift-saving secret can help. That little secret is fleece.

There are many patterns and colors in fleece and it doesn't require too much skill to use it effectively. Anything you make with fleece doesn't require finished seams which will save you a great deal of time. Anyone from beginner to expert can work with fleece, and get this: fleece doesn't require any sewing unless you prefer it.

Fleece is available at any fabric store or fabric department in your local discount stores. It comes in all colors and patterns (even holiday patterns) and can be purchased for as little as three dollars a yard. If you have a lot of little nieces and nephews you can mix and match the colors.

Remember that with fleece you can either sew the seams or simply buy fabric glue to fasten your fleece project together. For any of the projects below you can buy embellishments as well; ribbons, buttons, lace, or trim always takes the look of any fleece project up a notch.

Here are just a few suggestions for what you can create with fleece:

Scarf: This is one of the easiest fleece projects. You will need one third of a yard of fleece for this project. There are different variations to the scarf. For a basic scarf, take your third of a yard piece of fleece and cut a series of six- to eight-inch "fringe" strips at each end of the fabric. Make sure to cut straight and leave the strips attached. Cut up into the fabric, but don't cut the strips off. Make about six cuts to create a fringe look at each end.

Different variations of the fleece scarf are to sew two different colored pieces of one-third-yard fleece together. Then cut the fringes in the basic scarf and you have a two-toned scarf that is beautiful and different.

Another variation is to take one-third-yard of the fleece and fringe the ends. Next make small cuts two inches from the side of the scarf all the way from one end of the fringe to the other end. These small cuts are slit-like and you should make them as wide as a piece of ribbon. Once you finish the first row create another row with the next small cuts two inches from the last slits. Repeat this until you have three or four rows the entire length of the scarf.

Next, take ribbon or trimming and weave it in and out of each slit. When you get to the end, pin the ribbon in place. Once you have weaved each ribbon through each slit, run a seam through the ribbons at the end of the fringe. This makes a beautiful scarf and the fringe now has ribbons flowing through it as well. My daughter made these for the holidays last year and everyone loved them. She used all different colors of fleece and ribbons and she was able to make twelve scarves for less than ten dollars.

Pillow with pocket: Use one half yard of fleece. Cut three pieces of fleece in 16" squares. Next, cut one of the squares in half. Take one of the halves and fold over the long end 1/4" and stitch or glue a hem.

Then, take the right side of one of the full squares and put the "wrong" side of the half square on the lower half of the full square, lining up the raw edges of each piece. Sew or glue the wrong side of the half pocket piece to the right side of the full square. You should now have a full square with a half pocket square of fleece.

Next, take the right side of the remaining full square and the right side of the full square half pocket and line up each square and sew or glue all seams around the square (but make sure to leave about six inches open so that you can turn it inside out and push out the corners). Through the six-inch gap, stuff the pillow with stuffing, making sure to push stuffing into the four corners of the square pillow as well. Stitch up the six-inch gap once the pillow is stuffed to your liking. You now have a pillow with a pocket that you can put a little extra something in for whomever you give the gift.

For a child, you can use the extra fleece to make a simple animal with button eyes by cutting out two simple outlines of an animal of your choice. Put the right sides together and sew until there is a four inch gap for stuffing. Turn the animal inside out and stuff. Sew or glue the gap shut. Put little button eyes on the animal and put it in the pocket of the pillow. Children love having animals, as well as a pocket to put things in.

Another variation for an adult would be to put some potpourri (tied up with muslin) and place it in the pocket making it smell wonderful. Or you could include some crossword puzzle or suduko books in the pocket (available at the Dollar stores). This is a fun little gift for anyone.

These are just a few suggestions to making your holiday a little less expensive with a personal touch of your own. Fleece can be used to make purses, backpacks, blankets, and small little pouches full little treasures. You really can have a plentiful holiday and spend less money; in fact, you won't get FLEECED! Happy creating!