It might only be mid-October, but if you love a handmade Christmas, now is the perfect time to start sewing. Starting early means no late-night panic in December, more time to enjoy each make, and first pick of the festive prints before your favourites sell out. Here are five simple Christmas sewing projects you can start this month, plus the fabrics we'd reach for.
Why start your Christmas sewing in October?
December has a habit of disappearing in a blur of parties, school plays and present wrapping. By cutting out a few projects now, you can sew a little each weekend and still have everything finished, pressed and ready well before the big day. It's also a lovely way to spread the cost of Christmas: a metre or two of fabric each week adds up to a whole house full of festive décor and handmade gifts.
1. Reusable fabric gift bags
Fabric gift bags are one of the quickest wins in Christmas sewing. They're just a rectangle folded in half, sewn up two sides, with a channel at the top for a ribbon or cord. They look beautiful under the tree and can be used again year after year, which saves on wrapping paper too.
Our Santa Stamps Xmas Polycotton Fabric is ideal here. It's a light, easy-to-sew 80% polyester and 20% cotton blend, 112cm wide, and comes in White, Red and Green, so you can mix and match a whole set of bags. It's currently £3.59 a metre (was £6.99). A single metre will make several small and medium bags, depending on the sizes you choose.
2. A festive tablecloth and matching napkins
A handmade tablecloth instantly makes Christmas dinner feel special. For a hard-wearing cloth that will stand up to plenty of washing, choose a heavier fabric with a generous width so you need fewer seams.
Our Christmas Digital Print Cotton Canvas Fabric is a great fit. It's 150cm wide, with a vibrant digital print of Christmas gifts, and it's made for furnishing projects like tablecloths and cushions. It's now £8.99 a metre (was £15.00).
- Measure your table length and width, then add the drop you'd like on each side, plus a few centimetres for hems.
- Use any leftovers for napkins: simple squares with a double-turned hem.
- Press your hems before stitching for a crisp, professional finish.
3. Christmas cushion covers
Swapping your everyday cushion covers for festive ones is an easy, low-cost way to give a living room a seasonal makeover. An envelope-back cover needs no zip or buttons, so it's a perfect beginner project, and you can swap the covers back in January.
The cotton canvas above works brilliantly for cushions, or for something a little more elegant, try our Christmas Bells 100% Cotton Poplin by Rose & Hubble. It features gold metallic Christmas bells on a rich green background and is £6.99 a metre (was £9.99). Cotton poplin is smooth, crisp and lovely to sew, so it's also a good choice for festive dresses, skirts and accessories.
4. Bunting and Advent decorations
Christmas bunting is a brilliant project to make with children, and it's a great way to use up scraps. Cut triangles from a cardboard template, sew them right sides together, turn, press and stitch them onto bias binding or tape.
For a softer, Scandi-style look, our Candy Cane Christmas Polycotton Fabric in Grey pairs beautifully with red and white prints. It's 112cm wide, machine washable and just £3.59 a metre (was £6.99). Mix it with the Santa Stamps print for alternating flags, or use it to make little drawstring pouches for a reusable Advent calendar.
5. Christmas stockings and tree decorations
A personalised stocking makes a wonderful handmade gift. Draw a stocking shape on paper, cut two outer pieces and two lining pieces, then sew and turn. Add a cuff in a contrasting print and a hanging loop, and you're done. Small offcuts can be turned into stuffed stars, hearts or mini stockings for the tree.
Our top tips for stress-free Christmas sewing
- Pre-wash your fabric if your finished item will be washed regularly, such as napkins and tablecloths.
- Plan your cutting to get the most from every metre. Lay all your pattern pieces out before you cut.
- Batch your projects. Cut out all your gift bags in one go, then sew them assembly-line style.
- Keep your scraps. Festive offcuts are perfect for bunting flags, tree ornaments and gift tags.
Get ahead this Christmas
Whether you're sewing gifts, decorating your table or making memories with the kids, a little planning now makes for a calmer, more creative December. Browse our Christmas prints, pick your favourites while they're in stock, and get your festive makes underway this weekend. Happy sewing from all of us at Bull Ring Fabrics!
