Are you looking for ideas to sew for Mom?
Moms come in all types. But most appreciate handmade gifts, especially the ones you make. Whether your mom is glitzy or sporty, a homebody or a world traveler, we’ve got you covered.
For Mother’s Day, her birthday, holiday gifts, or just because you love her, here are lots of fun project ideas you can sew for mom.
Zip bags
There are so many uses for these that zippered cases are always a good gift idea. She can use one for a cosmetics bag for her purse or travel, to hold pencils or art supplies, or anything else. I once made a matching set of these in several sizes for a gift for my mom.
She can use these to hold anything.
Quilt
Whether she likes to get comfy in her favorite chair or she babysits grand-babies, a lap quilt is a perfect choice to sew for mom. Make one in her favorite colors, to match her décor, or choose a special pattern.
The blocks in these quilts were pieced by my mother’s and my husband’s grandmothers. I found them in their sewing boxes & put them together with borders to make these lap quilts for our moms to share with their grand babies.
And speaking of grand kids and special quilt patterns, you could get the kids involved and make a handprint quilt for their grandmother. You can make a handprint quilt using washable fabric paint and the kids’ hands as stamps. Or you can have them trace and then cut out their hands and use these as appliqué patterns.
Handbag
Most ladies will appreciate a beautiful new handbag. Depending on your mom’s style, you could make her a clutch, a wristlet, a structured bag, or a casual cross-body purse or messenger bag.
The possibilities are endless here. Choose suede, an elegant stamped faux leather or other fancy fabric, a distinctive or wildly patterned print, or build her a bag based on a small piece of patchwork created just for her.
Totes
She can’t have too many tote bags since these are endlessly useful.
She can’t have too many tote bags since these are endlessly useful. Make her a stylish and sturdy tote bag for her library books, groceries, or other shopping and she will appreciate it endlessly.
Make a gorgeous XL tote in a special fabric and she will be thrilled to use it as a stylish everyday bag. Especially if you add in ample pockets and/or smaller zip bags for organizing contents.
You can make a reversible tote bag in any size and give her two bags in one. Make a canvas tote with ample pockets inside and out to create a custom beach bag she will love. Or make her a few of these cute shopping bags that collapse into their own pocket.
And consider smaller totes, too. Here is one as pretty as a purse meant for toting her tablet.
Pillowcases
You can’t buy pillowcases as pretty as the ones you can sew. Make her a luxe pair trimmed in vintage lace. Choose a colorful patterned fabric to dress up her bed or a special motif she adores. Whether she loves owls, Star Trek, or her favorite sports team, you can make her a pillowcase from a yard of any novelty print.
You could make a pillowcase covered in hearts to remind her how much she is loved.
Sew a bouquet
A bouquet of flowers is a standard Mother’s day gift. You can sew her a bouquet of flowers that will never wilt and fade away.
Here are a lot of different ways to make fabric flowers.
Rice Pack
Whether she suffers from pains in the neck, back, tummy, or general monthly pains, an oversized microwavable rice pack heating pad will be a welcomed gift of comfort.
Slippers
There are lots of ways to sew slippers, here are some slipper sewing tutorials to choose from.
Pajamas
You can sew cozy pajamas from silk, cotton, flannel, or fleece. Make them ultra feminine with batiste and lace, or pure fun in a funky print. Start with an easy pattern from Simplicity, McCall’s, or Butterick, or use one of these tutorials.
Easy robe
Like pajamas, you can sew a robe from a lightweight or dressy fabric or from something heavier and more cozy. Robes are easy to sew. You can buy an easy robe sewing pattern or here’s a great tutorial showing how to make your own pattern using rectangles.
Apron
There are so many ways to sew aprons. You can make her a pretty half apron from just a fat quarter of fabric plus trim, a full coverage bbq style apron from a yard, a reversible apron, or a garden or craft apron.
- Oven mitts/ pot holders
- Table runner
- Placemats
- Napkins
Travel bags
If your mom travels a lot, there are a lot of great gifts you could sew to help her
- Here are many ways to sew a jewelry case for travel
- This cute cosmetics kit looks like a miniature suitcase
- Shoe bags
- Mani/Pedi kit- Amy at Positively Splendid made this free step-by-step tutorial for making a manicure/pedicure roll-up kit to go. And a different way to make it as a pretty mani/pedi tote. You can buy mom a pretty new polish or two, too.
- Fabric luggage tags- you can even make these with a pocket for her business cards.
Project link at Positively Splendid.
Pareu
I got this idea from the book Travel Gear and Gifts to Make, by Mary Mulari. She says that a pareu (pa-ray’-oo) is actually a colorful Polynesian wrap skirt. But it can also be used as a shawl, head cover, scarf, swimsuit cover up, light blanket, picnic blanket, or even a knapsack for carrying stuff.
This is probably the most used and loved gift I have ever made for my mom, and it is also the simplest. She travels a lot as a car passenger, and she likes to nap with a light blanket while riding.
A pretty pareau works perfectly for that plus more.
To make one, you just hem a square or rectangle. You can make one from a 44″ or a 60″ square. Since I knew she would use it as a blanket, I made my mom’s in the larger size. And I sewed a small matching tote with a strap, for storing the pareau rolled up while not in use. I bet it has been over ten years since I made it for her, and she still raves about and uses this gift all the time.
Needlebook
If your mom sews a lot or even just a little, she will certainly treasure a needle book you make with love just for her. You can make a simple one from felt or create a patchwork cover and include a zippered “page” for holding small scissors and other supplies.
I like to make needle books with a zippered page inside.
Fabric necklace or bracelets
Jewelry is another go-to gift for moms, but have you ever sewn jewelry? Here are some ideas you could try:
- 25 free patterns for fabric statement necklaces
- Easy cuff bracelets from Sew It All magazine
- Be inspired by this tutorial and make a one-of-a-kind bracelet from felt, leather, beads, or pretty trim
- Fabric wrapped bangles use glue rather than sewing, but they are pretty and fun nonetheless
I hope this list gave you some good ideas. What will you sew for mom?