5 Easy & Inexpensive Gifts to Sew for Expecting Moms: DIY gift ideas (with links to free sewing patterns) perfect for a baby shower or Christmas!

One of my favorite ways to save money on gifts, without compromising quality, is to make them myself. (See 5 Ways to Save Money This Christmas for more ways to save!) Though DIY gifts often take more time than store-bought alternatives, there’s something so nice about the personal touch they bring.

Today I’m sharing 5 easy & expensive gifts to sew for expecting moms. I’ll share the link to free patterns and tutorials for each gift, along with how long it took me to make each one.

If you’re fairly new to sewing, you’re in the right place! I love to sew, but I’m a novice at best. I’ve slowly taught myself to sew using an old Kenmore sewing machine I picked up for $20 at a neighbor’s garage sale last December. With the help of the machine manual, YouTube videos, free online sewing patterns, and limited practice, I’ve learned a few things but still have a long way to go. If I can make these gifts, you can too!

5 Easy & Inexpensive Gifts to Sew for Expecting Moms

 

1. Baby Bibs

Get the pattern and tutorial here.

Time Commitment: The first attempt took me about 30 minutes. Then I realized how insanely easy these are to make. The next two took under 15 minutes each. With more practice, I think I could finish one in under 10 minutes.

Why I love them: Who doesn’t need more bibs? G didn’t drool much as an infant (late teether), and we were blessed that she didn’t spit up much either. Still, once she started eating solids, I realized I way underestimated the number of bibs I’d need. Though the style is simple, with the right fabric pattern, these bibs are absolutely adorable! I didn’t use the kit shown in the tutorial. Instead, I picked up some fabric at Joanne’s for the front. I already had some white terry cloth, from Walmart, at home, as well as plastic snaps.

2. Microwavable Rice Heating Packs

Get the pattern and tutorial here.

Time Commitment: The first attempt took me 20 minutes. Now, I can finish one in about 5 minutes. I will often just eyeball the measurements. I prefer a pack that’s a little longer than the one shown in the tutorial. The heating pack pictured above is made from a 12×13 inch piece of fabric, instead of 12×12 inch.

Why I love them: Heating packs are so easy and inexpensive to make. I can make several for gifts for just a few dollars! These are also great for labor, and for sore muscles after baby arrives. I apparently had horrible posture when I first started nursing G, even with the help of a Boppy nursing pillow, and wound up with a sore neck and shoulders quite often. I used my heating pack often, and it still comes in handy today for random aches and pains.

3. Headband

Get the pattern and tutorial here.

Time Commitment: The first attempt took me 20 minutes. Now, I can finish one in 10 minutes or less.

Why I love them: When G was an infant, my go-to hairstyle was a pony tail. It still is actually. Throwing on a cute headband can brighten up a simple hairstyle. These are also great for keeping mom’s hair out of her face during labor.

4. Eye Mask

Get the pattern and tutorial here.

Time Commitment: The first attempt took about 30 minutes. Now, I can finish one in 15 minutes.

Why I love them: I found taking the advice “Sleep when baby sleeps” difficult during the day. I need a dark, quiet room to sleep in. Even with blackout curtains, too much light seeped into the room. By the time I’d finally fall asleep, the baby would be ready to wake up minutes later. These eye masks do a great job of blocking out light and are super comfortable! I also brought one to the hospital and was glad I did since the nurses asked us to leave a light on throughout the night to make it easier for them to pop in for quick check ups.

5. Baby Shoes

Get the pattern and tutorial here or here. (I used the first link, then later found the very similar second tutorial and pattern. The second pattern is a little cleaner, so I may try it next time.)

Time Commitment: While these take more time to make, they aren’t overly complicated. The first pair took me 45 minutes to an hour. The second time I made these, I made four pairs at once, sewing similar pieces assembly line style as I went. It took about two hours to make four pairs, about 30 minutes per pair.

Why I love them: These are soft soled and perfect for little ones who haven’t started walking yet. They’re flexible, light weight, and adorable. I was also able to make several pairs for under $10, compared to $30 for a single pair of store-bought shoes in a similar style.

Planning to try any of these ideas? Don’t forget to Pin or share using the share buttons below or at the top of the post!

What DIY gifts do you plan to make this year?