Holiday Project Ideas

I don’t know about you, but every time the holiday season rolls around, I always wish I had a treasure trove of handmade, heirloom pieces to pull out each season. I grew up in a very Christmas-loving household, and it was so much fun as a kid to pull those holiday decor items out every year and set them up around the house in their “proper spots” with my sister.

As the years have gone on, I suppose I’ve had plenty of opportunity to collect items that feel good to me and my own home, but somehow I just…don’t? When you’re a very DIY person, the idea of spending money at Target to buy the same decor piece that thousands of other people will have…it just doesn’t have the appeal or specialness I want to feel when pulling out seasonal items.

So I resolve to make things. A quilted tree skirt, seasonal pillows for the couch, winter themed quilts and table runners, handmade stockings…but then the holiday season gets here, and it’s always so busy. When is there time to make these precious items? And so another season passes, desire wanes, and I tell myself “next year.” So finally, after years of resolving and not doing—this is the year. I’m starting early, and have created an Instagram “make along” for those of you who feel the same: #MerryMAL!

Smoke from a blown out candle wisps in the wind. It is surrounded by evergreen branches and soft, twinkling lights in the background. The words "Winter Holidays Makealong! #MerryMAL, 11 Weeks, October 21 through January 4" are over-layed on the image

I’ve shared a lot of inspiration for project ideas over on Instagram, and wanted to consolidate those ideas to a blog post so that it would be easy for anyone to reference if they wanted to.

#MerryMAL project ideas:

Tree Skirts (SewING)

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Tree Skirts Pattern Links:

Giant Dresden Christmas Tree Skirt by Carrie Actually
The Night Before Christmas by The Quilt Branch (please note this is a paper pattern that ships, not a digital download)
Ragged Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern by Jubilee Creative Studio
Luminous by Quilted Garden Designs
Bethlehem Star by the Tree Skirt Company
Here Comes Santa Claws by Prefurred Quilts
Bargello by Shabby Fabrics

Tree Skirts (KNIT or Crochet)

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Links

Royal Christmas Tree Skirt by Crafting Friends Design (crochet)
Cable Tree Skirt by 1 Stitch More (knit)
Rustic Wonderland by Violet Loops (crochet)

Stockings Ideas

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Stocking Pattern Links:

Christmas Stocking by Frux Studio
Christmas Stocking by Made Just Sew
Red Patchwork Stocking by Helen Philipps Designs
Patchwork Christmas Stocking by Cooper and Fred
18th C inspired Stocking by Shop Petites Choses
Cowboy Christmas Stocking by Common Stitch
Stocking Surprise by The Weekend Quilter
Stocking by Suzy Quilts (free pattern!)
Lonestar Stocking by Patchwork and Poodles (free pattern!)
Nine-Patch quilt cut into stockings (no pattern, but you can find many free tutorials for making 9-patch quilts)