Sew Gifts–Make Memories Part One on The Best of Sewing With Nancy
Shop outside the big box stores and make your own gifts from new or upcycled fabrics. In the Sewing With Nancy series, Sew Gifts–Make Memories, you’ll learn how to sew gifts that will be appreciated by kids and adults – and the projects are enjoyable to make. Mary Mulari is Nancy Zieman’s guest for this favorite series—Mary always amazes us with her clever approach to sewing.
In Sew Gifts–Make Memories Part One, Nancy and Mary start with Mary’s December Countdown Calendar. Mark the days of December by moving vintage or contemporary buttons from the strip to a dot on the tree. The pockets at the bottom of the calendar can be used for letters to Santa or for small notes promoting acts of kindness for others.
Next in Sew Gifts–Make Memories Part One, Nancy and Mary show how to sew a Two-Pocket Shoe Bag. Carrying shoes to the gym, school, travel, and work is an everyday event. Why not make these clever bags just for that purpose? Choose new fabric, or recycle a shirt and tie. Either way, this is a useful gift to make and offers many opportunities for personalization.
Mary’s third gift idea is a Noodle Lounger! Using mesh fabric and grosgrain ribbon, create a lounge-style seat that fits over a swimming noodle. Make one for yourself and another for a friend, and then share lazy afternoons seated and relaxed in the water—making more memories. Tune in and watch Sew Gifts–Make Memories, and learn Mary’s convenient way to fold and store your lounger. 
Next up in Sew Gifts–Make Memories Part One, Mary shows how to make Seat Belt Wrappers. Add comfort to children’s car seats with plush wraps that pad the straps near the neck. A little bit of stitching, small strips of hook and loop tape, a touch of ribbon and lightweight quilt batting are all you’ll need.
Then, watch as we turn one beach towel into two hooded bath towels for babies or toddlers. This practical, quick-to-sew gift easily wraps around little ones with ease—it’s sure to be a welcomed gift and a wonderful surprise.
Mary’s sixth gift idea is a Girlfriend’s Shopping Purse. Celebrate your friendship by making a purse for your girlfriend or sister. These bags are perfectly sized for a day of shopping, lunch, and travel. All the essentials—phone, keys, credit cards, cash, and tissues—fit in this compact and lightweight bag.
Thanks Mary, for sharing your gift sewing ideas on Sewing With Nancy! Tune in next week to see more of Mary’s gift ideas in Sew Gifts–Make Memories Part Two.
Watch Sew Gifts–Make Memories (Part One and Part Two) on Sewing With Nancy online.
For a chance to win a copy of the book, Sew Gifts–Make Memories from Mary Mulari, please leave a comment below and let us know what gifts you’re making.
Shop newly added Books and Patterns by Mary Mulari at shopnzp.com!
Sewing With Nancy: Nancy’s Corner Spotlight!
Nancy’s Corner Spotlight! Today watch Nancy Zieman’s 5 minute Nancy’s Corner Interview on Sewing With Nancy. Revisit a period in history through the fashions of Downton Abbey. Nancy and Laura Fiser, curator of collections and exhibitions at the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh WI, showcase daywear fashions that tell great stories about the era and characters of the drama. Daywear from seasons one and three of Downton Abbey are featured, including many from the Crawley family plus Martha Levinson’s fox-trimmed silk coat.
Happy Sewing!
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.
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Gail Beam
Beach towels with machine applique names. Thanks for the chance to win this great book.
Betty Tolan
I could make a lot of the cute little purses with all my scrap fabric – they would make nice gifts or just give away a to donate to charities
Betty Tolan
I could make a lot of the cute little purses with all my scrap fabric – they would make nice gifts or just give away a to donate to charities
Carrie S
I loving making and giving homemade gifts to my friends and family! Anyone can go to the store and buy something but those of us that sew… we’ll we’re special! Very creative gifts!
tinker
i’d like to make the shoe bag to put in my luggage.
Teri
Making hooded towels for the grandchildren.
Ellee
My current gifts are lots of pillowcases — all cut out and ready to sew.
Nancy Parrish
The shoe bag, shopping bags, car seat pads are all great. There are folks I know who could use all these items. Thank you.
Julie Kill
Right now- finishing a rag quilt for our daughter. Two rows left to go.
Then, I plan on making some potholders and napkins from the Stitch it Sisters!
Jade
I want to make those seat belt wrappers for adults! Perfect for a baby gift too, but for adults you can just make one, fill with those tiny foam pellets and it really adds comfort to that seatbelt across your chest, especially for someone whose had chest surgery.
BevM
I am so happy to see this article I have been planning to make some of the Noodle Loungers for an upcoming trip to Florida. Now I won’t need to search through past blogs to find the instructions!
Ann West
Right now I am making a birthday quilt for my granddaughter. I love the seat belt covers. They will have to be my next project. Thanks.
Sue R
Bears for hospice. Thanks! 🙂
Susie Q
I will make the seat belt wrappers, the little purses, and the shoe carrier. Thanks for the chance to start the new year off with quick and easy new projects.
Clovis
I made coasters.
Cyndi Duffin
I love making little bags, the uses are endless- gifts, donations and traveling.
Thanks for the give away.
Dixie
Making the cute little purses for my granddaughter and great granddaughter. Also want to make the seat belt wrappers.
Sybil Derderian
I’ll be making a hooded baby towel and the baby seat belt covers.
L Watson
I just recently looked up these episodes to watch. I like the look of the small purse, it would make a good item to put in a Care Box for kids that our family puts together at Christmas time.
Margaret C.
I like the Tree idea. I have been making water bottle holders with space for a phone for friends.
Janet
I love the the little bags. I think I’ll make a few for “after Christmas” gifts for some close friends and granddaughter as a surprise.
Anna Little
I have several ladies & we get together one afternoon a week and make quilts, various items for our local hospital, pic line covers, Fidget quilts, little laundry bags for the nicu unit, etc., as well as items for our local Women in Crises, etc Always welcome ideas for additional items we can make.
Cindy K
I’m going to make some Barbie accessories for my granddaughters. I love the girlfriends shopping purse. Would like to make one of those for myself and a several for gifts.
Kathryn Buisker
Baby bib! I’m getting a new great grand baby!
Beverly
Shoe bags are essential whether traveling for business or pleasure and you can’t find these in stores so I would make these first.
Noreen
Recently I’ve been making bandana bibs for new babies. They’re easy to make and look so cute!
Diane Putzer
I need to make a couple of hooded towels for our youngest granddaughter.
Jan b
I think the pool noodle chair idea is fantastic! I know several older gals who swim to keep fit and they would love this for after-exercise relaxing! What a fun way to visit and catch up on everyone’s news, while in a warm pool! And the seatbelt cover for children! This book has things for all ages!!!
Kathleen Cassin
The seat belt covers are perfect for my granddaughter and grandson. The children are always falling asleep. This is such a good idea. Even my husband is getting one which can be made similarly I assume. The strap comes across his pacemaker and it really bothers him. That will give him some relief.
Jennifer Martin
I am making the hooded towel for my grandchildren. This method is easier than attaching a hood the way I’ve done it before.
shirl
What clever and smart gifts. I particularly like the pool noodle where I can just sit and lounge in the pool. Thanks for the opportunity to get the book.
Thunder
The girlfriends shopping purse looks like it would be lots of fun to make.
Hooded towels are great too.
Patricia Smith
Love the “Sewing with Nancy ” show! Tape it when cannot watch. Reruns just bring things back to mind that I would like to do or to help on the next time I made the item. Would love to win the book on the Gifts.
Kelly L. McMillan
I would like to try the girlfriend’s shopping purse and the December countdown calendar.
Bonnye
The seat belt wrappers are perfect for the new baby in our neighborhood
Karen King
I like the hooded towels and the seat belt covers (keeps the druel from staining the seat belts as well!) Actually there seems to be several items I would like to make.
Joe Helen Grimes
I love making gifts for my family and friends. My sewing buddy and I start in January and sew together one day every week.
Alice
I really like all the projects. They would make nice gifts.
Margaret G
I would like to make the Girlfriends Shopping Purse for myself and friends. *even though it mentions shopping, we would use these for going to dance lessons, concerts and even horseback riding! Pretty much anywhere we may want to have our hands free (while doing other things) and still having our ID, phones, lipstick, etc. 😉 I’ve just finished making the last of the bowl cozies and now it’s time to ‘stitch in the ditch’ of my latest lap quilt.
kathy
The next gift I am making is a new purse for my Mom’s birthday. She is my best supporter and was my teacher when I learned to sew.
Cynthia
I love to make themed pillowcases as gifts for friends and family. I also plan to make aprons and hot pads for Christmas 2020.
Linda H
I would make the cute little purse. It would be very handy when traveling.
Lynda C Adair
I think the Girl Friend Shopping Purse would be an excellent gift for teens, and women to use when they only need the essentials, such as their wallet, keys, phone, tissues, and lip gloss/chapstick. I have a small crossbody purse like this that I take every time I travel, and it really comes in handy when you just have the essentials and on you when shopping, site seeing, or just walking for exercise. In cooler or cold weather, it can easily fit under a warm coat without the weight and bulk of a larger purse or bag!
Donna Sturdevant
This past Christmas, I made the small phone pillow/cradle for my 6 sisters out of our Mom’s old blue jeans. She passed away 5 years ago this month and another keepsake for her teaching me how to sew many, many years ago. The gifts were an emotional experience but have all been put to good use. Thanks for the gift ideas
Carolyn T
The Noodle Lounger will be hit in two pools I frequent. I’ve had fabric for girlfriend purses and with this week’s blog I’m ready to measure, cut and stitch!
Teresa Ayars
I have a new grandson so I’m definitely going to be making hooded bath towels out of a beach towel.
Eva Osmun
Great book! Would love it!
Vicky S
What fun and different gifts to make…something my family can’t buy without significant trouble yet appear to be so easy to assemble. Definitely add this book to my list to get!
Kristy Williams
This last year I made small items for the children (Adults) and want to be able to make more items as gifts for the kids and grandkids (7).
Susan
What fun sewing projects that are creative & useful. Currently making snowmen ornaments for winter decorations & plan to share them with family.
Lorraine Alves
I have seven grade school great nieces. The purses will be perfect gifts for the girls to use both at school and when they come to visit.
Suzanne Roy
Lots of great ideas for small gifts!