Small gift ideas to make on your longarm

Quilters, we know you love the thrill of creating beautiful, functional pieces from scratch. But did you know your longarm quilting machine can be used for more than just quilting large quilts? It’s an incredibly versatile tool perfect for crafting small gifts that can bring joy to friends and family. Here are some delightful gift ideas you can create using your longarm.

Quilted Hearts

Quilted hearts make charming and heartfelt gifts. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or as part of the “I Found A Quilted Heart” movement, these small tokens of affection can be customized with different fabrics and patterns to suit any recipient. They are also quick to make, allowing you to produce several in a short amount of time.

How to Make Quilted Hearts

Load your longarm with a small backing, or you can use a backing that a quilt is on, it just needs to be about 5 inches bigger on one side. Draw a heart shape on the batting, select various fabrics for a diverse look, and begin to quilt as you go. Next, cut the quilt as you go into heart shapes using a template to ensure uniformity. Remember, you can add some decorative stitches with free-motion quilting. Finally, add a loop for hanging.

Here is a video I made on how to make these hearts step by step.

Christmas Stockings

Christmas stockings are a holiday staple and a fantastic way to use your longarm for festive projects. You can personalize each stocking with names or festive motifs, making them memorable keepsakes. There are many quilting designs that you can use and you can make the stockings either large or small. Do a Google search for your favorite designs by searching “quilted Christmas stockings on the longarm.” You’ll find lots of fun pages to look through!

Quilted Bags

Quilted bags are both stylish and practical. They can range from tote bags to cosmetic pouches, making them versatile gifts that can be used daily. Just think of the longarm like a huge embroidery hoop! Small pouches are made all the time with embroidery; you can adapt the pattern to the longarm. Sew much fun.

Jazz Up a Jean Jacket

With quilted embellishments, a plain jean jacket gets a fun and unique twist. This gift is perfect for fashion-forward friends who love unique, handmade items.

How to Jazz Up a Jean Jacket

Purchase a jean jacket. Pick out a fun “backing.” This fabric will be on the inside of the jacket, so make it fun! You will need one yard of fun fabric loaded on the longarm with batting. Next, place your jean jacket on the longarm with the outside facing up. You will quilt the big block area on the back of the jean jacket. You can either use a digital design or free motion! Play with some fun threads, or even do some couching.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking to create heartfelt gifts for loved ones or add a personal touch to everyday items, your longarm quilting machine is a fantastic tool. These small projects are fun to make and allow you to experiment with different techniques and fabrics. Ready to start your next quilting adventure? Explore these ideas and more, and don’t forget to share your creations with our quilting community!

Happy quilting!