What can I sew as a gift in under an hour?

A scrunchie takes about 15 minutes, a baby bib about 20, a drawstring bag about 30 and a zipper pouch about 45. All four are free in the Sewzy app.

What is the quickest gift to sew?

The Elastic Bookmark takes about 10 minutes and the Scrunchie about 15. The bookmark is a Premium pattern and the scrunchie is free.

Which last-minute gifts are free patterns?

Scrunchie, Baby Bib, Drawstring Bag, Envelope Cushion, Zipper Pouch and Bowl Cozy are free in the Sewzy app.

How much fabric do I need for a quick gift?

Very little. A scrunchie needs one strip of 5 x 23 inches, a small zipper pouch needs ¼ yard of outer and ¼ yard of lining, and a small drawstring bag needs ⅓ yard.

Do the times include printing the pattern?

The times are the app's estimates for each project. Give yourself extra time to print and cut, especially for your first project.

Last-Minute Gifts to Sew in an Hour or Less

The fastest free gifts to sew are a scrunchie (about 15 minutes), a baby bib (about 20), a drawstring bag (about 30), an envelope cushion (about 40) and a zipper pouch (about 45). The Elastic Bookmark (about 10 minutes) is quicker still but is a Premium pattern. Every project below takes an hour or less.

TL;DR

Every gift here is listed at 60 minutes or less in the Sewzy app. Beginner level.
Free patterns: Scrunchie, Baby Bib, Drawstring Bag, Envelope Cushion, Zipper Pouch and Bowl Cozy.
Premium patterns: Elastic Bookmark, Dog Treat Pouch, Christmas Ornaments, Fabric Crown, Wipes Pouch and Wine and Gift Bags.
Most need only a fat quarter or a scrap of fabric. Fabric amounts are noted for each one.
Print and tape time is extra, so start with a simple one if the clock is short.

Which gifts can I sew in 30 minutes or less?

Gift	Time	Fabric	Pattern
Elastic Bookmark	10 minutes	Quilting cotton scraps, linen or cork, plus stiff interfacing	Premium
Scrunchie	15 minutes	One 5 x 23 inch strip	Free
Baby Bib	20 minutes	Cotton or gauze front, flannel or terry back	Free
Drawstring Bag	30 minutes	⅓ yard for Small	Free
Dog Treat Pouch	30 minutes	One fat quarter of outer and one of lining makes two pouches	Premium
Christmas Ornaments	30 minutes	Amounts in the app	Premium

Scrunchie, 15 minutes (free)

The quickest useful gift. The Regular size uses one 5 x 23 inch strip and 8 inches of ¼ inch elastic. Oversized uses a 7 x 31 inch strip and 9 inches of elastic. Make three in different fabrics for a set. Full steps are in how to sew a scrunchie.

Baby Bib, 20 minutes (free)

Sizes are Newborn, Baby and Toddler. Use quilting cotton, double gauze or flannel for the front, and flannel or terry for the back. It closes with a snap or hook-and-loop tape. Check the baby shower gifts to sew guide for more ideas.

Drawstring Bag, 30 minutes (free)

Small is 8 x 10 inches and needs ⅓ yard. Medium is 12 x 15 inches and needs ½ yard. Large is 16 x 20 inches and needs ⅔ yard. Fill it with candy, a small toy or a pair of socks.

Dog Treat Pouch, 30 minutes (Premium)

One size, 5 x 6 inches, with a flap and a belt loop. One fat quarter of outer fabric and one of lining make two pouches, so you can give one and keep one.

Elastic Bookmark, 10 minutes (Premium)

Two sizes: Paperback (3½ x 5 inches) and Hardcover (4 x 6 inches). It is the shortest project in the whole catalog and works as a stocking filler.

Christmas Ornaments, 30 minutes (Premium)

Two sizes, Mini (3 inches) and Classic (4½ inches). Stuffed and with a hanging loop, they can be tied to a package. More ornament ideas: fabric Christmas ornaments to sew.

Which gifts take 40 to 60 minutes?

Gift	Time	Fabric	Pattern
Envelope Cushion	40 minutes	½ yard for the 16 inch size	Free
Zipper Pouch	45 minutes	¼ yard outer and ¼ yard lining for Small	Free
Fabric Crown	45 minutes	One fat quarter each of outer and lining, plus ¼ yard fusible fleece	Premium
Wipes Pouch	45 minutes	⅓ yard outer and ⅓ yard lining	Premium
Bowl Cozy	60 minutes	Cotton fabric and cotton batting only. Amounts in the app	Free
Wine and Gift Bags	60 minutes	Amounts in the app	Premium

Envelope Cushion, 40 minutes (free)

Four sizes: 16, 18, 20 and 24 inches. The 16 inch cover needs ½ yard and the 24 inch needs 1 yard. The cover is 1 inch smaller than the pad on purpose, so the cushion looks full. Add two buttons if you like.

Zipper Pouch, 45 minutes (free)

Small is 7 x 5 inches with a 7 inch zipper, Medium is 9 x 6½ inches with a 9 inch zipper and Large is 11 x 8 inches with a 12 inch zipper. Small and Medium use ¼ yard each of outer and lining, and Large uses ⅓ yard each. Use a zipper foot and a medium fusible interfacing on the outer fabric.

Bowl Cozy, 60 minutes (free)

Five sizes from 8 to 17½ inches. Use 100 percent cotton fabric, cotton batting and cotton thread only, because polyester melts in the microwave. The same quilted-pad idea is explained in the quilted potholder guide.

Fabric Crown, Wipes Pouch and Wine and Gift Bags (Premium)

The Fabric Crown comes in Baby, Toddler and Child sizes. The Wipes Pouch has Travel and Full Pack sizes. The Wine and Gift Bags come in Small (6 x 8 inches), Large (10 x 12 inches) and Wine (4½ x 16 inches).

How do I plan a last-minute sewing evening?

Choose three gifts of the same fabric family so you can cut them together.
Print and tape every pattern first. See how to print PDF sewing patterns if it is your first time.
Cut everything before you sew anything.
Sew the quickest gift first so you have one finished present early.
Add a tag and wrap in tissue. A fabric gift looks finished with a small label.

What fabric is best for quick gifts?

Quilting cotton is the best all-round choice: it presses well, comes in many prints and is easy to sew. Use satin or velvet for scrunchies, flannel for baby items and canvas for bags. Scraps work for the smallest projects. See scrap fabric projects for more ways to use leftovers.