Crafty Gifts for the Guys

Hello.
I'm new here, but I've been enjoying looking at the crafty ideas and tutorials (especially the homemade holiday series in the blog).  I'm working on my Christmas list, cutting back on costs and all, and was thinking of making most of my gifts this year.  My problem is my brother.  What do you make a fashion forward, classy guy, working for a local hockey team (AHL) and reads GQ?
Also need ideas for my father, who hates the fact that my mother sews, and my husband, the family computer geek (ipods not included).  I may not be the best at sewing, but I've been improving, and usually I make a project twice before I give it to someone.  Thanks!

Hi,
I just made two manly scarves that are super easy.

I bought 1/2 a yard each of two types of flannel (one plaid, one plain) and two types of shirting (one striped, one plain).  I seamed the like pieces on the salvedge edges, ironed the seam and stitched it flat.  You could straight stitch, zig-zag or decorattive stitch.  Then I npressed each of the long edges to finish the edge and used a decorative stitch there.

Good luck.  I'll try to post some photos on my blog.

http://bluebirdstudio.blogspot.com

http://sewmamasew.com/forum/index.php?topic=138.0 is another thread on her about gifts for guys.
Depending upon the guy you can make a lot of the same things that you can for women.

Scarves, hats. gloves
Ipod covers (wouldn't call it a cozy just in case it)
guitar straps
courier bags
grocery bags
saddle bags for a bike
organizers for the car
housecoats, pj's, slippers
travel bags (passport, toiletries, dirty laundry sack)
gym bags
lunch sacks

Gifts for the guys you know can be challenging. This year i used the Rice heat therapy bag tutorial from last year to make eye pillows and heat therapy bags for the guys in my life. I chose Joel Dewberry wood grain fabric for the extra manly touch. Coffee cup sleves are also a fun and easy small gift. Kwiksew patterns has a free pattern you can download from their website with ideas.  My husband will be getting a fleece scarf which is easy and can be sewn in one night or afternoon. good luck with your projects.

Oh, I find this impossible!  I posted a few ideas on my blog:

http://kleiosbelly.wordpress.com/2008/12/12/christmas-07-redux-part-3/

But every year, I scramble.  The other day, I had an idea for my brother -- too late for this year, but maybe next -- of sewing an ice-cream pint cozy and giving it to him wrapped around an empty ice cream container that has some free ice cream coupons inside.  I made him two different kinds of bark (peppermint and peanut butter) for his birthday and he loved them.  As you can see, I'm pretty much thinking edible gifts from now on since he has everything he needs and I have a small budget.

Good luck!

mara
kleiosbelly.wordpress.com

I sewed (not no-sew) scarves for the guys on my list. I did two styles.

1. Wool (or you could use cashmere) and silk. Use one scarf length piece of silk and one piece of wool/cashmere. I knew a man years ago that had a beautiful scarf like this and I had always admired it. It was so luxurious and very GQ. This is not a huge scarf but rather a more tailored shorter scarf that could be worn with a suit.
   A. Place right sides together and sew a tube.
   B. Turn right sides out.
   C. Top stitch along the entire rectangle (this will also close up the open ends). Stitch 1/4" from the edge on the open ends.
   D. Fray the fabric on the ends for a subtle fringe.

2. Fleece Team Scarf - you need 2 pieces of fleece the desired length of the scarf (with fringe) and 1/2" wider than the desired width + a scrap of fleece in a contrasting color.
  A. Cut out the team letters from the contrasting fleece (I did Georgia Tech's GT). Pin and and place on one lower end of the scarf fabric, right side (make allowance for fringe, which will be cut later).
  B.  Place right sides together of the two scarf fleece fabric pieces and sew a tube.
  C. Turn right sides out.
  D. Top stitch along the entire rectangle (this will also close up the open ends). Stitch 5" from the edge on the open ends.
  E. Rotary Cut fringe on each end. I made three of these so far (one with a monogram initial). Two of them I made with one color fleece on one side and another on the other side. When you cut the fringe you get multi-colored fringe.
This is a very easy project that produces a great finished result that is hand crafted (vs. homemade) looking. Fleece is extremely is easy to sew and top stitching details look particularly good on it.

Good luck!

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Please include me in FFF. Thanks!

I know it's late for Christmas, but here are two ideas for gifts for guys for next year -- neither of which require sewing.

First, homemade word magnets (similar to magnetic poetry). You can usually find magnetic paper that you run through your printer in the same places you find printer labels. I made my dad an office themed set that included words common in his field and my BIL an LOLcats set. For the normal set, I used Times New Roman 19 point font with three spaces between each word. I single spaced the document, then added a blank line with 6 point font between each line of words. For the LOLcats version, I used Impact 18 point font, 4 spaces between words and a blank line with 8 point font between each line of words. I packaged each set in a small tin.

The second idea is to modify a rubik cube with personal photos. I found this tutorial -- http://awaytome.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/the-1-memorable-christmas-present/. Unfortunately, I didn't find it in time to try it last year, but it's on my list of ideas for this year.

Another late one....but I sewed a Log Carrier for my dad to carry firewood. I got the pattern from Joann Fabric's website.

I find it very hard to come up with my own ideas for guys when it comes to gifts so thanks to everyone for posting such great ideas.  I have already written several down in my christmas gift idea book for next year.