The Sustainable & Crafty Girl's Guide to Gifts for Your Cool Friends

With the holidays fast approaching, most people are on the hunt for unique gifts - here’s what I’ve been doing to find or make gifts that I love, just as much as the friends that I’ll be giving them to. 

Crochet Gifts

A skinny scarf is the easiest crochet project, making it the perfect DIY gift. You can make it in a couple hours, even as a beginner, and work using single crochet for more defined stripes, or get a different look with a moss stitch (tutorial). For a slightly more advanced and time-consuming project, there are plenty of free knitting and crochet tutorials for bonnets, fingerless gloves, a sunglasses case, or cute keychains.

Yarn is easy to find at charity shops around St Andrews - check in Salvation Army, Cancer Society, or Oxfam for cheap skeins. Sometimes, the best way to get yarn is to unravel an ugly thrifted jumper in the colour you want.

Vinted Finds

I love finding jewelry, warm knit accessories, or jumpers on Vinted rather than buying new clothing for my friends. The majority of the time, people will appreciate a quality item more than something new but pricey and flimsy. Look for items made to last: wool jumpers and accessories, leather bags, or sterling silver jewelry (check for a 925 hallmark) bought secondhand will always be more sustainable and look nicer than something made with plastic or cheap metals that will quickly start falling apart or tarnishing. 

Patchwork

A basic patchwork project can be done with minimal supplies and hand sewing - just cut out the shapes you want, pin them down, and sew around the edge of each shape by hand or machine. You could do this on a thrifted shirt, throw pillow, or use it as a wall hanging. Both the fabric used for the design and whatever you sew it onto can be bought secondhand.

Scrapbook frames are a sweet way to display your photos alongside some sentimental tickets, cutouts, or notes. Alternatively, you could just print out some of your favourite pictures and give them with an art print or postcard, some stickers, and a thrifted frame; the recipient will probably enjoy arranging everything in the frame however they prefer. 

A Thrifted Addition to Baked Goods

Baked goods are a popular option for a reason - and you could gift them with a cute tin, plate, or vintage tray. Adding a nice tea or coffee alongside your treat, as well as a novelty mug you’ve found in a charity shop, could make for a great gift. On a similar note, gift a homemade cocktail kit - you can add every ingredient you need, a cute snack to go along with the drinks, and a set of thrifted glasses - which is super fun! 

Don’t limit yourself to baked goods or chocolate when gifting food; other underrated consumables could be savoury girl treats like olives, pickles, or cheese. One time, I gave my mother a honey sampler with a few different types of honey alongside some nice crackers, and it was one of my best-received gifts to date (she’s one of the biggest fans of local honey I’ve ever met). 

Combining treats, activities, and home decor into one gift could be the way to go - for example, a loaf of fresh sourdough, some nice jams (in cute jars!!) or wine in a pretty bottle, and a few basic candles to put into the jars afterwards (and maybe a hand-painted matchbox!) would really feel like a gift that makes sense as a whole but keeps on giving in many different ways. 

Charity shops are also often a place to find other home goods, from jewelry holders, throw blankets, analog alarm clocks, and even something like the mini waffle maker I wound up picking up a few days ago in Sense Scotland. Keep your eyes out for the unexpected! 

Finally, a thoughtful card will always be the perfect finishing touch to a gift. Make something simple yourself, find a postcard from your travels, or grab one for 50p from Bouquiniste, and pair it with any present for an extra-personal touch. 

Little things made with care always feel the most magical. So thrift it, stitch it, or bake it — your friends will love these thoughtful and sustainable gifts this holiday season.

Written by: Taya Sergeeva