Each year, I seem to kind of flip back and forth between wanting to make all the holiday gift items and decorations and just selecting a few small projects to work on. Regardless of which end of the cycle you might be in this year, quick, small handmade projects are always a fun way to sneak in a little special holiday sewing, and I’ve got several on the site that are just perfect for that.

If you’re anything like me, most years, you’re guilty of piling your holiday-sewing task list so high you’re destined for failure, either because you can’t get to it all and end up feeling disappointed or because you do get it all done, but you’re too exhausted to enjoy most of it. Phew. Thankfully, I was a little better this year, hoping to sew only a small number of items (and nothing that would be too big a deal if it didn’t get done), which ended up leaving me a little time to sew these cuties together for some good friends — and to put together a little tutorial so you can do the same!