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So I am working away on the gifts for my nieces and grand-nieces and that is so easy a nice tote bag with a little gift tucked into it. No problem...... I am getting close to having almost all of those finished. So now the problem the 3 boys 2 of them are adult age 30 and 27. And the other one is a teenager. For the teenager I have the pattern picked out as he is a sport nut and I can just do a group of sporting motifs but then what????? What do I make the stitching into. I don't think the boys would appreciate a tote bag. I am still fussing about what to stitch for the 2 adult nephews and then again what can I make the stitching into that would be useful?????

So what have you made for your male friends/family members. About the only thing I can think of is a pillow, but that is so lame and really not that useful. Help please!!!!!

A shoe or boot bag ?

Shaving kit? mobile phone case? sports bag? those covers for wood golf clubs? tennis or squash racket cover?

The shaving kit is a good idea. I wonder if they have ones that I could stitch onto...... Off to do a search on the web.

If the adult nephews have offices or home offices, something to hang on the wall would be good. The only stitching I have done for a male friend was the Little Mermaid, and he hung it in his bathroom; I guess most guys don't have an "under the sea" theme in their bathrooms, though.

My hubby says you should make bookmarks. I made him one and he uses it all the time.

mechie

Neither of the adult boys are much into reading. They are a bit unusual. The one is working in construction and has a degree in architecture. He moves to wherever the job site takes him, no real stable home at the moment. The other one is a bit of a free spirit and does not really have a permanent house and jobs are whatever he can find at the time. Don't get me wrong he works and pays his bills but he is...... not sure how to describe that one. And then of course the teenager. Don't really know much about his likes and dislikes other then he plays all sorts of sports. gggggggrrrrrrrrrrr why are men so hard to shop for. I have the same trouble at Christmas.

Its the Y chromosome.

Carole

What about emergency 'kit' bags with the small travel size items you can get.

I like the ideas given. No one has suggested putting something on a baseball cap. Embellishing a small sports bag or backpack might be useful. I recently embellished the face of a wall clock. Key ring? You're right, boys/men are tough ones to try to craft for. Do any of them like to cook? Aprons/pot holders, etc.? Is the teenager young enough to maybe want a sign for his door "Ben's Room"? How about a personalized bath towel . . . really reaching here . . . Beer bottle cozy?

rcperryls wrote:Its the Y chromosome.

Carole

What she said. Men are so pragmatic -- if it isn't useful, they just have no. . .well, you know. . . no use for it.
Everything I could think of has already been suggested. Gym bag? backpack?

Oh! How about one of those trinket boxes like from Sudberry House? You know, the felt-lined wooden box with the XS insert in the lid. They can put it on their bedroom dresser for. . . man-stuff -- keys, change, or whatever things men put on their dresser in a wooden box. This stuff http://www.sudberry.com/catalog/index.html" target="_blank

Edit: This is the one I was specifically thinking of, but there's lots to pick from. http://www.sudberry.com/catalog/presentation.htm" target="_blank

The boxes are very nice and I like some of them but the price compared to what I have spent on the girls gifts would b way to much. I am trying very hard to keep the cost reasonable for all. There are going to be 14 when all is said and done.

Rose wrote:The boxes are very nice and I like some of them but the price compared to what I have spent on the girls gifts would b way to much. I am trying very hard to keep the cost reasonable for all. There are going to be 14 when all is said and done.

The Sudberry House stuff is a little pricey, yes; but they aren't the only ones that make those wooden boxes. SH was the only manufacturer's name I could think of. Others aren't as expensive.

How about a sleeve to hold their gadgets? Everyone has smartphones and tablets and ipods these days, if you know what they have you could make something that will hold their electronics. A couple of examples...


http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2011/05/ma ... er-sleeve/" target="_blank

Cut up an old pair of jeans, or get a pair from a thrift store - cheap fabric, and you can use the rest of it to make tote bags too! Personally I'd make a sleeve, and the pocket would be ON the sleeve to hold chargers/earbuds so that they're not right against the screen of the tablet - that can lead to scratches on the glass.


http://ginghamcherry.blogspot.com/2012/ ... -case.html" target="_blank

This one is super easy - I made myself one just like it to hold my ereader until I got a 'proper' case for it and decided I liked it enough not to bother buying another case. Fleece like this costs about $3/yard at walmart. Or buy some 100% wool sweaters at the thrift store, wash them in hot water a few times to felt/shrink them until you can't see the individual stitches any more, and then use that to make the sleeve.

Both of these can easily be embellished with a piece of needlework in a pattern that suits the person's personality and shouldn't cost too much to make.

As the mom of three adult boys I feel your pain that said odd things my boys have ad are came controller bags and cozies,emblems for hiking packs and bags/cases for band accesories, like guitar picks and drumsticks. I have also done a guitar strap. The last thing i can think of is something to hold architects tools.

Hope this helps

what about stitchable hand or bath towels?
Yarn tree has stitchable mug kits and stitchable checkbook covers.

favorite sports team's symbol as a framed picture. I'm doing that for my bf upon request.

Some very good ideas ladies. You are filling my head with ideas now I knew I could count on you!!!!!!