Last-minute hack: how to save a mediocre gift
19.12.2025
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Pia Seidel
A last-minute gift, but not loveless, please? With a little embroidery, you can add a personal touch to a seemingly impersonal gift. And don't worry: you don't need any talent for this.
We spend the whole month getting ready for Christmas - and are still surprised when the presents are just around the corner. Unfortunately, the search for presents under time pressure can all too quickly result in a loveless compromise. However, I have a little tip for you that can turn even an impersonal gift into something unique: Embroidery.
Don't worry - it's really easy
If you're hesitating because you're not familiar with using a needle and thread, then let me tell you: you don't need any previous experience or talent for embroidery. As long as you have two hands, you can have two left hands. I recently explained to a colleague how to embroider in less than five minutes and an hour later she already had a pretty motif emblazoned on her fabric.
You don't need detailed works of art. Whether it's as simple as an initial letter on a scarf or the simple outline of a favourite animal on a jute bag - the personal touch is what counts.
What you need
The few items you need are inexpensive and easy to get hold of:
- embroidery hoop suitable for the size of the design
- embroidery needles
- Embroidery thread
- Trick marker
- Object of your choice that can be embroidered - such as cloth napkins, cloth bags or shirts (relatively thin, rather inelastic fabrics are easier to work with)
Craft basics
Quantity discount
EUR11,60 per piece for 3 units
Creativ Company Cloth bag blue, 38 x 42 cm
How to proceed
Choose a simple motif and draw it onto the fabric with a trick marker. If you are a talented designer, you can do this freehand. However, I trace the motif using my laptop. Once you're happy with your sketch, you can attach the embroidery hoop to the fabric.
Now it's time to embroider. It's best to watch a video tutorial on YouTube. I found this here very helpful. Although there are numerous types of stitches, in my opinion you only need one: the so-called split stitch (in the video from approx. 2:50 minutes). It looks more refined than the classic back stitch and lines look more even because the individual stitch lengths are not clearly visible.
I recommend the Quilter's Knot for attaching the first stitch - simple and reliable. Here you will find easy-to-understand instructions.
The final knot
Now you just need to know how to finish your embroidery. I'll show you my favourite method in a small photo tutorial in three steps:
1st step: Insert the needle with the thread under the last stitch on the back. Remove the needle and pull the resulting loop a little tighter.
Step 2: Now thread the thread through the opening so that a new loop is formed and pull it tighter too.
3rd step: Now pass the end of the thread through the new loop and pull until a knot forms. Voilà - now you can cut off the excess thread down to about two millimetres.
More tips
Embroidery thread is usually made up of six individual strands. For smaller details, you can split the thread and only use three strands, for example. To make curves look nicely rounded and even, it helps to place smaller stitches in these areas. If you are also wondering whether embroidered textiles can go in the washing machine: I tried it and they survived the wash cycle just fine.
Important: Perfection is not the goal. The gift is handmade and that's where its value lies. Especially in times when every photo is smoothly filtered and every product is robotically polished, the imperfect DIY look is all the more appealing.
Looking for more DIY gift inspiration? This is what my colleagues Natalie Hemengül, Laura Scholz and Pia Seidel have created:
Has endless love for shoulder pads, Stratocasters and sashimi, but a limited tolerance for bad impressions of her Eastern Swiss dialect.
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