DIY Teacher Gifts For You To Make Or Sew

It is coming up to the end of the school year. And just like at the end of term or Christmas, the question is… Do you buy the teacher an appreciation gift? I think it is nice and so much more personalised  to hand make a gift. And it is an even better idea if money is a bit short, or you are counting the pennies. So here are some brilliant ideas for DIY teacher gifts that you can make or sew.

*This post has been updated – it was first published in April 2020

DIY Teacher Gifts 

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Teachers have been working so hard throughout the pandemic, and it has been good to get phone calls and updates every so often. I do think that they deserve a little ‘thank you’ for all their work. Teacher Appreciation Day is the perfect time to do this. Though you may also like to give appreciation gifts at other times of year such as Christmas, Easter or end of term.

Here are some great DIY teacher appreciation gift ideas that any teacher would be incredibly happy to receive! 

Should You Give Teacher Appreciation Gifts At All?

There is always the question to be asked whether you should give appreciation gifts at all? After all, teachers do get paid. And I will say that they certainly don’t expect one. My OH is a teacher, and he does get some gifts from the children that he teaches. It is never expected, but it is totally appreciated. 

What Gifts Do Teachers Really Want?

Teachers are just very happy to receive any gifts, and as I said above, they do not expect them, so you should never feel pressurised.

Here are some other good gift ideas of what to get your teacher – a list made by a teacher.

But to me, nothing is more appreciated than a DIY gift, as it shows that some thought, time and care has gone into making something truly special. And they are often perfect for those last minute plans. So here are my own personal recommendations for the best Homemade DIY teacher gifts that you can make or sew.

What Gift Should I Get My Teacher?

Fabric Bookmarks  

Why not give your favourite teacher a new notebook, planning journal or diary? And as a personal touch , you could make one of these fabric bookmarks to keep their place within their book. Make it in a cute or funky fabric that your favourite teacher would love!

Find the easy tutorial here.

Scrunchies

Maybe not one for the male teachers.. But any lady teacher with long hair would love one of these fabric hair bobbles made in a personal fabric, or in their favourite colour. And they are so easy to make.

Find out how to make them here.

Eye Masks

Most teachers need to chill after working hard all day. So these lovely easy eye masks are a great gift idea. 

Find my easy tutorial and a free template to make them here.

EarPods Holders

These are a brilliant idea for holding all sorts of small items. Not only good for EarPods, they can hold loose change, USB sticks, and can attach to a lanyard to be an extra useful pouch everyday. Any teacher will love these!

See my tutorial for how to make these hexagonal ear pod holders.

Fabric Coasters

Teachers love a nice hot cup of tea right? So why not give them somewhere to rest their mug with these lovely fabric coasters? And they are such an easy make.

See my tutorial to see how to make your own.

And here are some other really easy sewing projects that even beginners can make

Hand Warmers

Any teacher will tell you that being out in the playground at recess can be a cold business. And so these hand warmer pouches that can be heated in the microwave are sure to be a big hit! 

Find out how to make these incredibly easy bags here, and they can also be hand sewn!

Chapstick Holders

Similarly, during the cold winter months, a teacher is more likely to suffer with chapped lips.

Another great idea, you could make one of these lip balm holders in a funky cool fabric, and then gift it with a chapstick. Even teachers need soft lips!

This tutorial explains how to make these cute holders.

A Reusable Straw Case

These handy pouches are a great way for teacher to have a reusable straw in their pocket or purse without the risk of everything else getting wet after it has been used. Why not gift one with a bamboo straw to encourage your teacher to be a little more eco friendly?

Find out how to make them in this great tutorial.

Saltdough Ornaments

What if you can’t sew? Well there are a couple of ideas for things to make. And even small children can get involved with these. 

Firstly, salt dough ornaments. These are so easy, and can be decorated in so many different ways. I actually love using nail polish to decorate the hardened dough.

See how we made these at Christmas. But recently we made everyday ornaments, that would make brilliant small gifts.

Bath Bombs

Another easy homemade craft that can be used as a teacher appreciation gift are these super cute bath bombs. Make them with your teacher’s favourite scent, and they will be so pleased to get these!

Hand Gel Holders

Everyone knows that kids are a bit snotty and unhygienic! (Especially in kindergarten/nursery) So why not make one of these lovely hand gel holders, and gift them complete with a little bottle of hand sanitizer gel. Your teacher recipient can have the hand gel with them for easy access at all times. Plus again it can clip to a lanyard or belt loop. Such a useful gift.

See this tutorial to find out how they can be made in 5 minutes!

Drawstring Bags

Nothing is more wasteful than wrapping paper, right? It just gets torn up and thrown away after the present is unwrapped. So why not make a reusable wrapping in the form of these ultra useful drawstring bags? So pretty, and so different.

Any teacher will be so pleased to get a present wrapped up in a bag that can be used again and again in so many different ways once the present inside has gone. Plus, these bags are a lovely way to gift wrap other homemade teacher gifts or bakes.

See how to make them here.

Handmade Cards

Finally, any teacher will be thrilled to receive a handmade card. This year we have used simple stick on elements to make our hand made cards. But why not look at a couple of posts we have made when we made other types of card?

• Confetti Cards
• Free Motion Embroidery Cards

Plus in a card you can also give your teacher a gift card or voucher. 

Is It Appropriate To Give A Teacher A Gift Card For Teacher Appreciation Week/Day?

As with all of the above, the teacher will not be expecting any gift, so certainly do not feel pressured to give a gift voucher or gift card. 

However, most teachers love coffee and books. So giving a gift voucher for either of these is a brilliant idea in my opinion. Plus, they are great for those last minute purchases or if you only decided the day before that you wish to give a gift.

Have you seen this free printable gift from Jasmine at FeelingNifty? It’s a perfect teacher gift idea for if you want to give your teacher a coffee voucher!

 Facemasks

Now, in these strange times we currently find ourselves, I am going to add facemarks to the list of things that Teachers would love to receive.

Here in the U.K. it is mandatory to wear face coverings whilst on public transport, in shops and inside public buildings. And so I think if you can sew face coverings, they are a great present for anyone who cannot make them. I have made quite a few of these for teachers over the past year, and they have been very grateful to receive them. Plus it shows them that you care about their health and safety!

I have been sewing the Olsen Mask pattern, but here is my mask pattern with a filter pocket. And it is a great idea to add adjustable elastic loops to any that you make to give as gifts, as people have a wide variety of face shapes and sizes. By adding loop adjusters you can make a mask fit anyone!

What If My Teacher Is A Man?

Well, most of the presents above can be adapted for male recipients. Just switch up the fabric. Super hero or sport themed fabric always goes down really well. 

But why not check out this post of DIY presents that you can specifically make for men?

Lastly, why not make a few of these items and present them in a little gift basket?

So, will you be giving any DIY teacher gifts this year? And will you make anything from this list? I would love to hear your thoughts. Comment below, or find me on social media.

And please do pin this post for later.