Inspired DIY gifts from the heart can be crafted year-round for holidays and celebrations that can become treasured remembrances for the recipients. Gifts can be made quickly and easily with a few fabric leftovers, bits of lace and ribbons for embellishment and of course, creative imagination.

Springtime often creates a sense of obligation to look anew at the environment around us, to acknowledge the unfolding of this tender season as renewal and as a conversation to move forward. Even simple changes to the spaces we inhabit can bring about a refreshing revitalization.

RFID blocking fabric can prevent what is essentially silent and devious electronic pickpocketing. Wallets, purses, and totes can be lined with this fabric rather than the pragmatic but unappealing use of aluminum foil to become a signal blocking container. RFID fabric used as lining is easy to sew.

Not long ago, fabric selvages were considered unusable scraps and landed in the waste basket. Now, the once lowly fabric edges have renewed life. Lengths of various selvages can be stitched together along their long edges to form their own sturdy fabric yardage and sewn into functional items.

Modern commercial sewing patterns are a marvel of precision and engineering. A blueprint for sewers with a wealth of information, standardized markings and symbols and specific written details on how to construct the item step by step. Pattern companies endeavor to decode all their sewing details.

Soft flexible vinyl is durable, easy to clean, comes in colors other than clear and can be fun for outside-the box scrappy sewing. Vinyl is used to make peek-a-boo windows in organizing pouches, colorful luggage tags, poolside splash proof pouches or suitcase travel protectors. All are easy to sew.

Sheer fabrics present a few challenges to the sewer as their perceived delicate and ethereal nature suggests, yet with just a few simple techniques the finished results can be amazing.

Buttonholes and their ever-present button companions often go unnoticed on the many garment types that use them for secure fastening. Functional, practical, simplicity itself, buttonholes are the understated mainstay of the sewing world.

Don’t throw fabric selvedges away! Put those narrow strips of fabric edges to good use instead. Selvedges or selvages (self-edges) are the long factory finished side edges of woven fabric generally less than a half-inch wide. Selvedge edges do not fray or unravel and can be used to make many items.

Fabric trimmed handmade cards are easy to make from leftover scraps and plain cardstock for a uniquely personal holiday or special occasion greeting. Personalized cards can be created in little time and effort. They are sure to be endearingly impressive to the recipient.