30 Days of Gift Ideas: 4 More Showstopping Handmade Gifts

Looking for a one-of-a-kind holiday gift that’s guaranteed to delight? In our 30 Days of Gift Ideas series, we’re sharing one high-quality handmade gift each day for 30 days. Check out the full collection, as it builds, on our 30 Days of Gift Ideas page, and get ready to be inspired. This week’s theme: Handmade luxuries

Treating a loved one to a super special, beautifully made gift doesn’t have to mean giving them something they’ll keep sheltered in a box or stashed in the back of a china hutch waiting for a fancy occasion. In fact, some of our favorite handmade luxuries are the kind they’ll use every single day—and those are worth more than their weight in rose-gold yarn or supple silver leather. Here are four more masterfully designed finds that will bring some dazzle to their daily routine. 

An artisan-approved apron

There’s an extra-high bar for the gifts you buy for your creative compatriots. After all, who would be more attuned to the cumulative power of quality materials, careful handwork, and original design? This handcrafted unisex work apron from Artifact Bag Co. might well be the ultimate artisan staple—just ask the long list of carpenters, metalsmiths, hair stylists, jewelry designers, winemakers, potters, coffee slingers, and kitchen whizzes who’ve raved about it in their reviews. Waxed canvas and leather full apron from Artifact Bag Co., $145

A giant, chunky-knit blanket

‘Tis the season for chunky knits, and when it comes to wowing your friends and family with hand-stitched gifts, we say go big. Wrap them in luxury this winter with an extra-cozy, extra-thick blanket from Chunky Wool Studio that just begs to be snuggled up in. Made to order and knit by arm (yes, arm!) from plush merino wool, these fluffy stunners are the epitome of hygge—so gather your crew ‘round the fire, toss some marshmallows in your cocoa, and get ready to get way cuddly. Oversized chunky knit blanket from Chunky Wool Studio; normally $94, on sale now for $85

A whimsical alpaca pillow

Every downy detail of this alpaca plushie, from its woolly pink body to its rosy felt cheeks, is handmade by the designers at Vicu using their signature combo of fiber art techniques. First the family-run team hand-dyes small batches of soft sheep’s wool, then crochets it in loops and styles it to mimic alpaca fur. Add a quirky, needle-felted face—complete with smiling eyes—two tiny felted ears (the better to hear the children’s oohs and ahs), and top it off with a festive medley of tassels and pom-poms, and you’ve got a one-of-a-kind pillow that’ll appeal to playful spirits of all ages. Plush alpaca toy from Vicu, $79

A crisp leather crossbody purse

Simply chic and expertly crafted, this streamlined crossbody from leatherworker Annie Bukhman proves that not all great statement bags come splashed with designer logos and flashy hardware. Each shimmery purse is hand-cut and constructed by Annie in Brooklyn, New York, using smooth, sturdy leathers sourced from US-based suppliers, then finished in a silvery metallic foil for a modern minimalist effect. Metallic leather crossbody bag from Annie Bukhman, $145

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