The holiday season is fast approaching and with it the mad dash to find the perfect presents for the special people in your life. For some, getting a gift for the book-lover in your life poses certain problems — what if you get them a book they’ve already read? What if you get them a book they won’t like? What bookish accessories do they want?
If you want to give your loved one a bookish gift that is unique, creative, and made for their specific interests, try one of the Do-It-Yourself ideas below. There is no better way to show a loved one how they mean to you than with something you make yourself.
Knitted Book Holder
Want to make an item you know your book lover will use regularly? Try making a knitted book holder, something that will keep their books safe during their travels to different bookstores and coffee shops. You can choose their favorite color and customize the holder to fit their preferred type of book, whether it be a paperback, hardcover, or e-reader. If you’re a knitting novice or haven’t tried this pattern before, here’s free pattern from knitwear designer Martina Behm (@strickmich). The site page includes the type of yarn and knitting needles required, plus a video for visual learners.
Book Basket
The fall season had boo baskets, so why not make a book basket for the holidays? This is a chance to create a fun gift basket with all the goodies your loved one needs to properly enjoy their book. You can fill it with their favorite snacks, their preferred tea or coffee mix (and a mug to match), some cozy socks, or a candle they light for ambiance in their reading nook. There are hundreds of monthly book crates you can base yours on, like the one below from Obsidian Moon Crate.
Handmade Bookmark
Readers always need bookmarks, and the great thing about bookmarks is that they can be made out of virtually anything. If you’re an artsy person, try making a special bookmark made specifically for your bookish person. You can do watercolor, acrylic, markers, crayons – anything is possible with a strip of paper and some color! If you’re overwhelmed by all the options you can choose from as your bookmark muse, take a look at Nicole’s (@nicolor_painting) watercolor bookmarks for an idea of where to start.
Annotated Book
If you know their favorite book, try giving them an annotated copy with all your thoughts in it. This is a great way to get close to your special person by engaging with something they love. You can jot down your thoughts, do some creative highlighting, and even add some cute doodles in the margins and white space. Bookstagrammer Surhi (@stayathomebibliophile) offers some great examples to draw inspiration from.
Decorated Book
There’s something so exciting about when a book gets a special edition. Why not make a special edition just for your bookworm? Try taking their favorite book and getting creative with the edges, painting them the book’s thematic colors or, if you’re especially artistic, painting a scene on the edges, like Bookstagrammer Paige (@_thepaintedpaige_ ) does.
Looking for more gift ideas? Try here and here!
If you want to try any of the DIY ideas above that involve a physical book, visit our Bookshop store to find the perfect one!
