The most wonderful time of the year is approaching – Christmas! The decorations are popping up in the shops and the biscuit tins are appearing which means one thing, it's time for some Christmas crafting.
Christmas crafts can be done year-round (it'll take longer than one month to complete that quilt!) and bring magic and joy into every crafter's home. Whether you're buying new festive fabrics (we've gathered a whole bunch of beautiful Christmas fabrics for you) or you're starting on the handmade wrapping paper, Christmas crafting is more than sitting down to write some cards!
To show you the wonders of Christmas crafting we've gathered over 2o Christmas crafts for adults for you to make, bake and create this holiday season. There's everything from practical projects which will save you money (Christmas crackers and gift ideas) to calming, pretty projects to help you relax (embroidery designs and needle felting). We've included something for everyone and a whole bunch of free patterns so no matter your budget you can get crafting this Christmas.
21 Christmas crafts for adults
1. Christmas needle felting kits
Festive needle felting projects make such a wonderful Christmas craft for adults as it's relaxing and produces adorable results. We love this needle felting kit from Amazon because it allows you to craft your own mini Christmas characters which you can turn into keyrings.
The kit comes with all the equipment you need to make a mini Santa, reindeer, present, and baubles. You can turn these into anything you wish! Add them to gifts, turn them into festive earrings or hang them off the tree, the possibilities are endless. There's basic instructions included which means it's suitable for beginners but we also have a guide to needle felting here on Gathered to give you some extra support.
2. Knit the Nativity scene!
Knit up your own adorable Nativity scene with Amanda Berry and Simply Knitting magazine's free knitted Nativity pattern. This Nativity scene is one of the cutest we've seen and is the perfect Christmas craft for adults.
Knit a different member every evening in the run-up to Christmas to truly get into the festive spirit.
3. Winter embroidery tablecloth
Create your own keepsake tablecloth with this beautiful embroidery kit. It comes with everything you need to create the tablecloth including the cloth which has the pattern pre-printed onto it, the embroidery template, embroidery threads, and a needle.
Once you've completed it you'll have a lovely 80 x 80 cm tablecloth that's machine washable and can be used on Christmas day! We love the festive design but be warned this Christmas craft for adults isn't for beginners. It's the ideal project for more experienced embroiderers and will take time to complete so pick it up before December to get it finished in time.
Find more festive Christmas crafts
Be sure to head over to our crafty Youtube channel too where we show you how to make paper snowflakes and how to make a snow globe!
4. Handmade Christmas crackers
Make the table extra special this year by making your own Christmas crackers. Personalised Christmas crackers are great because you can fill them with inside jokes, favourite chocolates, and silly toys that mean something to your friends and family. Plus they're much better for the planet!
Over on our Youtube channel, we show you how to make your own Christmas crackers step by step but we also have a complete guide here on Gathered.
5. Holiday home dollhouse kit
Build your own tiny Christmas world with this DIY dollhouse kit from Amazon. Assembling this mini home will get you in the mood for the holidays especially when you see all the accessories it comes with.
This kit comes with everything from the house itself to a Christmas tree, Christmas wreaths, snowman, chimney, books, gift boxes, and much, much more. Each piece is made from paper, wood, or metal making it as eco-friendly as it is pretty.
You'll be glueing, cutting, assembling, stitching, and sticking with this project and the home even glows with LED fairy lights giving it that extra magical edge. It's a fiddly, intricate project which is why it's the perfect Christmas craft for adults – it's going straight on our craft wishlist!
6. DIY poinsettia wreath
Wreath-making is a must for a Christmas craft evening. It doesn't matter if you prefer making traditional Christmas wreaths or felt Christmas wreaths, wreath-making is a great activity to do with your friends and family.
We show you how to make a poinsettia wreath so you can have a different wreath in every room of the house!
7. Make your own Christmas cards
Christmas card making is of course a staple project of all Christmas craft evenings. We have loads of free Christmas printables here on Gathered to assist you on your card-making journey. We even show you how to build your own Nativity scene so you can add a traditional touch to your cards.
8. Knit your own Christmas friends
There's nothing like a bit of knitting on a winter's evening. Grab your favourite wool and needles and use our knitted angel pattern to start knitting your festive decor. This lovely little project is perfect for an adult Christmas craft evening because it's simple to make and can be made using spare pieces of yarn making it a great stash buster.
9. Crochet Christmas decorations
Christmas decoration making is a Christmas craft classic! We have a huge array of Christmas decoration patterns here on Gathered including 61 crochet Christmas decorations patterns, 69 Christmas knits, and even 20 top Christmas decorations to sew. One of our favourites of the bunch is this free Christmas tree decoration crochet pattern by Becky Skuse.
10. Christmas embroidery hoop
We can see it now, the snow is falling and you and your pals are snuggled under a blanket with your Christmas embroidery projects. Embroidery is truly calming and is the perfect Christmas craft for unwinding.
Use our free Merry and Bright embroidery design to stitch your way into the festive season.
11. Craft a Scandi village scene
Pop a festive film on and settle down with this lovely Christmas craft for adults. In collaboration with Maker X, we show you Scandi wooden village scene for your window.
You'll love learning how to use a wood-burning tool and it's a craft that's different from your traditional card and wreath making.
12. Christmas origami crafts
Origami projects are a Christmas craft that all adults will enjoy. Whether you're crafting an origami Christmas tree or making this beautiful paper origami Christmas star, crafting origami decorations in front of the fire is both fun and satisfying.
13. Sew a Christmas tree skirt
Keep spiky needles off the floor with Sally Stevens' free Christmas tree skirt pattern. Festive quilting projects make great Christmas craft projects for adults because they take time but can be completed in small sections.
Start sewing a small piece of your Christmas skirt every evening and you'll have this finished beauty before you know it.
14. DIY advent calendars
If you're starting your Christmas crafts in November then advent calendar projects are the ones for you. Once you've made them you can fill them with treats and marvel at your creation every day in December. We rounded up some of the best DIY advent calendar kits and ideas here on Gathered so you can find the perfect one for you. How cool is this chunky yarn calendar by Wool Couture Company?
15. Paint your own Christmas baubles
A super simple Christmas craft for adults is making baubles. We love these ones by Lana Red because she uses nail varnish to upcycle old baubles!
Sustainable crafts are a Christmas 2022 trend and we're totally here for it. Lana shows you how to make DIY Christmas baubles here on Gathered.
16. Festive table runner
We're all about Christmas crafts that you can actually use and display! This gorgeous Christmas table runner pattern is by Jessica Entwistle and will be the show-stopper piece of decor at your festive celebration.
We also show you how to make Christmas patchwork coasters so you can sew all matching festive tableware.
17. Christmas stocking kits
Christmas stockings are a classic Christmas craft and an essential for all households. We rounded up the top Christmas stocking kits here on Gathered because there were just too many to choose from! It includes everything from detailed beaded stockings to giant knitted stocking patterns but we especially love this mini crochet stocking kit.
18. Craft your own Christmas gifts
One of the loveliest Christmas crafts for adults is making gifts for your loved ones. Whether you create Christmas-scented wax melts for a friend or use our adorable reindeer pattern to sew a cuddly pal for a little one, handmade Christmas gifts are always appreciated. We've also got a super sweet snowman softie toy here on Gathered so you can make both and gift them to kids as special keepsakes.
19. Make Santa's sleigh
If papercraft is your favourite Christmas craft then this Santa sleigh is the project for you. We show you how to craft a papercraft Santa’s sleigh using only a few materials and a printable template.
This sleigh will look great as part of your holiday decor and can be assembled in one evening as long as you have some mince pies to keep you going!
20. Sew some fabric paper chains
Paper chains are a great Christmas craft to do with kids but this classier fabric chain is for adults only. Get your sewing machine out and use all those fabric scraps to make some sturdy fabric paper chains. They'll look fab strung along your bannister and they're super easy to make too.
Get creative this Christmas
Christmas is a time for joy, family and relaxation and nothing embodies this more than crafting. Not only do these crafts allow you to take a break from the Christmas chaos but they also allow you to create handmade presents and decorations.
Each one of these Christmas crafts for adults can be done alone but they can also be done with friends and family. Gather your materials and mince pies and sit down for a festive crafternoon with your loved ones!
Find festive projects for the whole family with Gathered
Now you've got plenty of Christmas crafts for adults it's only fair we share some for kids! If you've got little ones head over to our Christmas crafts for kids for lots of fun, festive projects.
