In short

Twenty handmade gift ideas woven from palm and coconut leaves, grouped by occasion and skill level, with realistic making times for each one.

A handmade gift says something a bought one cannot, and leaf crafts have a particular advantage: they are light, inexpensive to make and genuinely useful. They also compost, which means a gift that would otherwise be clutter becomes something that returns to the earth when it is done.

The twenty ideas below are grouped so you can pick by occasion and by the time you actually have. Making times are realistic for someone who already knows the basic over-under weave, so add half an hour if you are still learning. Everything on the list uses the same over-under weave you already know, just in different shapes.

One note before the list. The best handmade gift is matched to the person, not to the maker's enthusiasm. A coaster set for someone who does not use coasters is still clutter, however beautifully woven. Read the list with a specific person in mind and half of it will fall away, which is exactly what should happen. What remains will be the gifts that get used rather than admired once and stored. A gift that is used is a compliment; a gift that is displayed politely is not. Ask yourself, honestly, where the person would keep it.

Small gifts, under 30 minutes

  1. Coaster set of four, about 10 cm across, in a stack tied with jute twine. Takes about 40 minutes for all four and uses roughly six strips.
  2. Bookmarks with a pressed leaf and a knotted tassel, made from a single strip and finished in 10 minutes. Good for readers, and cheap enough to make in batches.
  3. Napkin rings, a simple loop with a tucked join, which look far more expensive than the 15 minutes they take. Make a set of six in one sitting.
  4. Gift toppers that replace a plastic bow on any wrapped present, woven in five minutes from an offcut. A good way to use up the short pieces.
  5. Woven star ornaments for a tree or a window, each made from two short strips in about 15 minutes. These sell well at craft fairs.

For the kitchen

  1. Bread basket with a linen liner, 24 cm across, which takes around 90 minutes and gets used weekly. The liner is what stops crumbs escaping through the base.
  2. Fruit bowl with a flared rim, sized for a countertop and finished in about an hour. The open weave lets air reach the fruit and slows spoilage.
  3. Onion and garlic keepers, a tall open cylinder that lets air circulate and keeps bulbs from going soft. A favourite with anyone who cooks.
  4. Egg basket with a handle and dividers, a satisfying project once you can weave straight sides. The dividers stop the eggs knocking together.
  5. Pot holder, a thick double-layered square that protects a table and uses up leftover strips. Double the weave and it handles a hot dish.
A woven bread basket lined with linen on a kitchen table
A bread basket takes about an hour and a half and is one of the most-used gifts you can make.

For the home

  1. Plant pot cover sized to a 12 cm pot, which hides a plastic nursery pot and takes about 45 minutes. Measure the pot before you start.
  2. Woven wall hanging on a dowel, a flat panel that shows off the pattern and takes an evening. Choose a colour to match the room.
  3. Candle holder with a woven outer sleeve, sized to a standard pillar candle and made in 30 minutes. Never leave a candle burning unattended.
  4. Storage basket with rope handles for a shelf or entryway, the most useful gift on this list and the one most likely to be used every day.
  5. Set of three nesting baskets in graduated sizes, the most impressive, and the most time-consuming. Allow a full afternoon.

For wearing and carrying

  1. Mini handbag with a woven handle, about 90 minutes and surprisingly sturdy for its size. Line it with cotton if you want it to hold small items.
  2. Summer sun hat with a wide brim, a weekend project that suits a gardener or a beach-goer. Shape the crown over a bowl.
  3. Simple woven belt with a cord buckle, a good gift for someone who wears natural fibres. Measure the waist, not the belt.
  4. Phone pouch, sized to the phone and lined with felt, which takes an hour and gets daily use. Add a loop so it can hang.
  5. Beach bag, a large open tote with a reinforced base, the biggest project here and a real heirloom. Reinforce the base with a double weave.

Gift sets and how to present them

Several of these work better as a set than alone. A coaster set, a small basket and a care card together make a thoughtful housewarming gift for around the cost of a decent bottle of wine. Presentation matters too: wrap woven pieces in unbleached tissue, tie with jute twine, and tuck in a small card explaining that the piece is handmade, compostable and should be kept dry. A few words of care turn a nice gift into one that lasts. If you are giving a set, wrap each piece separately so it does not scratch the others in transit. A small handwritten note is worth more than any ribbon.

OccasionBest giftTime to make
HousewarmingCoaster set or small basket30 to 60 minutes
WeddingNesting basket set3 to 4 hours
ChristmasStar ornaments or gift toppers15 to 30 minutes each
Thank youBookmark or napkin rings10 to 20 minutes
TeacherBookmark and coasters30 minutes
BirthdayMini bag or plant pot cover45 to 90 minutes

Give something that composts

Our gift-ready woven sets arrive wrapped in unbleached tissue and jute twine.

Shop gift sets