Add a little bit.

So many things can be purchased fairly inexpensively as a basic item and in lots of cases this is cheaper than making the item yourself. If you "add a little bit" to them you have something luxurious or  a gift to give.

These kitchen towels from IKEA were really pretty and a good price...

I grabbed them last time I was in IKEA (along with the cushion covers) as I could see their potential!

Like many things adding a little bit will make a big difference! This kind of thing works well on sheets, pillowcases, towels... some crochet or embroidery (or both) making a world of difference and being fun to do!

In the evenings if we watch something on tv I will do something like this. Also if we are travelling and Andy is driving I will crochet. I love having something to do if I'm sitting down and I think the amount you can achieve in those times is just huge. In winter we watch footie and over a weekend that will amount to a few hours of tv! I get so many things made in those winter months, where as in summer months I will tend to be in the garden or we will go to the beach in the evening etc. But still we watched a movie on the weekend and I will still get some crochet finished.

Anyway this is the difference it made to these kitchen towels...

I love them now and would give these as a gift happily! Or keep them...

Imagine this along the upper edge of a top sheet or around your towels. It is very easy to do. 
I use a fine steel crochet hook to work the first round and get the needle through the cotton. You could also go around and poke the holes for the crochet hook with a large needle. I do these about 7mm apart and 9 mm deep. Or you could do a blanket stitch with a large needle and your yarn around first to form a base to crochet into then convert to crochet. 
My pattern is just work along your base round with three single crochets then four double crochets into one hole, three singles in a row and repeat. This gives a scallop. It works very quickly. You can do a fine version of this around hankies. 

As I do it I dream of all the colour schemes I could be doing. Imagine these pink patterns with pink crochet edges for sheets for a little girl or around the hem of a dress....

In the same way a little embroidery can transform a ready made item or stencilling or adding some lace... I'll try and show all of these over time as you can save such a fortune on gifts and enjoy gorgeous things that are hugely expensive in the shops. 

I can't believe its Christmas Eve! I will be taking a couple of days off with my family so I will see you on Friday! Have a wonderful Christmas! xxx