You’ve made the list, you’ve checked it twice…and CRAP, you’ve forgotten your friend. Your friend who loves Jane Austen. Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Here are some super-fast and easy last-minute gifts for the Austen fan in your life. Some of these are as simple as a click; others will get you flexing your DIY muscles. But all of them are doable in less than a day, I promise.
One-clickers
Every month, your friend will get tea, plus Austen-y gift items like jewelry, bookmarks, art, bath stuff, etc. Great for a friend who needs to de-stress. Lots of fun stuff in their store as well.
Magazines
Jane Austen’s Regency World, a bimonthly publication, is perfect for the Janeite who wants to know everything about Austen’s world and its contexts.
Jane Austen Knits is unfortunately not a subscription magazine – and it seems to be defunct now – but you can get the timeless patterns in a digital bundle of issues from 2011 to 2014. You can also buy patterns individually on the Interweave site if you search “Jane Austen Knits” - a pattern plus some yarn will keep your Austen knitter warm and busy!
Jane Austen House
The Great House at Chawton was the home of Austen’s brother Edward Knight, and the cottage where she lived and worked is just down the road (now Jane Austen’s House Museum). The Great House is a literary landmark, tourist destination, and research centre for early women’s writing, so it’s important that it has the support to continue on. You can buy a brick in its #BrickbyBrick campaign or donate in your friend’s name to keep Jane's legacy going.
DIYing It
Cross-stitch patterns
If your friend cross-stitches, buy a digital download of literary patterns, print them out, and grab an embroidery hoop and the necessary embroidery floss from the craft store. Instant crafting gift! Here are a few Etsy patterns:
I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.
Here's Lizzy, Darcy, and Austen herself.
This is probably the most time-and-effort-intensive gift on this list. If you’re brave enough to attempt it, it would be great for a friend who has the full Regency get-up. (I've also seen straw hats from the dollar store used as the base, if you want something a bit more authentic than cardboard.)
All you need for this: pillowcases, fabric Sharpie, a quote (and maybe some pretty handwriting). Write your friend’s favourite passage or line from Austen! Easy-peasy.
This is a quick – but potentially sticky! – craft, and you can find almost all of the materials at the dollar store!
I attempted this one myself, and I'm guessing it maybe took me three hours from start to finish? (I am not at all an accomplished sewist, but the sewing was the easy bit. Printing out the pattern on my very fussy printer, hunting down a sewing needle, and cutting out the pieces were the most time consuming parts, and those are mostly on me.)
Printables
Now, this is my kind of crafting! All you have to do is buy the digital download and some specialty paper, and print.
"There is no charm" poster (pair it with a frame)
'Half-agony, half-hope' iron-on transfer (you'll need transfer paper and an item - T-shirt, throw pillowcase, tea towel - to iron it on)
Finish off your gift by wrapping in DIY Austen paper!
A merry Austen Christmas to all, and to all a good night!