Finding a great gift can be a challenge. You want it to be special yet not too expensive. Finding something that fits these criteria, and that's useful, something helpful and fun, is a real score.

With basic sewing skills, a few hand-selected materials and these simple instructions, you've got just the gift: A durable, practical and unique duffel bag, handmade specifically for the person you have in mind.

You just need materials and these six easy sewing steps. (Click here for detailed instructions.)

Materials
For the body of the bag, choose a sturdy fabric that won't shrink or stretch much. Canvas, Acrilan, coated nylon or cotton duck are all good options. You'll need a zipper, webbing for the straps and a spool of cotton-covered polyester thread. Feel free to use a different color cloth for the welting cover (reinforcing piping sewn around the seams) to spice things up a bit.

Extras
You can personalize the duffel further with pockets (interior or exterior), a shoulder strap or a storm flap. Be sure to factor in extra materials for these additions, including Velcro for the storm flap. The shoulder strap also requires a couple of D-rings, clip or spring hook clasps, and an appropriately sized buckle. Shop for your materials at camping, marine, fabric and hardware stores.

Once you've gathered your supplies, you're ready to begin sewing a jazzy, functional bag. You can find construction details here. Using a variety of fabrics, shapes, sizes and colors, you can create an infinite number of combinations for fun, personalized duffel bags. So play, have fun and enjoy!

For more information and sewing instructions, read Joan Hyme White's complete article, 'Make a Sack that's Better than Santa's! ?Duffel Up' for Christmas,' from Mother Earth News magazine.