Even if you're flat broke, you can still get it together to DIY some fab Valentine's gifts for your BF or BFF. Thanks to free or inexpensive stitch patterns, you can embroider a rad '80's cassette image (would make an awesome ipod cozy); stitch up a valentine's card or pillow, or make some cute embroidered stuffies like the whale or elfin couple. Embroidery is such a nice, affordable hobby - embroidery floss usually costs only about twenty cents per color, and one hank will last you a super-long time. Then all you need is a way to transfer your design - which can simply be done with an iron-on transfer pen or pencil (about $1.99 - 6.99 each), some fabric (cut up some ancient junk you don't wear anymore), a couple of needles, and you're good to go. For patterns, try Jenny Hart's Sublime Stitching, the great new group-shop PimpStitch; bloggers like Annie Oak Leaves, or any of the free vintage patterns at http://doecdoe.blogspot.com/search/label/embroidery

The internet is full of free embroidery patterns, which a quick goole search can help you find, but you risk falling into a bloghole of cuteness from which you may never recover. Don't say i didn't warn you.