Handmade Gift Bags

My Grandmother has been doing recycling projects for as long as I can remember. One of her best ideas has been to make fabric gift bags for Christmas. She and my mom have made several over the past 20 years using all kinds of fabrics and sentimental family pieces (remnants from dresses handmade, doilies from great-grandmothers, fabric from wedding gowns, etc.)

I, of course, have enjoyed carrying on the tradition and not just at Christmastime. Making up the basic bag is easy - as easy as a pillow case. Then adding a crocheted motif with embellishments is the fun part! I love that the wrapping can be just as pretty as the gift inside and the recipient can use the gift bag to hold something special each time remembering the giver! :) (In our family we re-use all of the gift bags made each year so each year we have added enjoyment to our gift-giving as we handle the precious and beautiful "works of art" we have made - plus, we save a lot on wrapping paper and time!)

Here are some of the gift bags I have made recently. The snowflakes were for Christmastime last year, the Purple flower was for a friend's birthday (the bag was made out of an old pair of her pajama pants!) and the White Rose bag was made for a new bride (who's wedding colors were blue and white).