In these tough times it’s important to learn to make do and substitute products that are usually purchased at the market for home made products; things that have been made from resources found in and around your home. There are many wonderful websites around with a Frugal theme, in fact Bellaonline has several sites that focus on frugality and budget living. https://www.bellaonline.com/site/livingsimply is the Living Simply subject; https://www.bellaonline.com/site/frugalliving is the Frugal Living subject. Click on the links to get you to those sites.

So what can quilters do to save money and help the environment? My contribution on the Bellaonline Quilting site is to source lots of different ways you can create and yet save money whilst enjoying your favorite hobby.

This article deals with gift bags. Over a 12 month period families will use approximately 10 yards of wrapping paper, that will eventually get thrown away. There are a number of websites that offer ideas and patterns for making fabric gift bags, that can be used over and over. They can be washed and reused. Such a great idea. So here’s a whole bunch of patterns, designs and instructions for making your own Fabric Gift Bags. Thankyou to my friend Lynn from Calgary in Canada for suggesting this topic. I hope it helps, Lynn.

Gift Bags and Drawstring bags from Craft and Fabric links

Home Made Gift Bags from All Free Crafts Blog website

From the Green Bag Lady a very handy Gift Wrap Bag Pattern

EHow shows you how to make a gift bag with a very easy design

a three page PDF on how to make Fancy fabric gift bags

A gorgeous fabric gift bag from All People Quilt

Alternatives to gift wrapping with paper from Earth Easy

This is a lovely pattern for a market bag and matching coupon holder from Joann

This isn’t quite a gift bag but a quilted take-along tote, that could be used as a gift bag, again from Joann

this pattern is for an insulated lunch sack, but eliminate the insulation and you have a very classy gift bag, again, from Joann

- a great article on making fabric gift bags from Sewing Needlework Suite 101

this is a fabric bag tutorial, with lots of pictures from Making This Home.

Almost Frugal website brings you some tips on making your own gift bags

a classic open tote from Make it Easy

Not your usual gift bag, but could be very useful as one

The Artful Crafter presents an easy gift bag pattern

from Patchwork Interactive a lovely Christmas Gift Bag