How to Make a Fabric Wine Bag

Wine is not only a universally appreciated beverage, but it makes a great gift, as well. Giving a close friend or relative who appreciates the nectar of the vine the gift of a specially chosen bottle can be a wonderful experience. You can make that gift even more special by constructing your own fabric wine bag to wrap the bottle in.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric scissors Needle Thread Fabric Matching ribbon Iron

Instructions

1. Measure the wine bottle and your fabric. The trick to making a good fabric wine bag is making the bag about 1 1/2 inches bigger than the bottle it will be carrying, all the way around. Measure the bottle from top to bottom, and then measure how wide the bottle is at its widest point. Add 1 3/4 inch to this measurement on the sides, and 2 full inches on top. Trace two rectangle outlines in pencil on your fabric. The extra 1/4 inch on the sides is for the seam, which will go on the inside. The extra 1/2 inch on top is for the drawstring. Once you have the fabric wine bag traced out, cut the two rectangles out from the fabric.

2. Make the drawstring holder. Where the top of the bag will be, fold over 1/4 inch of fabric and iron it down to make a permanent crease on both pieces of fabric. Sew down both of these creases to create a sort of "tunnel." Leave the tunnel open on both sides. This will be where the ribbon will go later.

3. Sew up the bag. With your needle and thread, sew up the seam of the bag all the way around, stopping at the tunnel at the top of the bag. When you're finished, turn it inside out.

4. Finish the tunnel. Fold the ragged edge of the tunnel inside on itself and sew it down so it looks neat and finished. Cut two pieces of ribbon, both twice as long as each side of the bag. At each end, tie the ribbons together and cut off the frayed ends. Put the bottle inside, pull the ribbon tight to close the bag and tie it shut. The wine is ready for delivery.