Make this wine gift bag to personalize your gift giving and help reduce paper waste in the environment. Encourage the recipient to reuse the bag for someone else. The bags can be simple or highly decorated. If you are a quilter, you probably have a fabric stash with fabrics appropriate for many seasons, reasons and people. If you are in a pinch for gift wrap, you can go to you fabric collection and make a reusable, custom gift bag.
Note: you will need a sewing machine with a narrow arm for part of this construction.
1. Cut two rectangles of the same size - 7" x 22"
2. Cut a 1 1/4" square out of each bottom corner.
3. Make a pencil mark 3/4" long starting 11" above center of bottom edge of front of bag.
4. Make two button holes, one on each side of pencil mark. Cut opening of button holes.
5. Sew rectangles of cloth together on sides and bottom edges (right sides together)
6. Open bag and fold so that one side seam lines up with bottom seam. Sew along the diagonal which is formed. Repeat for other side. See photograph for step three on Annie's Gift Bag Instructions.
7. Fold top edge down about six inches and top stitch around bag to form casing for cord. Sew both above and below the button holes. Use straight or zig-zag stitch. You need a narrow free arm on sewing machine to be able to do this.
8. Turn bag so right sides are outside.
9. Pin safety pin to end of grill grain ribbon, metallic cord or self made cord and string through casing. The cord should be about three times the width of the bag. After cord is through casing, tie a small knot at each end.
10. At this point you can insert wine bottle and tighten ribbon around neck of bottle and tie a bow. You can also embellish the front with silk flowers or other trim.
