| Giving a bottle of wine as a gift is a modern classic, | | | | well as the occasion where applicable. You can find |
| used for all occasions and applicable to all types of | | | | both of these at all craft shops, or even the internet |
| gift receivers. It is the default for many worried | | | | if nothing you find locally suits your tastes. |
| about what to buy certain people as a gift, as its | | | | To begin, cut the material first into a rectangular |
| versatility and a seemingly universal enjoyment of | | | | shape of 18 inches by 12 inches; this will make up the |
| wine allow a gift giving confidence in the gift being | | | | basic structure of your wine bag. To prevent fraying, |
| gratefully received. But with every bottle of wine | | | | at this stage it is advisable to add a small hem to |
| purchased with the intention of giving it as a gift, the | | | | each edge of the material. |
| question stops being how to find a suitable gift - and | | | | With each side of material hemmed, you can move |
| becomes one of how to wrap the chosen bottle. | | | | on to creating the basic structure of the bag |
| Wine bottles, unfortunately, do not make for easy | | | | yourself: |
| wrapping. If one does manage to twist and | | | | Turn the material inside out, then fold it in half - |
| manipulate traditional wrapping paper around the | | | | lengthways. |
| bottle, there is the then the issue of transporting it | | | | Pin the meeting edges of the fabric together. |
| without damaging the bottle. For this reason, an | | | | Take your ribbon, fold it in half, and place it inside the |
| entire market of brightly coloured wine bottle gift | | | | fabric. Have the fold of the ribbon line up with the |
| bags has erupted. While fine for the occasional gift, if | | | | unsewn edges of fabric, which should be pinned |
| you make a habit of gifting wine regularly, you will | | | | together. |
| soon find the $3 to $5 you are spending on one use | | | | Pin the ribbon in place at the edge of the fabric. |
| wine gift bags alone could in fact buy more wine in | | | | Sew along the edge line, securing ribbon and material |
| the first place - slightly odd, considering the wine | | | | in place. Remove pins. |
| itself is the gift, not the bag! | | | | You are now ready to sew the bottom of the wine |
| A cheaper alternative, as well as one that allows for | | | | bag. Take the same fabric as the main wine bag |
| a little custom flair, is therefore being sought. The | | | | itself, and cut a circular piece with a 3 ½" diameter. |
| answer lies in sewing your own wine bags, making | | | | Then proceed: |
| each one separately for each occasion and not | | | | Pin the circle of fabric along one end of the tube. |
| needing to rely on mass produced bags with little or | | | | This can be tricky, so be patient. |
| no personality. Thankfully, if you have been | | | | Sew the two pieces of fabric together. |
| wondering how to sew a wine bag, they are not | | | | Turn the now together fabric the right way around. |
| complicated things to make and require little or no | | | | Fold the top down a quarter of inch, and stitch into |
| previous crafting experience. | | | | place for a finishing hem. |
| For a basic, but fun, bag, you will need only two | | | | To present, slide the bottle into the bag and bring |
| materials - satin ribbon, measuring around 36" and the | | | | the ribbon to the front. Tie this however you wish, |
| material itself. Choose whatever colours and | | | | and add a gift card if required. Then, before you |
| variations you prefer for these, matching them to | | | | know it, you have your very own customised wine |
| the personality of the person receiving the gift as | | | | bag, ideal for any gift giving. |