Wine Bottle Cover Tutorial - Putting it Together

Mark and Sew Buttonholes

• With fabric still folded and facing right side up, measure down 3 1/2 inches from the top and 3 1/4 inches from the folded edge and mark a dot (see photo below). This will be the top of your buttonhole. Flip fabric over and repeat on the other side.
  
  

  A square ruler like the one you see here makes measuring easier, but is not necessary.

  
  

  Here you can see how both buttonholes have been marked.



• Using your sewing machine, sew buttonholes that are 3/8 inch long starting at your marked dots. Carefully cut buttonholes open.

Side and Bottom Seams

• Fold fabric in half lengthwise, making sure the top edge is even and sew side seam with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Finish seam edge with a serger or a zig-zag stitch.


• Open tube and fold it so that the flat felled seam and the seam you just sewed are laying on top of each other (refer to photo below). Sew seam across the bottom and finish like you did on the side seam.
  
  

  This shows you how to fold the tube before sewing the bottom seam.

Sewing Box Bottom Corners

• This is an easy way to make a box bottom in any kind of bag by sewing across the corner. To make the box shape, pull the corner of the bag out so that it lays flat as shown in the photo below. Make sure the fabric is pulled out so that it is completely flat and even. The tip end (shown under the ruler) should make a 90 degree angle. If it doesn't, adjust the fabric until it does (otherwise the seam will be crooked). Using a ruler, measure back 1 1/2 inches from the point toward the middle of the bag along the seam and mark a line straight across. The distance from the corner should be the same on both sides (if you like math, you can plug the numbers into the Pythagorean theorem to figure out the actual measurement). Repeat for the other corner. Sew over marked line on each side.
  
  

  Marking the box corner sewing line.

  
  

  Here, both corners are sewn.

Sewing the Tie Casing

• Pin the bias tape in place around the tube 3 1/2 inches from the top so that it covers the buttonholes that you put in. Your pant hem may not be perfectly straight, so adjust the tape as you go. Leave enough bias tape so that it will overlap by 1 inch, but leave the end loose for now.
  
  

  Bias tape pinned in place and ready to sew.


Sew bias tape in place along both sides as close to the edges of the tape as you can manage, removing the pins as you go. An edgestitch foot can make this easier (I love my edgestitch foot). When you sew over where the buttonholes are, be sure that the stitching goes along the top and bottom edges of the buttonholes. When you reach the beginning of the tape again, fold the raw end of the bias tape over by 1/4 inch and overlap the end where you started. Trim the end if it is too long; I leave a little extra to allow for any slack or stretching of the pant leg as you sew.



Here you can see how the bias tape has been sewn down all the way around the tube.




Finishing

• Cut your ribbon or cord into two even lengths and thread them through the casing. One piece will go into one buttonhole and around the entire bag to come out the same buttonhole. Repeat with the other ribbon and buttonhole. Trim ribbon/cord ends and tie each set into a knot and insert your wine bottle. Pull the ribbons together to cinch the bag around the neck of the bottle and tie a bow.
  
  

  Filled and ready for gifting!.


Happy Sewing!