Christmas Wine Bottle Tote

When it comes to giving handmade gifts during the holiday, simple and easy is always best.  A quilted wine bottle tote bag is a great way to jazz up a bottle of wine or champagne. The gift itself doesn’t require a lot of thought and the wine bottle tote bag can used time and time again! For another handmade gift idea you might like this holiday pillow pattern.

Hi, Skip To My Lou readers!  Stacey of Beatnik Kids here today to get you motivated to start those handmade Christmas gifts.  I popped in last year to share this fun, Felt Christmas Gnome pattern and I’m back to share this scrappy, Christmas Wine Tote. Whether your looking to bring something festive to a holiday party or have a dear friend who’d appreciate a bottle of their favorite wine, wrapping it up in a quilted wine bottle tote is sure to bring a smile to their face.

Step 1: Cut Fabric

Follow the dimensions below for a solid wine bottle tote. This size fits 1 large bottle of Champagne or 2 750 ml bottles of wine.  If you want a snugger fit for just one bottle of wine, adjust the side dimensions by 1/2 the width.

• Front and Back- 4 3/4 X 10 3/4  rectangle (2 Main, 2 Lining, 1 Quilt Batting)
• Sides- 3 3/4 X 10 3/4 rectangle (2 Main, 2 Lining, 1 Quilt Batting)
• Bottom- 3 3/4 X 3 3/4 square (1 Mian, 1 Lining, 1 Quilt Batting)
• Strap- 3 1/2 X 10 1/2 rectangle ( 1 Main, 1 Quilt Batting)

To create the scrappy look pictured, simply sew rectangular pieces of various sizes together that add up to the above dimensions.  This is a great way to whittle down the fabric scrap piles!

Step 2:  Prepare Main Fabric Pieces

Place each Main fabric piece (except the strap pieces) on top of the piece of quilt batting of equal size, pin and quilt together using straight, equal distant lines.

Step 3:  Sew

Place one Front piece and one side piece, right sides together, pin and sew along the long edge, using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Press seam allowance to the side and topstitch.

Place the back piece on top of the already sew side piece, right sides together and sew using a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Press and topstitch.

Repeat again, placing the last side piece, right sides together with the last piece sewn.

With right sides together, match the un-sewn long edges, pin and sew using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

With right sides together, pin and sew the bottom piece to the newly created “tube”.  Make sure to pivot at each corner before sewing the next side.  Use a 1/2 inch seam allowance.  Clip the corners and turn right side out. Repeat each step for the lining pieces (skipping the quilting step). Leave a 4 inch opening, back stitching at the beginning and end to aid in turning later.

Now time for the strap.Place the fabric strap piece on top of the quilt batting, wrong sides together.  Fold along the long side, matching the raw edges, pin and sew using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  Turn the tube, right side out, press and top stitch along both long edges.

Pin and baste the short ends to the strap piece to the middle of each MAIN side piece, lining up the raw edges.

Turn the lining “tube” wrong side out.  Slide it over the main fabric “tube”, making sure the strap is tucked inside and all raw edges match up correctly (side piece to side piece).  Pin around the raw edge and sew using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.

Use the whole left open in the lining to pull the tote bag right side out.  Press the opening in the lining closed and use a slip stitch to sew it shut.  Push the bag lining inside the main bag, then press the bag opening and top stitch around the edge.

And there you have it.  The perfect way to dress up a Christmas gift for wine lovers!