Wine Bottle Bag Mini Tutorial

I'm starting to think I should create a new monthly segment called YOU ASKED FOR IT! I gave a quick and easy bonus WINE BOTTLE BAG tutorial on my recent live webinar and I've been overwhelmed with responses asking for more…instructions that is. Apparently you all don't have "video"graphic memories. Well neither do I so here's the goods...

Before you get started, here are 3 things you should know:

1. I chose a simple wine bottle bag to allow quilters an opportunity to embellish, piece, design and play on the bag to their heart's desire. This is meant to be a testing ground for new techniques. If you like, I have a full day workshop called Fibre Art Frenzy so click on the link to book a class for your guild.

2. The CQA has put the call out for wine bottle bag donations for CQA Niagara 2014 in June, so I encourage you to make one and send it along. And here's where you send them:

Marilyn Michelin

7 Dixie Rd.

St. Catharines, ON L2N 2A7

Be sure to add a note that you heard all about it from Canadian Quilt Talk! 

3. You can literally pull together an adorable bag in under 10 minutes depending how crazy you go with embellishment. I already have more than a dozen to send in myself. I'm having so much fun using up leftover fabrics from quilt projects and all those fat quarters I keep collecting, and collecting, and collecting!

SO HERE IT IS - THE WINE BOTTLE BAG MINI TUTORIAL:

NOTE - EMBELLISH the bag before construction so that you have your 12” x 20” rectangle ready to complete. Try to feature your design centred about 2” up from the bottom of the rectangle and 10” down from the top. Here is a screen printed holly design on a curve pieced bag. (You can also use stitching, couching, stamping and more…)

Holly Screen available at www.brandylynndesigns.com

1. FOLD the 12" x 20" fabric lengthwise right sides together inserting the fold of the ribbon 9” down from the top. SEW the long side of the bag capturing the ribbon inside, and SEW the bottom of the bag. PULL the ribbon up so it is hanging out of the top of the bag.

2. CREATE a boxed bottom by folding the 2 corners into triangles. STACK the 2 triangles and mark a 1-1/4" line on one, fold it back and mark the other. SEW on the marked lines to create each boxed corner. SNIP off the triangles leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. LEAVE the bag inside out and STUFF the ribbon down into the bottom of the bag. 

3. FOLD the raw edge opening down 4" wrong sides together and remove the wide base of your machine to sew the cuff. BE SURE the cuff measures 4” all the way around and lies completely flat. SEW the top edge (your bobbin thread will be on the decorative side). Then SEW a 1/4” seam allowance on the raw edge 4” in from the finished top of the bag, carefully turning it around your machine base.

TURN the bag right side out, CLIP all threads and VOILA! You have a lovely gift - all you need is a good bottle of vino!

Do you have a quilting technique you are struggling with or is there a quick tip or trick  you've always wanted to learn? Send me your questions anytime to info@explorefibre.com.

Until next time…DREAM BIG AND WORK HARD IN THE STUDIO WITH CANADIAN QUILT TALK!