Wine Gift Bags

Gift bags for wine bottles are great to have on hand. You can use it to wrap a wine bottle for those last minute gifts. They are also great to gift wrap a rolled up T-shirt to give as a gift.

Yes, you could easily buy wine gift bags at your local discount store but why add to the dump sites when you can use scrap fabric and make your own. You could make a bunch in an afternoon and have them ready for all occasions.

Items needed:

Medium weight woven fabric

Ribbon

Thread

Sewing tools – scissors, sewing machine, etc.

Instructions:

You can sew or serge this project. If you sew, it is recommended that you use pinking shears (zigzag scissors) to prevent the raw edges from fraying.

Cut the fabric into a 12.5 inch wide and 16 inch high rectangle.

Cut ribbon to a length of 20.5 inches or 2 lengths of 10.25 inches. To prevent the ribbon from fraying, cut the ends at a 45 degree angle.

I am making two bags today

Position the fabric so that the short sides (12.5 inches) are on the top and the bottom. 

Fold the ribbon in half or match the 2 lengths of ribbon together, place it 4.25 inches from the top of the 16 inch side and baste or pin it in place. 

With fabric folded in half, right sides together, matching the long sides, sew the side seam with a 1/4 inch seam allowance. This will create a tub with the two short ends open.

Fold the top edge 1/4 inch towards the wrong side, press. Fold the top edge again 1/4 inch towards the wrong side, creating a hem, press, and top stitch. If you are serging the project, you can serge around the top edge, fold it in 1/2 inch towards the wrong side, press, and top stitch.

Sew the bottom edge shut using 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Fold each bottom side in 1.25 inches towards the middle creating a 3.5 inch wide bottom base. Sew on top of the previous stitch line. 

If you need a wider base, fold it in less. Maybe fold the sides in 1 inch instead of 1.25 inches.

Turn inside out. Place bottle or rolled T-shirt inside and tie it closed.

This project is quick to create and even quicker if you do a bunch at one time; assembly line style. 

Let me know what you do with your extra fabric in the comments below. We are a community of crafters that learn from each other and we would love to learn from you.

Golf Shirts

As I mentioned in last month's post, I am a mediocre golfer. So when I saw this embroidery design from Embroidery Designs.com (product ID MA5076) I knew it was the most perfect one for me. 

Note: I had a picture of the design here but due to technical difficulties the picture wouldn't stay or allow me to include it again. please click on the link to see the embroidery design.

At the end of July, my husband and I were going away with some friends for a golf weekend. It was a perfect time to wear this design and it would minimize anyone's expectations of my golf game. Unfortunately I did not have any golf shirts that I could embroider on or golf in for that matter. 

What I did have was Silhouettes pattern #225 that I have been wanting to try and some fabric stored away in my stash. I thought the pattern was going to be difficult, specifically the collar but to my surprise it was relatively easy.

Notice the embroidered saying on the grey golf shirt below.

The great thing about sewing is that you don't need a lot of patterns. Take a pattern and make it from different fabric colours and textures. No one will ever notice that they are identical tops. 

Once you can get a pattern to fit you the way you want (I think this is the most difficult part in sewing), go to town, make as many comfortable, well fitted garments you want and fill your closet.

I love these two golf shirts and will make many more; possibly with long sleeves, dressier for work, casual for weekends. Once the fit is right, the creativity is endless.