How to make wine sacks

Wine sacks are a simple and easy way to dress up a bottle of wine. Perfect to make as gift bags, or for a 'blind' wine tasting. Here's how I did it step by step:

Pick any fabric of your liking. Cut a piece 14" X 12 3/4" . 
This size will fit almost any style 750ml wine bottle.

With the fabric wrong side up, fold over and pin a 1" hem across the 14" side. 

Sew the hem. This will create the pocket for the ribbon closure.

This is what your sewn hem/ ribbon pocket will look like.

Now, fold the fabric in half, with the right sides facing each other. 
Pin the bottom and open side.

Sew the pinned bottom and side seams. 

NOTA BENE: Do NOT sew all the way up the side. 
You need to allow space at the top hem to thread your ribbon through. 

Now, take the ribbon you have chosen for your closure (make sure it's long enough! At least 18" for this pattern) and attach a safety pin to one end.

 

With the sack still wrong side out, take the end of the ribbon with the safety pin and guide through your top  hem (ribbon pocket), pulling all the way though. Remove the safety pin once pulled through. 

Turn the sack inside out so the right side of the fabric is showing, 
and you're done!

ENJOY! 

If you are making these for a wine tasting, just add a numbered tag to the ribbon. I was able to bang out 12 of these start-to-finish in about 2 1/2 hours (with the aid of a sewing machine). And trust me, the safety pin step is necessary. It is the best way to fish through any ribbon or string through a closed pocket. Keep that little factoid in mind next time the pull string on your hoodie disappears, and remember to thank me :)