Handmade items help make the act of gift giving extra personable and unique. This cute reversible bag from Cinne Worthington of C.Banning Accessories is not only a stylish way to bring wine to friends, but also can be used to share flowers as well as other small gift items. What’s more, this stylish project made in our elegant Belgian LinenTM transforms into a lovely evening bag—making it a gift that keeps on giving. .

A bag to use to gift wine bottles, beverage bottles or flowers sits on a white surface with a wine bottle inside. The bag has two layers, an inner layer in fabric that has gold dots on a yellow background and an outer layer with black dots on a white background. The bag’s tie in the middle and wrist strap are also black dots with a white background.
This sweet lil’ gift bag fits a bottle of wine just fine. Featured designs: Scallop Dots – Gold/Beige and Scallop Dots – Black/Gray by cinneworthington
A hand holds a gift bag filled with yellow flowers. The bag has two layers, an outer layer in fabric that has gold dots on a yellow background and an inner layer with black dots on a white background. The bag’s tie in the middle and wrist strap are also black dots with a white background.
This project is for more than wine; flowers (and many other things!) will fit perfectly as well.

Cinne: Treat yourself to the rewards of handmade items by sewing this impressive wine gift bag—whether you make it for someone you hold dear or decide to keep it all for yourself! I kept the design simple with a few unique details. This small tubular-shaped bag has a round bottom and is reversible with a single top handle that secretly attaches between two layers. It also has a form flattering tie belt with fringed ends. 

A sewing room with tutorial materials laid out on a cutting table. A sewing machine is nearby and a dress form wearing a white shirt with a yellow-and cream skinny tie is to the left. Outside the window to the right is a patio filled with small rocks and succulents in pots.
C.Banning Accessories’ headquarters and sewing room.

Skill Level:
Medium 

Time to Complete:
Give or take 2 hours

Materials for the wine bag tutorial are laid out on a white cutting table with a black grid. A rotary cutter, several templates for the pattern pieces, blue and green pattern weights, pins, scissors, a ruler, and two folded pieces of fabric (one that has gold dots on light yellow and one that has black dots on white) are on the table too along with a few other materials for the tutorial that are in the list below.
What you’ll need to make this project. Cinne used paper card stock to create templates for each of the bag pieces so she can easily make this project again.

Materials 

  • Belgian Linen—Cinne’s using 1 yard each of 2 two different colorways of the same print (Scallop Dots – Gold/Beige and Scallop Dots – Black/Gray by cinneworthington) 
  • Light or medium-weight fusible interfacing 1/4 yard 
  • 8″ of 1/8″ or 1/4″ black elastic 
  • Card stock paper or a repurposed manila folder
  • Sewing pins and sewing clips 
  • Sewing machine  
  • Sewing machine needle—Topstitch or Denim 80/12 
  • Coordinating thread 
  • Ruler
  • Fabric scissors 
  • Pencil or disappearing ink pen 
  • Pressing cloth  
  • Surgical tweezers (or equivalent) 
  • Fabric glue stick

Optional tools that also help:
• Rolling seam presser 
• X-ACTO knife (for cutting paper patterns)
• Fabric weights
• Straight-edge metal ruler
• Acrylic cutting ruler (13” square or 4″ x 24”)
• Edge joining foot 
• Compass or a sliding T-gauge
• Water spray bottle (for tackling any fabric wrinkles)
• Large cutting mat

SHOP CINNE’S DESIGNS

Pro tip: Cinne prefers to leave our Belgian Linen unwashed to retain an even more luxe look. 

Pattern Measurements 

Note: All measurements include 3/8” seam allowance     

• 2 main bag body pieces (1 in each colorway): 16.5” wide x 12.5” tall
• 2 bag bottom pieces (1 in each colorway): 5.5” diameter
• 1 strap piece: 20” x 4″
• 1 tie belt piece: 32″ x 4″
• Folding guide for creating the strap and tie belt: 20” x 2″ (Cinne is using cut-out pieces of cardstock, but you can also use a repurposed manila folder)

Part 1. Prep and Sew Main Bag Layers

This project involves making two identical fabric bags. For the sake of this project, we’ll be referring to one bag as the inner bag and one bag as the outer bag. However, when you’re all done with this project, the bag will be reversible so that both fabrics have the chance to shine! Depending on what works best for your workflow, you can either make one bag at a time or both bags at the same time, which Cinne is doing for the tutorial below.  

Note: Since all the seams are closed, surging fabric edges is optional.

Several pieces of cardstock have been cut to use as paper pattern templates to make a wine bag. Small blue and green pattern weights are holding the paper down so that the pieces can be easily cut out. Most of the fabric is white with black dots, although some of the fabric is light yellow with gold dots.
Cutting out the fabric pieces for your wine bag.

1. Cut out all your pattern pieces using the pattern measurements above. Cinne has made pattern templates in those measurements using paper card stock so that she can easily make this bag again.

2. Cut two 4” pieces of elastic and fold each in half.  

3. Pin or glue-baste the elastic loop 5.5″ down from the top edge of the main bag body piece with the loop facing inward away from the edge. Repeat this step for both bags. 

Cinne is basting a thin black elastic loop on to the top of fabric that has black dots and a white background. A large clear ruler is the left and the fabric is on a white cutting board with a black grid.
Basting the elastic loop on the main bag.

4. Fold the body pieces in half vertically and sew the edges together. Snip off seam corners and press the seam open. 

Cinne folds the one of the bag’s main body pieces in half vertically and clips the top and bottom together. The edges are unclipped in preparation for sewing them together.
Folding and clipping one of the bag’s main body pieces in half vertically in preparation for sewing the edges.

5. Fuse one layer of the interface to each bag’s bottom piece. You’ll add a second layer later after the pieces are fit together.  

Cinne is fusing interface to the bottom of one of the two bags with an iron. The ironing board cover has a white background with a black grid.
Fusing interface to the bottom of one the bags.

6. Mark the bottom edge of the bag and the bottom circle into four equally divided sections.

The fabric bodies of both the inside and outside bag and round bag bottoms lay on a white cutting mat with a black grid. Some of the fabric has a white background with black dots and some of the fabric has gold dots on a light yellow background.
Pieces of the bag that you’ve made in the steps above. At this point, mark the bag’s bottom edge and the bag bottom’s circle pieces in four equally divided sections.

Part 2. Attach Bag Bottoms 

1. Pin the main bag body piece to the bottom circle (right sides facing each other), matching the four divided markings. Then ease the two sides together between pins, lining up edges and pinning as you maneuver your way around. I find it easier to sew with pins on top of the circle. Watch your fingers, as there will be lots of pins! 

Cinne pins the main bag body piece to the bag’s round bottom.
Pinning the main bag body piece to the bag’s round bottom in matching fabric.

2. Slowly sew around the bottom pieces 3/8” in from the edge. Check the underside and straighten/smooth out folds while sewing.

Sewing the round bag bottom to the main bag body piece.
Sewing one of the round bag bottoms to the corresponding main bag body piece.

3. Finger press the bottom seam and notch every inch or so.

The round bag bottom piece has been sewn to the main bag body piece and the seam has been finger pressed. Notches have been cut out of the seam allowance to allow for a smoother seam.
After finger pressing the bottom seam and notching the seam allowance.

4. Add a second layer of fusible interface to the bottom of each bag for support.

The round bag bottom after it’s been sewn to the main bag body and a second layer of fusible interface has been ironed on top.
After a second layer of fusible interface has been added to the bag bottom.

Part 3. Prep Tie Belt and Strap 

1. Fold each piece for the tie and strap in half right-side out lengthways and press. Be sure to use a pressing cloth on the right side of the fabric to protect it.  

Cinne is ironing a long piece of fabric, which has been folded in half lengthwise. The fabric has black dots with a white background. The ironing board cover is white with a black tie grid.
The tie belt and bag strap need to be folded in half and pressed.

2. Fold edges in half again inward so straps are 1” wide. I use a folding guide made out of paper card stock (using a repurposed manila folder also works!) that’s 2″ wide, then folded in half for accuracy. Fold the center of the fabric as well as the other edge to create the bag belt and then the strap.  

Shaping a long thin piece of fabric with folded strip of paper cut from a manila folder. The paper acts as a folding guide. 
a) Creating a folding guide can help you shape the bag belt and the bag strap.
Folding one side of a long thin strip of fabric with a folding guide made from a strip of paper cut from a manila folder.
b) Folding the first side of the bag strap with the folding guide.
Folding the center of a long thin strip of fabric with a folding guide made from a strip of paper cut from a manila folder.
c) Folding the center section of the bag strap with the folding guide.
Folding the final side of a long thin strip of fabric with a folding guide made from a strip of paper cut from a manila folder.
d) Folding the last side of the bag strap with the folding guide.

3. Remove the paper guide and press or roll. Glue pen baste or clip edges together down the long edge. 

Cinne is using a rolling seam presser to ensure the wine bag strap edges are folded in and pressed.
Using a rolling seam presser to ensure the wine bag strap edges are folded in and pressed.

4. For the belt, repeat the steps above and add a stitch line across the width of the strap marked 1” from each end. 

Below, at left, I use my (optional) trusty edge joining foot to keep my stitch line along the joining edges straight, moving the needle 1/8” to the left. Below, at right, the setup for this foot on my Brother machine. An edge joining foot helps you stitch a neater edge, but isn’t necessary to use in this step.

Close up of Cinne’s edge joining foot at work on her sewing machine, sewing the tie strap together.
Cinne’s edge joining foot at work, sewing the tie strap together.
Cinne’s sewing machine settings for using her edge joining foot.
Cinne’s sewing machine settings for using her edge joining foot.

5. For the handle, sew a straight stitch down one side 1/8” from the edge, leaving the ends raw. 

6. For the belt, I start by sewing across the strap at the 1“ marking and then turn and sew down the long side edge at 1/8″ until I hit the 1” mark, where I stop and turn and stitch back across to the folded edge. 

Sewing across the bag belt at the 1” mark.
Sewing across the bag belt at the 1” mark.

7. Hide the thread ends by hand. First, with a knot, and then sew them back into the fabric. Pull and snip the threads so they disappear back under the fabric. 

A needle has been inserted vertically on the left handside of a long thing piece of fabric that is white with black dots. The needle is being used to sew in fabric ends.
Sewing and hiding the fabric ends by hand.

Part 4. Fringe the Belt Ends 

1. Pick and pull off cross threads just before the stitch line using tweezers or a large needle. Linen works excellent for this with its loose weave.

Using tweezers to fray the ends of the long thin fabric belt by hand.
Using tweezers to fray the ends of the belt by hand.

2. I like to fluff the belt ends by combing them with my tweezers and then giving the straggler strings a clean-up fringe trim. 

The final frayed ends of the long thin fabric belt. The fabric is white with black dots.
The final frayed ends of the fabric belt.

Part 5. Finish the Bag 

The photos below show what your finished bag will look like after completing this section.

Once you’re done with the following steps, the bag will have a) a handle tucked between the inner and outer layers that’s secured with a top stitch as well as b) a line of top stitching visible.

A closer look at how in the finished bag, the handle is tucked in between the inner and outer bag layers. The outer layer is white with black dots and the inner layer is yellow with gold dots.
A closer look at how the handle is tucked in between the inner and outer bag layers on the finished bag.
A closer look at how in the finished bag, there is a line of top stitching near the top edge of the bag. The bag’s fabric is white with black dots.
The finished bag will have a line of top stitching near the top.

1. Fold the top of the bags inward 1 3/4” and press. 

Folding the inner and outer bags inward at 1 3/4". The bag to the left is yellow with gold dots, the bag to the right is white with black dots. Cinne is measuring the fabric sections turned inward to make sure they are turned inward at the right amount.
Making sure the fabric is turned inward at 1 3/4”.

2. Working on one side of the bag with it turned inside out, line up and either glue-baste or hand-baste the handle (to the back first). If you leave a pin in, make sure it’s up at the top edge out of the way of the area to be sewn. Then flip over to the front side, line up centers and glue-baste or pin the other end of the handle in place. 

After glue basting and pinning the handle to the bag to keep it in place.
After glue-basting and pinning the handle to the bag to keep it in place.

3. Place the inner bag inside the outer bag layer with the wrong sides facing each other and the front and back lined up, and clip the top fold of bag bodies so the top edges are even. 

Placing the inner wine bag inside the outer wine bag with the wrong sides together. The fabric in the inner bag is white with black dots. The fabric on the outer bag is yellow with gold dots. A handle made from fabric that is white with black dots has been pinned to the top side of the bag.
Placing the inner wine bag inside the outer wine bag with the right sides together.
Lining up the inner and outer bags.
Lining up the inner and outer bags.

4. Turn the whole bag right side out (stopping halfway to admire how cute a hat would be). 

The two bags have been placed with the inner bag inside the outer bag right sides together. The top edges of the bag have been clipped together.
The top edges of the bag have been clipped together.  

Part 6. Top Stitch Everything in Place 

Pro tip: If you have a machine with a removable flatbed section for sewing sleeves, this would be the moment to remove it so the bag can smoothly rotate around the footbed while sewing. 

1. Mark the line to top stitch around the rim of the outer bag at 1.5″.  

Marking the top stitch line on the outer bag.
Marking the top stitch line on the outer bag.

2. To stitch a nice straight hem, I suggest placing pieces of tape on the sewing surface to follow as you rotate the bag.

A small piece of purple tape has been stuck around the top edges of the outer bag as a guide as to where to top stitch.
Sticking tape around the top edges of the outer bag as a guide as to where to top stitch.

Pro tip: Before top stitching, test sewing 4 layers of linen scraps to work out a tension where the stitches show perfectly on both sides of the bag. 
 

3. Then ensure everything is in position with straps pinned straight and tension set for 4 layers (about 6 on your machine), then slowly top stitch around the bag at 1.5″ down from the top edge, keeping the stitch line as straight as possible. I like to start at the seam and lightly pencil a few marks at the starting point. 
 

Top stitching around the top edge of the inner and outer bags, sewing them together and the handle in place.
Top stitching around the top edge of the inner and outer bags, sewing them together and the handle in place.
Finishing the top stitching around the top edge of the inner and outer bags, so that you’ve sewed both bags together and the handle in place.
Finishing the top stitching around the top edge of the inner and outer bags, so that you’ve sewed both bags together and the handle in place.

Hide your threads, steam press the bag and you’re done! Use the bag for a bottle of wine or a bunch of blooms! Or ease the belt open a little and use it as a cocktail bag. Want to get creative? You can further change things up by upcycling a scarf or tying on a festive ribbon for the bag belt!

A bag to use to gift wine bottles, beverage bottles or flowers sits on a white surface. The bag has two layers, an inner layer in fabric that has gold dots on a yellow background and an outer layer with black dots on a white background. The bag’s tie in the middle and wrist strap are also black dots with a white background.
Where the belt attaches to the bag.
A bag to use to gift wine bottles, beverage bottles or flowers sits on a white surface. The bag has two layers, an inner layer in fabric that has gold dots on a yellow background and an outer layer with black dots on a white background. The bag’s tie in the middle and wrist strap are also black dots with a white background.
A close up of the finished bag.
A gift bag with a wine bottle inside is being handed from arms outstretched from the left to arms outstretched from the right. The bag has two layers, an inner layer in fabric that has gold dots on a yellow background and an outer layer with black dots on a white background. The bag’s tie in the middle and wrist strap are also black dots with a white background.
Gifting in action.

See More of Cinne’s Designs

Check out all of Cinne Worthington’s vintage and floral-inspired designs in her Spoonflower shop.

Classic Leopard

by cinneworthington

Boho Botanica – Dark Denim

by cinneworthington

Rose Remix – Black/Raffia

by cinneworthington

Frequently Asked Questions

How much fabric do I need for this project?  
Cinne’s using a yard each of two different prints.
What other fabrics would work for this project? 
Cinne suggests Belgian Linen, but you can also use Cypress Cotton Canvas. If you use the latter, she suggests not washing it either.
What else can I use this bag for apart from wine? 
Fill it with flowers, small gifts, your favorite beverage, there are tons of options! You can also loosen the belt and use it as an evening bag. Want to get creative? Upcycle a scarf or use a festive ribbon for the bag belt.

Want To Take a Look at Our Other Handmade Gift Posts?

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