Playdate: Nifty Wine Gift Set

Yeah, yeah. You’ve got tons of time before you even need to think about thinking about gifts…not! If you’re going to be true to your inner Angel of Sustainability, and actually give handmade gifts this year, using that sizeable stash we just know you’ve got, well, you’d better saddle up that sewing machine and git on down the stitchy trail.

And we can help. Our playdate today is crammed with three ideas for quickie gifts or gift wrappings. Our so-simple Eco Coasters stitch up in minutes, and are a great project for using up random charm squares or largish scraps and old towels. (Psst! They’re simple enough that they’d be a great kids’ project. Make a ton for teachers’ gifts. Just a thought.)

Then, pair a foursome of your freshly sewn coasters with a bottle of wine dressed in one of our also-simple wine bags. Choose our Feltie Wine Bag, made from a great FQ sitting on your shelf or our Eco Wine Bag made from recycled denim jeans (add some cool trims and no one will know you washed the car in those jeans last week!) Stuff it all in a basket with some TJ crackers (we personally love the raisin-rosemary crackers) and a hunk o’ cheese, and you’ve got a very worthy gift.

Instructions and pics of the finished products are below, but you can click here to download a printable PDF with even more pics to help you along!

Keep an eye on GenQ in the coming weeks, as we give you more quick-and-cool ideas for stitch gifts. And if you’ve got an original project or pattern you’d like to share with your fellow Q-bies, just contact jake@generationqmagazine.com or melissa@generationqmagazine.com.

 

Eco Coasters

Supplies

• Eight 5-inch squares in coordinating prints/colors  (Use pre-cut charm squares or cut your own)
• Old terrycloth towel
• 2 ½ yards trim of choice

1. Pairing charm squares as desired, create 4 sets of two squares each.

2. Cut four 5-inch squares from the towel.

3. For each coaster: Place right sides of two charm squares together. Place one towel square on top of the squares. Stitch a ¼-inch seam around the edges, leaving a two-inch gap for turning. Clip corners. Turn seamed squares, pushing out corners carefully. Press, making sure edges of gap are turned in. Stitch close to edge all around the coaster, making sure gap is closed. Repeat to form all coasters.

4. Measure in 1 inch from each corner on coasters and mark with water-soluble marker. Using a ruler, connect marks to form an X through each coaster.

5. Stitch along the marked X, backstitching at the beginning and end. Spray lightly with water to remove marks. (Note: This stitching can be done in a contrasting color, if you wish.)

6. Cut trim into 4 equal pieces. Stitching by hand or machine, attach trim all along edge of coasters. You’re done!

 

 

Eco wine bag

Supplies

Cut-off leg of discarded jeans (6 ½-inch wide leg from skinny or youth jeans works best)
Print fabric scraps
16 inches of zipper-edged trim
22 inches ribbon

1. Cut hem edge off jeans leg and trim to 13 inches in length. Jeans leg may have a slight natural flare at the bottom; choose this end to be the bottom of your bag.

2. Open unfelled leg seam to gain access to the center of the bag for placement of the appliqué.

3. Choose motif from fabric to use as a center appliqué on the bag. Cut out motif, leaving 1/8-inch along edge.

4. Place motif right side up on fusible webbing and trim out shape.

5. Measure 6 inches up from the bottom edge of the bag and center a mark between the two side edges.  Find the approximate center of your motif and match it with the mark on the bag. Fuse the motif in place. Stitch around the edges to secure the appliqué.

6. Turn leg inside out and re-sew side seam.

7. With right sides together, stitch a ¼-inch seam across the bottom of the bag.

8. “Box” the bottom by flattening out one point, centering the seam, and measuring in 1 inch. Mark across point, and stitch along the marked line. Repeat on other point.

9. Turn bag right side out. Pin zipper-edge trim along top, matching bottom edge of trim to top edge of bag.  Cut excess trim, leaving about a ½ inch overlap where the edges meet. Use Fray Check on the cut end of the trim to avoid unraveling.  Stitch in a scant 3/8 inch from edge, using zipper foot on machine. Turn seam to inside and press.

10. Cut a 1 ½ inch by about 17” (or circumference of the bag) strip of scrap fabric to be a facing. Press under ¼-inch on each long edge. Turn bag inside out. Place one pressed edge of the facing strip up against the zipper teeth along the top of the bag, and stitch through the facing and all other layers, hiding the seam.  Fold back end of the trim strip where it meets the beginning, hiding all raw edges. Stitch along bottom of facing strip.

11. Turn bag right side out. Measure down about 3 inches from the center of the top edge and mark. Find the center of the ribbon tie, and machine or hand tack the ribbon center to the mark. Note: Depending on bottle style and height, you may wish to fit the bag to the bottle before marking where the ribbon tie is attached. Finito!

 

Feltie Wine Bag

Supplies

1 fat quarter
22 inches coordinating ½-inch ribbon
17 inches of coordinating 1-inch ribbon
Wool felt scrap
Buttons
Embroidery floss
Floral template (Draw a simple flower shape—outline only—of about 2 ½ inches diameter.)

Bag Decoration:

Using your template, cut floral shape from wool felt. Blanket-stitch by hand around edge of floral shape, using contrasting embroidery floss. (Or do a running stitch. After all, it’s your bag.) Stitch buttons to center of floral shape.

Bag:

1. Cut two 6 ½ inch x 13 inch pieces from fabric. On one, measure up 6 inches from bottom center and mark. Sewing through the button holes, firmly attach decoration to this mark.

2. With right sides together, stitch a ¼-inch seam along the sides and bottom of the pieces to form the bag.

3.  “Box” the bottom by flattening out one point, centering the seam, and measuring in 1 inch. Mark across point, and stitch along the marked line. Repeat on other point.

4. Press seams. Press top raw edge down ¼ inch.

5. Using 1-inch wide ribbon as facing, stitch along the edge of the ribbon close to the folded fabric edge  along the top of the bag. Fold back end of the ribbon where the ends meet, hiding all raw edges. Stitch along bottom edge of ribbon.

6. Turn bag right side out. Measure down about 3 inches from the center of the top edge and mark. Find the center of the ribbon tie, and machine or hand tack the ribbon center to the mark. Note: Depending on bottle style and height, you may wish to fit the bag to the bottle before marking where the ribbon tie is attached.