Quick and Easy Fabric bottle bag pattern to make a Wine Menorah for Hannukah

Menorahs come in all shapes, materials and sizes but have you ever considered a consumable menorah? Specifically, a menorah made with a bottle of wine for each night and of course the 9th one in the center – or it wouldn’t be a menorah, right?

This is a fun twist on the 8 nights of Hanukkah for all the wine lovers out there. You can make these wine bags and tags for a gift, to sew and sell or use them in your own home. If you don’t drink or want a kid friendly version, substitute sparkling cider or another non-alcoholic bottle for wine.

In this tutorial I’m using my newest Hanukkah Nights fabric from Riley Blake Designs – I love that there are exactly 9 prints in this collection, meant to be, right?

We will make easy, reversible Wine Bags that you add a ribbon tie to at the end.

I chose to make my Wine Menorah with all 9 fabrics but you can of course choose whatever number and combination of prints that you’d like. I’ll share all my tips to get all these bags done as quickly and efficiently as possible (I was channeling Henry Ford as I worked – he created the assembly line method of fabrication which saves time.)

Disclaimer: Some of the links this post may be affiliate and Amazon Associate links where I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

SEWING SUPPLIES

Rotary Cutter
Rotary Mat
Quilting Rulers
Cute Cuts Square Ruler by Lori Holt
Sewing Machine
Iron & ironing board
Thread
Pins or Fabric Clips
Marking Pen (I like these)

Do you want an ad-free, printable copy of this online tutorial? Find it in my Etsy shop for just a few dollars. You won’t need to access the internet every time you want to make it.

FABRICS

For each bag to hold a standard size wine bottle:
(more details about fabric to follow)

(1) 12″ x 16″ outside
(1) 12″ x 16″ inside
15″ piece of ribbon, twine, etc for the tie

TAG PRINTABLE

Click here to get the free printable tags or
Get an an ad-free, printable copy of this tutorial in my Etsy shop

FABRIC YARDAGE & CONSIDERATIONS

For directional fabrics like the Hanukkah Nights prints, you will need 1/2 yard cuts so the prints are aligned correctly. (fig. 1) For that reason you need 1/2 yard of fabric for each bag. You can cut 3 pieces from each 1/2 yard of fabric.

To make 9 wine bags with all 9 prints, get 1/2 yard of each print. You will then have extra of each print for other projects or you will be able to make an additional 4 bags to use for gifts, hostess gifts, etc.

If you want to use a wider bottom bottle, measure across the bottom of the bottle and double it. So for most champagne bottles for example, you will need 16-18″ x 16″.

You will need (18) 12″ x 16″ pieces of fabric to make all 9 wine bottle covers for the menorah.

how to layout directional fabric to make a wine bag

figure 1

PLAN YOUR FABRIC PAIRS

If you aren’t doing all of your wine bags the same, I found it to be the most efficient to plan my fabric pairs and keep them folded together through each step. I also laid them out and took a photo (fig. 2) in case I got them mixed up and wanted to refer back.

I wanted to have all 9 Hanukkah Nights prints on the outside and linings for a true print mix.

sets of fabric to make Hanukkah Wine Bottle Menorah

figure 2

FOLD & SEW

Fold each 12″ x 16″ fabric in half to be 6″ x 16″ and sew 2 sides with 1/4″ seam. Be sure to sew the side and bottom of directional fabric, not the top, (fig. 3) or your print will be upside down and you’ll be grabbing your seam ripper. (I love this one.)

As you sew each pair, fold them in half or clip them together (fig. 4) so you won’t have to refer back to a photo or figure out which fabrics you wanted together at the end of each step.

figure 3

figure 4

MAKE THE BOX BOTTOMS

MARK & PIN

To make the box bottom you will pinch the corners and sew across each corner horizontally, 1 1/2″ from the point.

After sewing 18 of these I got it down to a system – here are some tips. (fig. 5)

Open the bag and match the long seam to the opposite side (that was the fold) and flatten on your cutting mat. Line the seam up on a grid line, seam side up.
Fold the bottom seam flat, putting the point on the same grid line and matching the long seam.
You might need to adjust how the bag is flattened to make sure there is equal fabric on each side of the seam line and that the box bottom points are lined up correctly.
Taking a minute to line this up makes your box bottoms even and there is less fussing and folding each corner.

how to flatten your wine bag to make box corners

figure 5

Once you have it laid out, draw a line 1 1/2″ from the point and pin. (fig. 6)
Flip the long part of the bag to the opposite side so you can repeat the line & pin the opposite side.

Repeat for all 18, folding pairs together as you work.

figure 4

SEW & TRIM

Sew along the lines until all 18 are done. You can daisy chain them together (fig. 7) like you’d make quilt blocks to save thread and cutting.

Continue to fold together in pairs!

Trim the corners 1/4″ from the stitch line. (fig. 8) You can use a rotary cutter but in the end I found using fabric scissors to be faster.

PRESS RAW TOP EDGES

Before turning any of your bags right side out, press all of the raw edges down 1/2″. (fig. 9) It’s easier to do this step when they are inside out. Keep them in pairs!

figure 7

figure 8

figure 9

TOPSTITCH & FINISH THE BAGS

The next step will be to turn one of each set of bags right side out, but before you do, think about the threads you want to use for topstitching.

I decided to use a navy bobbin and white top thread so even though some of the linings would be navy, I turned all the dark bags right side out. The bags are reversible so it doesn’t matter which way you do this, just that you put them wrong sides together.

Turn 8 of your bags (one from each pair if you’ve been keeping them coupled up) right side out.
Place the lining inside the bag (so the bags are wrong sides together), match the seams and line up the pressed edges. (fig. 10)
Pin or clip in place. (fig. 11)
Topstitch all the way around, starting by the seam so you don’t have a knot or overlap of stitching in the front of your wine bag. (fig. 12)

figure 10

figure 11

topstitch to secure two halves of the wine bag together

figure 12

TAG & TIE

Get the free printable to create your menorah tags. The center label features a menorah from the fabric with the sentiment “one for each night” – in this case referring to wine.

For the most vibrant color, print on glossy photo paper. Cut apart and use a hole punch so you can put the tags on whatever you choose for your bag tie.

Cut (9) 15″ pieces of ribbon, twine or trim of your choice. I got a 7 yard roll of 7/8″ satin ribbon for the ties in the sample. You need just under 45 yards to cut (9) 15″ pieces.

Thread the ribbon through the tags.
Decide what order you want your bags to go in and tie the tags on accordingly.

MAKE A BAG TO STORE YOUR MENORAH BAGS FROM YEAR TO YEAR

I made a drawstring bag to make sure I didn’t misplace anything for next year. (You can find the written & video tutorial on my blog here – make the one from 10” squares)

I laid all the wine bags flat, put the ribbons on top and folded the bundle in half. I then gently put the tags in the center so they wouldn’t bend. Now it’s ready to store for next Hanukkah.