Wine Bottle Cover Sewing Pattern with an Optional Gnome Top!

Here’s adorable wine bottle bag pattern with a gnome topper in case you love gnomes like I do! . It’s perfect for sharing holiday cheer and for holiday decorating too.

This blog post has been converted to an optional PDF that’s optimized for printing. Find it here. The blog post below is totally free to read, print, and sew! Just hit CTRL +P on your computer to print. The PDF download is inexpensive and optional. Did you know you can get ALL the Optimized for Printing PDF files organized in a library for you to access anytime you want? Check it out.

The first thing people will notice on this little guy is the gorgeous faux fur beard!

The rest of my gnome bottle gift bag is sewn with quilting cotton fabric and some faux sherpa for the optional hat trim. You can also use flannel or home decor fabric so raid your scraps!

By the way, I added this free pattern to my collection of 10 Free Gnome Sewing Patterns!

The arms, beard, and nose of the gnome are sewn to the cute hat. Pull the hat off to reveal a lined drawstring gift bag that’s just the size of a bottle of wine or sparkling cider.

I’ll also show you how to make long fluffy ponytails instead of a beard. You’ll be making lots of girl and boy gnomes for all your friends.

Gnome Bottle Cover and Gift Bag Sewing Pattern – Step by Step Tutorial

Use a 1/4’’ seam allowance throughout, except where noted.

You will need:

• 1/3 yard (or a fat quarter) of cotton fabric for the drawstring bag (gnome body)
• about 9” x 6” long faux fur fabric for the beard
• 1/8 yard faux sherpa fabric for the hat trim (optional)
• scraps of coordinating fabrics for the arms, hands, nose, and hat
• I used a narrow strip of fabric for the drawstring, but you could use 22” of narrow ribbon or cording
• polyester fiberfill for the arms (I like the silky kind)
• a couple 12’’ (or longer) pipe cleaners or a piece of bendable wire for the hat (optional)
• a fabric marking pen or chalk pen
• seam ripper
• bodkin or safety pin
• a hand sewing needle and strong thread
• for sewing a girl gnome, you’ll also need 2 clear small hair elastics and up to 1 yard of ribbon

Cutting

Print the pattern templates (above) at 100% (do not enlarge or reduce). Tape the hat template together as noted. Cut fabric pieces from all of the pattern templates, as follows:

• cut 1 on the fold from the hat template
• cut 2 on the fold from the hand template
• cut 1 from the nose template (fleece is my favorite fabric for the gnome noses)
• cut 2 from the bottom circle template
• cut 2 rectangles 11” x 13” for the drawstring bag (body)
• cut 1 strip 1” – 1 1/4” x 22” for the drawstring (you may use 22” of narrow ribbon or drawstring cord if you prefer)
• cut 2 square pieces 3 1/2” x 3 1/2” for the arms
• from the faux sherpa fabric, cut a strip 3” x 12”

Tips for cutting the faux fur fabric:

• Note the direction that the long fur lays before cutting. Place the template at least 2” above the bottom cut edge of the faux fur fabric to keep the long strands.
• Trace the pattern template on the back of the faux fur fabric and then cut from the back.
• Use the tips of your scissors to carefully cut just the fabric, not the fur.

Make the Lined Drawstring Bag:

1. Fold one of the 11” x 13” fabric rectangles in half (right sides together) with the 13” edges lined up. Stitch the long edge with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Repeat with the other 11” x 13” fabric rectangle, except leave a 3”opening in the middle of the seam. This is for turning the bag right side out. This second piece will be the lining of the gift bag.

2. Press the seams open.

3. Mark one end of each fabric tube in quarters.

I did this with my iron by laying the tube flat on my ironing board and pressing the folded edge opposite the seam. Then I folded that pressed edge up against the stitching and pressed the new fold that I made.

Mark each circle bottom piece in quarters. You can use your iron to mark it by folding the circle in quarters and pressing it flat.

4. Pin a circle bottom piece to one end of a fabric tube, right sides together. Line up the quarter markings and use at least 4 pins – one at each mark.

5. Sew with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Repeat to sew a circle bottom piece to the other fabric tube.

Tips:

• Sew this step with the circle bottom against the bed of your sewing machine. It’s much easier that way.
• Use a sewing stiletto to help keep the edges of the fabric together and sew with a consistent 1/4” seam allowance. The pieces fit if your seam allowance is correct, but if it’s not and you have a pucker or two no one will notice. They are looking at the gnome’s cute beard!

6. Turn one bag piece right side out and place it inside the other one. The bag pieces should be right sides together.

Line up the top raw edges and pin all the way around.

7. Sew all the way around the top of the bag with a 1/4” seam allowance.

If your sewing machine has a free arm, you can use it to easily sew around the top of the bag.

8. Turn the bag right side out through the opening. Press the edges at the opening to the inside. Sew the opening closed by hand or with your sewing machine.

Push the bag lining down inside the bag and press the entire bag, especially around the top edge.

9. Use a ruler and fabric pen or chalk to mark two lines on the top edge of the bag.

Mark the first line 1” away from the top edge. Mark a second line 1 3/4” away from the edge (so the lines are 3/4” apart).

Turn the bag over and mark the lines again so they go all the way around.

10. Place the bag on your sewing machine’s free arm again and sew all the way around following the marked lines.

This makes the drawstring casing.

11. Lay the bag on your workspace with the seam side up.

Use a seam ripper to carefully unpick 2-3 stitches from the seam in between the two casing lines.

make and insert the drawstring:

1. Fold the 1”- 1 1/4” x 22” long strip of fabric in half and press. Open and fold the raw edges to the center and press. Fold it in half again and press.

2. Sew along the drawstring with matching thread.

Tip: If you can, move the sewing machine needle all the way to the left so that the drawstring will move right on top of one of the feed dogs. Fabric can’t move very well if it is not over the feed dogs.

3. Use the bodkin or safety pin to insert one end of the drawstring into the casing. Pull it all the way through the casing and out the same opening. Tie a knot at each end of the drawstring.

Sew the Hat

1. Press the curved edge of the hat to the wrong side by 1/4” twice and press to make a 1/4” hem.

2. Before sewing the hem, fold the hat in half (unfolding the hem a little) and sew from the curved edge all the way to the tip with a 1/4” seam allowance.

Trim away the extra fabric at the tip so it will make a sharp point when you turn it right side out. Finish the raw edges on the seam with a zig zag stitch if you wish.

3. Refold and sew the hem close to the fold.

4. Turn the hat right side out and press.

Sew the Hands and Arms

1. Place one hand and arm piece right sides together with the straight edge of the hand piece along one side of a 3 1/2” square. Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance. Press the seam open.

2. Fold the hand and arm in half (right sides together) and sew from the bottom of the arm up and around the hand and thumb. Use a 1/4” seam allowance.

Repeat for both arms.

3. Cut notches around the curves. Pinking shears make quick work of this step!

4. Lightly stuff the arms with polyester fiberfill, leaving the top 1” empty.

5. Fold the raw edges of each arm to the inside by 1/4”. Stitch each arm closed close to the top edge.

6. Lay the hat flat on your workspace with the seam in the center against the table or mat.

Place each arm with the top edge just inside the hat at the side edges. Pin the top of each arm to the edge of the hat.

7. Carefully sew each arm to the hat, sewing over the hem stitches.

Sew the Beard and Nose:

1. Place the top edge of the beard under the edge of the hat by about 1/2”.

Pin along the hem stitches.

This is what it looks like from the inside. Check to make sure the beard is straight.

The beard should reach from about the middle of one arm to the middle of the other arm.

2. Sew the beard to the hat by sewing over the hem stitches again.

3. Make the nose by hand.

Thread a hand sewing needle with strong thread. Sew long stitches all the way around the nose oval piece about 1/8” from the edge.

Pull the stitches to gather the nose. Insert a small amount of polyester fiberfill stuffing inside and pull the threads tight. Sew a knot to secure the edges.

4. Move some fur out of the way for the nose about 1” below the hat – this makes a cute mustache!

5. Hand sew the nose to the beard fabric. Tie a knot to secure and trim the threads.

Make the faux sherpa hat trim

1. Fold the 3” x 12” faux sherpa fabric rectangle right sides together with the short ends together. Pin.

2. Sew the short ends together. Use the edge of your presser foot as a guide to sew about 3/8” away from the fabric edge of the faux sherpa fur.

As you can see, fluff is sticking out past the edge of the fabric. Trim this fluff away after sewing the seam.

3. Fold the sherpa cuff wrong sides together so that the long raw edges are lined up. Pin.

Sew around the long raw edges, using the edge of your presser foot as a guide.

4. Trim away the extra fluff from the seam. After I trimmed for a bit, all of the fluff was the same length and I could barely see where the seam was.

5. Place the sherpa cuff around the hemmed edge of the hat. Secure with some hand sewing stitches in a few places.

6. Prepare your wire piece for the hat (optional). I used two 12’’ pipe cleaners twisted together. Fold the top end down if it could poke a hole through the tip of the hat.

Tuck the pipe cleaners inside the hat. Glue them in a few spots with a hot glue gun, if desired.

The purpose of the wire is to make the hat bend and stay in cute positions.

Your adorable gnome bottle cover and gift bag is done.

You can use this gnome bottle cover pattern to make girl gnomes too!

How to make a cute girl gnome with long ponytails…

You’ll need to cut all of the same pieces. Follow this step by step tutorial until it is time to attach the beard.

1. Turn the beard piece over and from the back cut it in half lengthwise.

2. Place small clear hair elastics around the middle of each piece of ‘hair’.

3. Tie a 12-18” piece of ribbon in a bow. Hand sew the bow to the front of a ponytail over the elastic.

Before cutting your thread, turn the ponytail over and sew the raw edges of the ponytail fabric together above the elastic.

4. With the needle and thread still attached to the ponytail, sew the top edge of the ponytail to the inside edge of the hat next to one arm.

If you prefer, you may pin the ponytail in place and sew it to the hat with your sewing machine.

Repeat to make and attach a second ponytail.

5. Make the girl’s nose as directed and hand sew it to the edge of the hat in between the two ponytails.

Isn’t she adorable??? These gnome bottle covers (or gift bags) are so cute I don’t think I’ll be able to give them away! We’ll have to keep them and put them out every Christmas!

If you sew a Gnome Bottle Cover and Gift Bag using my free sewing pattern, I’d love to see! Post a photo on instagram and tag me @sewcanshe so I can take a look!

Come get 35+ Favorite Christmas Sewing Projects – All Free!

Merry Christmas!