Simple Serged Wine Gift Bag

Short on time but still want a thoughtful, handmade gift? Whip up this quick and customizable gift bag on your Baby Lock serger—perfect for a bottle of wine, a candle, or any small present. Choose festive fabrics, adjust the size to fit your gift, and serge your way to a fast, fun, and personal creation!

Click HERE to download printable instructions with additional photos.

• Baby Lock 4-thread or 8-thread Overlock Serger
  • Optional:
    • Baby Lock Serger with Cover/Chain capability
      • Baby Lock Triumph and Applaud were used for this project
    • Baby Lock Embroidery Machine
      • Baby Lock Radiance was used for this project
• 2 coordinating fabrics:
  • 13” x 18” for outside of gift bag
  • 13” x 18” for inside of gift bag
• Baby Lock Fabric Fuse (BLC3076) or Ultrasoft Fusible Stabilizer (BLC204)
  • 2 – 13” x 18” fused to gift bag fabrics
• 4 spools Madeira Aerolock thread to coordinate with chosen fabric
• 1 yard of ¼” satin ribbon
• Wonder Clips
• Optional:
  • 1 – 36” strip of coordinating fabric
  • Belt Loop Binder attachment
  • 2 spools of Madeira Decora 12 thread for cover and chain stitching
  • Embroidery thread & Baby Lock Tear-Away Firm Stabilizer (BLT103)

• Prepare your fabric by fusing stabilizer to the back of the two gift bag pieces.
• Thread the serger for a 4-thread overlock stitch. Set the stitch width to 7.5 and stitch length to 3. Follow the quick reference threading guide for assistance.
• Place the outside bag fabric and the lining right sides together and serge across one of the 13” sides. Note: This will become the seam on the top of the bag. If you have direction fabric, stitch the top seam together to keep your fabric in the correct orientation.
• Open the fabrics outward and refold lengthwise with right sides together. This will create a long skinny tube.
• Fold the ribbon or decorative cord in half.
  • Place the cord inside the folded fabric so that it is touching the outer fabric 6” down from the center seam and the fold of the cord is touching the raw edges.
  • An alternative option to using ribbon is to create your own ties using the Belt Loop Binder attachment. Follow the instructions included with the attachment for strip width measurements.
    • Set up the machine for a chain stitch if using this technique and make prior to constructing the bag.
• Use Wonder Clips to hold the fabric seams together.
• Serge the raw edges of the lengthwise seam together starting with the outer fabric side. Seam over the seamed edge and continue serging about 10” down on the lining fabric and pause.
  • Make sure you only catch the fold of the cord in the seam.
  • Ensure the tails of the ribbon are away from any seaming.
  • Stop serging and serge off the fabric. There needs to be an opening in the lining for turning the fabric.
• To serge off the fabric, rotate the handwheel to take the needles out of the fabric. Rotate the fabric 90 degrees and stitch off.
• Trim the overlock stitch. Pull the overlock stitching off the stitch fingers. This will allow ease of putting the fabric back under the foot.
• Leaving a 2-3” gap serge the rest of the side seam closed.
• Open out the tube you just created so the seam is centered. You are repositioning the serged seams to assist with boxing out the corners and moving the ribbon seam to the back of the wine bag.
• Serge across the end.
• Repeat for the opposite end.
• Pull the corners into a point and measure approximately one inch in from the point. Clip to hold in place.
• Serge the point off and repeat for the other corner and the opposite side.
• Turn the bag right side out through the 2-3” opening left in the lining side seam.
• Push the lining into the outer fabric and fold the top down three inches into a cuff.
• Press the bag. Stitch the opening left from the insert using a sewing machine or chain stitch.
• Bring the ribbon or cord ends around and tie.
• Additional Options to Customize the Bag:
• Decorative Cover and Chain Stitching:
• Use the Creative Cover and Chain stitch of the Applaud or the Cover and Chain stitch of the Triumph to embellish the wine bag cover prior to construction.
• Applaud- Thread the Applaud for the Creative Cover Stitch using Decora 12 in the wipers.
  • Change up the look by adjusting to a wide, narrow, or chain stitch.
  • Use 1 or 2 decorative threads in the looper to give you a variety of looks.
  • Stitch on the top of the fabric to create your stitched look.
• Triumph- Thread the Triumph or Cover/Chain stitch machine using Decora 12 in the chain looper.
  • Mark and stitch on the wrong side of the fabric.
  • Change up the look by adjusting to a wide, narrow, or chain stitch.
  • Try different threads to add to the look. 
• Embroidery:
• For a personalized touch embroider the solid fabric before assembling the gift bag.
• Mark the fabric about 6-7” from the bottom of the 13” x 18” fabric.
• Hoop with a sheet of tear-away stabilizer in the 5” x 7” hoop.
• Place on the Radiance or other embroidery machine and stitch out a design.
• Use the built-in fonts or designs to customize your gift bag.
• Once stitched, remove from the hoop and tear away any excess stabilizer.