Felted Striped Wine Sack

What better way to give a gift of wine than to wrap it up in a felted wine sack! When the wine is gone, they still have something to remember you by!


Size (after felting)
Length: Approximately 131/2 inches (34.5cm)
Circumference: Approximately 10 inches (25.5cm)
Tie length: Approximately 50 inches (127cm)

Materials
Yarn: 100% wool worsted weight yarn, about 175 yards (160m)
Photo: Noro Kureyon (100% wool; 109 yards per 50g ball): color #154, 2 balls
Needles: size 8 (5mm) double-pointed, set of 4
Notions: Open-ring stitch marker; tapestry needle; size I/9 (5mm) crochet hook

Gauge
15 stitches=4" (10cm) in circular stockinette stitch (knit all rounds)
Note: Superwash wool and synthetics will not felt; do not use for felting projects.

Making the Sack
Loosely cast 42 stitches onto one double-point needle, then divide stitches equally onto 3 needles (14 stitches on each). Join into circle, being careful not to twist stitches. Place open-ring stitch marker in first stitch to denote beginning of round, and move marker upward every few rounds.

Round 1 (wrong side): Knit.
Round 2 (right side): Purl.
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4: Purl.
Round 5: Knit.
Change to circular stockinette stitch (knit all rounds) until piece measures 17" (43cm).
Purl the next round (on right side of work).
Decrease Rounds
Round 1: (Knit 5, knit 2 together) to end of round. (36 stitches)
Rounds 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10: Knit.
Round 3: (Knit 4, knit 2 together) to end of round. (30 stitches)
Round 5: (Knit 3, knit 2 together) to end of round. (24 stitches)
Round 7: (Knit 2, knit 2 together) to end of round. (18 stitches)
Round 9: (Knit 1, knit 2 together) to end of round. (12 stitches)
Round 11: (Knit 2 together) to end of round. (6 stitches)
Round 12: Knit. Remove marker.
Cut yarn leaving 6" (15cm) tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle and pull through the remaining 6 stitches, pulling tightly to close. Weave in loose ends to wrong side of work.

Make the Tie
With crochet hook and yarn, make a crochet chain about 56" (142cm) long. Beginning in second chain from hook work 1 single crochet in each chain to end of row. Fasten off.

Felting
Felt wine sack and tie in washing machine.
The tie is finished felting when you can gently stretch it to about 50" (127cm). Let sack dry with wine bottle inside so it keeps its shape.

Tie overhand knot at both ends of strand, and tie around neck of wine bottle.