How to make a bottle holder

1. Materials & tools

Materials (500 ml bottle)

• Main fabric (oxford, quilted cotton or canvas) — about 50 × 40 cm (20 × 16 in)
• Lining fabric (insulating sheet, or lightweight quilted cotton) — the same amount
• Webbing or a self-fabric strap — the length you chose
• Optional: a swivel hook and slider for adjustment

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Accessories” → “Bottle holder” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the bottle diameter and height, the strap length and the strap cut width. Presets cover 500 ml, 350 ml and 1 L.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the base (a circle), the body (a rectangle) and the strap. Trace the circle accurately — a distorted base will not fit the tube.
2. Cut
   Cut the base and body in both main and lining, and one strap.
3. Finish the edges
   Not needed with a lining. Insulating sheet can be left raw.

4. Sewing

4-1. Make the strap

1. For a self-fabric strap, fold it in quarters lengthwise, press and topstitch both edges.
2. For webbing, cut to length and seal the ends with a lighter.

4-2. Sew the body into a tube

1. Fold the main body right sides together and sew the short edge. Press the seam open.
2. Do the same with the lining, but leave an 8 cm (3 in) gap in the seam for turning.

4-3. Attach the base

1. Pin the base circle to the lower edge of the tube, right sides together. Pin at four points first, then fill in between.
2. Sew with the circle uppermost, turning the work a little at a time.
3. Clip the allowance every 5 mm so the base settles into a curve.
4. Attach the lining base the same way.

4-4. Join and finish

1. Turn the main piece right side out and slip it inside the lining, right sides together.
2. Catch the strap ends at the sides as you sew around the opening. Check the strap is not twisted.
3. Turn through the gap in the lining, close it, push the lining inside and topstitch around the opening.

✏️ Setting a circle into a tube is the only difficult part. Pin at four points, then halve each gap. If the circle seems slightly too big or too small, do not pull it — add more pins and spread the difference.

5. Tips & variations

• Insulating sheet: sold in craft shops as thermal or foil-backed sheeting. Using it as the lining makes a striking difference.
• Add a lid: a self-fabric flap with hook-and-loop improves the insulation further.
• For a flask: measure your own flask and it becomes a flask cover.