Summer Water Bottle Holder Tutorial

Hi everyone! I was missing in action these past few days, too busy to even sit down and try to get some posts together. But I'm back today with the perfect summer project: the water bottle holder!

 

For several years now we have banned plastic water bottles in our house. The kids have reusable bottles to take to school, and my husband and I have our own reusable bottles too. Carrying four full water bottles in a bag, however, is complicated, but it's exactly what we ended up doing whenever we are out together. Until now. 

The water bottle holder is a mini bag that fits just one bottle and that anyone, especially the kids, can easily carry out while on a stroll, running, riding a bicycle, going to the beach or anywhere else summertime may take us. 

I didn't make a pattern, because every reusable water bottle we have at our house comes in a different size, but I'm going to show you how to make a water bottle fitting whatever reusable or disposable water bottles you use!

First, you need cute fabric. This one was for my son and I used a Robert Kaufman fat quarter that I've had in my stash for years, waiting for the perfect project.

You'll need to cut two rectangles of fabric wide enough to go around the bottle (with seam allowances to spare) and tall enough to cover the bottle plus an extra 3 to 5 centimeters.

Then place the bottle over the rest of the fabric and mark a circle around it. Repeat for a second circle.

Cut around the circles leaving a wide margin. If you are used to sew with a 1/4 seam allowance, use 1/2, if you're used to a wider seam allowance, increase accordingly (otherwise the water bottle holder will be too tight and it will be hard to get the bottle in and out).

Sew the side of the rectangles length wise, right sides together (creating a cylinder)

Then pin one of the circles to the bottom of the cylinder, right sides together again, and sew all around. Now you have created a small round bag. Repeat for the other two pieces. Turn one of the bags inside out and tuck the other inside it (so that the fabric of both bags is wrong sides together)

Leave it for the time being, and let's focus on making the strap. Decide how long and how wide you want the strap to be and cut a strip of fabric accordingly (adding seam allowances).

Now you have two  choices: sew the fabric right sides together, turn inside out and press flat (prettier finish but hard to turn inside out) or fold the fabric as if it were bias tape, press, fold in half again and top stitch (not so prettier finish since the stitches will be visible, but much easier and faster).

With this water bottle holder I used the first method and cut the fabric in a way that allowed me to have a full row of cars on the strap:

The water bottle holder is almost finished! Return to the body of the holder and fold the edges in as shown below: 
 

Now tuck the tips of the strap in between the two layers of fabric and pin in place. Top stitch all around.

You're done! One water bottle holder ready for summer!

If you want to add a finishing touch (totally optional), sew a folded piece of elastic (or ribbon) over the back seam of the bottle holder and use it to tie around the top of the bottle.

It's totally optional, but helps to keep the bottles in place, especially if you're using it for sports.

Then of course I had to make one for my daughter too, in a cute owl fabric. It's slightly larger than the other, because her reusable bottle is bigger too...

 And here they are together: 

It's time to get ready for summer, so go and make your own water bottle holder now!

Enjoy,