Beach bag tutorial
With the days getting gradually longer I’m starting to think about my summer sewing. I realised last year that I no longer had a beach bag and started to hunt around for one in the shops. I needed something big enough to fit toys, towels and suncream in but everything I could find being sold wasn’t very practical. It was either too small, had no zip, had no compartments or was really expensive - so I
ended up using a rucksack for the summer.
This year I decided to take matters into my own hands and design ‘the perfect beach bag’.
used northern monkey makes cotton canvas fabric
I also used 100% cotton fabric in a rainbow dinosaur print from northern monkey makes but any cotton fabric would have the same results.
Im not a pro bag maker so ive purposely chosen a style that is easy for beginners, but it can have as many additions too if you choose.
This style is also great for using up your stash but if you’re short of fabric you can omit the lining. You can easily make the bag smaller or larger and you don’t need to use a zip if you don’t want to. The added towel storage also lets you use this as a day bag as well– which is ideal when youre trying to squeeze everything in your suitcase!!
This tutorial will show you how to make a beach bag with additional towel storage, a zip top and an inside zipped compartment. Lets go!
(1/4”/1.3cm seam allowance used unless stated otherwise)
Fabric and notions
Bag
2 x lining fabric 19.5” (49.5cm) x 14” (35.5cm) (Piece F)
2 x outer fabric 19.5” (49.5cm) x 9” (23cm) (Piece D)
2 x outer 19.5”(49.5cm) x 6” (15.2cm) (Piece E)
2 x strap fabric 6” (15.2cm) x 41”(104cm)
18” (45.5cm) zip
Optional: 4 x D rings (38mm) (if adding towel straps)
Optional: Outside pocket 8” (20.2cm) x 6” (15.2cm)
Towel straps
4 x swivel clips or similar (38mm)
2 x bar adjusters (38mm)
2 x strap fabric 6” (15.2cm) x 40” (101.5cm)
Inside pocket
9” (23cm) zip
1 x 10.5” (26.5cm) x 3” (7.5cm) fabric (Piece A)
1 x 10.5” (26.5cm) x 6” (15.2cm) fabric (Piece B)
1 x 10.5” (26.5cm) x 8.5” (21.5cm) fabric (Piece C)
Bucket Strap
Bucket strap 17” (43cm) x 3” (7.5cm) fabric piece
1 x swivel clasp
Inside pocket Instructions
1. Using a 1cm seam allowance (or as close as you can if you have no zipper foot) attach Piece A and B to your zip. Line up the raw edge of piece A with one edge of the zip, right side of the zip to right side of the fabric. Repeat for piece B. Top stitch.
2. Depending on your zip size and seam allowance you’re A+B+zip piece should be approx. 10.5” (26.7cm) x 8.5” (21.6cm). Attach Piece C to A+B right sides together. Do not sew the top (this will be attached to the top of the bag). Finish the edges and turn right side out.
Making the towel straps
N.B these straps will fit a 38mm bar and clasp. If you need a different size take the width of your bar and clasp and x 4 to give you the width of your fabric.
1. Take each strap and iron 1.4cm or 1/4” from the end wrong sides to wrong sides. Next iron in half wrong sides together. Open back up and iron the raw edge to meet the middle fold. Fold
in half. You should now have 4 layers of fabric. This is a good tome to check the width against
your bar and clasp.
2. The two towel straps can now be top stitched all the way around.
3. If you are using an adjustable bar, loop your strap through.
4. Turn it to the wrong side and measure 3” from the end of your fabric to the bar. Fold over 1” of fabric from the end, then fold it all the way over the bar to meet the rest of the strap. It
should now look like a loop with bar in the middle. Sew in place.
5. On the remaining open end of your strap feed through the clasp. Now feed the end through the bar.
6. You should now have a loop with one clasp on an end piece. To this end piece add your other clasp. Fold over 1” and sew.
7. Repeat for the other strap.
Making the bag straps
1. Take each strap and iron in half wrong sides together. Open back up and iron the raw edge to meet the middle fold. Fold in half. You should now have 4 layers of fabric.
2. Top stitch.
Making the bag
1. First were going to attach our zip. Attach outer piece D and lining piece F and to your zip. Line up the raw edge of piece D with one edge of the zip, right side of the zip to right side of the fabric. Then on the reverse side of the zip add your lining piece F. Your zip should be
sandwiched between the two layers. Repeat for the second piece D and F. Top stitch.
2. If adding the outside pocket, take the pocket piece and turn the top over approx. ¼” and
then another ¼” to hide the raw edge. Sew in place. Then isolate piece D. Locate the centre
point on piece D and the outside pocket, baste together the raw edges.
3. Isolate piece Ds bottom raw edge. Locate your bag straps. At the raw edge of piece D
attached your bag straps with a basting stitch or pin well. I chose to add my straps 6” from
the side seam. They should cover the raw side edge of your pocket if using one. If youre
using the towel straps add your D rings on your strap here before pinning the other edge.
4. Mark 2” up from the raw edge on your strap and sew to this mark. Then move your D ring
down to this point and secure by sewing either side of it across the strap.
5. Sew the remainder of the strap in place, going over your top stitching as you do.
6. Now connect Piece D with E. Top stitch down. This should now be approximately the same size as your lining piece. Don’t worry if its not perfectly the same.
8. Now were going to connect the bag pieces together. Open the zip half way. Separate the
layers so that right sides together lining matches lining and main matches main. Pin all
around making sure the fins of the zip are facing the lining.
9. Sew all around leaving a turning hole in the lining fabric.
10. Take your lining fabric and at the corner line up your side seams – it will look like a triangle. 2.5” from the point draw a line straight across. Sew this line. You can cut off your triangle or leave it as it will be hidden. Repeat for all 4 corners.
11. Turn out and either hand sew or machine sew the lining gap
12. Its finished!!
Optional bucket strap
1. Take each strap and iron 1.4cm or 1/4” from the end wrong sides to wrong sides. Next iron in half wrong sides together. Open back up and iron the raw edge to meet the middle fold. Fold
in half. You should now have 4 layers of fabric. Sew all the way around.
2. Feed through your clasp and sew the two ends together.
Written by Christina Sanders
