How to Sew a Beach Bag

A beach bag is a suitable piece for sewing beginners. This barrel-shaped bag has a long zippered opening that allows you to stuff large items like towels easily. The simple design means that you can sew this beach bag in one day. If you need a bag that holds enough goods for several family members, simply double the size of the pattern measurements.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• ¾ yard of 44-inch fabric
• ¼ yard of 26-inch fusible interfacing
• 1/8 yard of lightweight fabric
• Scissors
• 14-inch zipper
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Pins
• Iron

1. Cut a 23 by 22 inch rectangle for the bag, two 5 by 20 inch pieces for the handles and two 7 inch diameter circles for the ends. Cut an 18 by 3 inch piece of lightweight fabric for the zipper stay and cut two 19 by 4 pieces of fusible interfacing.

2. Mark the zipper position in the center on the wrong side of the rectangular fabric. Mark stitching lines 1/8 inch away from the zipper line.

3. Pin the zipper stay and stitch into place, with right sides together. Slash down center of zipper to ½ inch of ends and cut into corners. Top stitch around opening. Center the zipper under the opening and edge stitch into place.

4. Center the fusible interfacing on the wrong side of each handle and press. Fold the handles in half lengthwise and stitch together.

5. Press the handle flat and edge stitch around it. Attach one handle to each side of bag by top stitching a square at each end.

6. Fold a circle in half, and cut a notch on the fold line at each end. Pin, baste and sew the circles to each end of the beach bag.

7. Open the zipper (right sides together) and sew the bottom seams. Press open and turn the bag right side out.