How to Make a Beach Bag

Trips to the beach in the summer sun usually require you to carry a lot of supplies. With a beach towel, sunblock, hat, book, snacks, water and your car keys and wallet, it can get tough to keep track of everything. Make this fun and easy beach bag with attached beach towel to safely hold all of your summer fun supplies.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 1/4 yards of sturdy fabric
• 4 yards strap webbing
• Terry cloth beach towel
• Terry cloth washcloth
• Velcro sew-on tabs
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Sewing needle
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Measuring tape

1. Cut a rectangle of your chosen beach bag fabric that is at least 22 inches wide. The fabric you choose should be 60 inches wide. It can be a sturdy cotton twill, canvas, denim or a lighter weight nylon. Choosing a fabric that will dry quickly is great for the beach. Lay the rectangle of fabric out on a flat surface with the inside or wrong side of the fabric facing up.

2. Position the terry cloth washcloth approximately 5 inches down from one edge of the bag fabric. Pin it in place, making sure to keep it even and square with the edges of the bag. Use the sewing machine to sew around the two sides and the bottom of the washcloth. This will form an internal pocket in your beach bag. Do not sew all the way up the sides, but instead leave about 2 inches of a loose flap at the top edge. If desired, sew up the middle of the washcloth the same distance to form two pockets.

3. Thread the sewing needle with sturdy thread. Position one side of the Velcro tab on the canvas of the bag itself and stitch it securely in place. Sew the other side of the velcro to the top flat of the washcloth. If you made two pockets with the washcloth, sew a tab of Velcro closure for each side.

4. Measure to find the center of the piece of beach bag fabric, and then measure again to find the positions halfway out on either side. Use the measuring tape or a straight edge to find the entire line at this position. Mark the whole line with pins.

5. Apply heat from a lit match carefully to the ends of the strap webbing. This will melt the frayed ends slightly and prevent unraveling or damage in the future. Only do this if the webbing is nylon. If the strap material is not, you can hem the ends or apply a fray-check liquid solution.

6. Lay the strap webbing out on top of the fabric in a large loop. Do not cut the strap into two pieces. Position the open end halfway down one side of the beach bag fabric. Use the pins at the proper measurements to pin the strap webbing to the fabric. Use the measuring tape to make sure each loop handle at the ends is the same size and height.

7. Sew the strap webbing to the beach bag fabric. Sew along each edge of the strapping to fully secure the straps to the beach bag. Before you sew, make sure the loop handles on the ends of the fabric are even. Leave approximately 3 inches of bag fabric at the top for hemming. Running the straps around the entire sides and bottom of the bag will greatly increase the strength and allow you to carry everything you need to the beach.

8. Pin one end of the terry cloth beach towel to the inner edge of one side of the beach bag fabric. If necessary, gather it slightly before pinning. This should be done on the opposite side from the washcloth pocket. Turn over the end of the bag fabric so it covers the top of the beach towel and stitch it in place. Sew the other side of the beach bag fabric the same way, but without the beach towel.

9. Turn the beach bag fabric so the right sides are together. Carefully fold the beach towel in so it is out of the way. Use your sewing machine to stitch up the sides of the beach bag to complete it. Use small stitches and consider sewing it twice for extra strength. Finally, turn the whole upper edge in one more time and hem it securely. Your beach bag with beach towel is now ready for your first outing.