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Beach Bag and Towel all in 1 TUTORIAL!

 
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I thought it was time to give you girls a new
{GLAMTASTIC TUTORIAL}
This beach bag is just perfect! It is not only super cute, but extremely useful!
Here is what you will need…
*Beach Towel (I got mine at Old Navy)
*Hand Towel (for inside pocket)
*Wash Cloth (for outside pocket)
*2 different styles of thick ribbon (mine is 1 1/2” thick)
*Thinner ribbon

The first thing you need to do is take both of your thicker ribbons and measure them out to be about 6” wider than the beach towel. Cut them to that length and sew a line right down the center of the ribbon with stitches that are far apart.

Next, scrunch the ribbon together by holding one of the threads on the end of the ribbon and pushing the ribbon down. Ruffle the ribbons to be the same width as your beach towel. Fold your beach towel in half, and pin your ruffles about 4” and 6” from the folded edge of the towel. This will end up being on the bottom part of your bag.

Now, sew your ruffles onto your beach towel.

Now, take the hand towel and fold it in half (hamburger way). Then sew 1 line right down the center to create 2 pockets.

Pin the hand towel to the inside of the beach towel. Sew along the side edges, and the bottom piece to create 1 large pocket and then the 2 smaller pockets in the front. This will be a pocket that will be in the inside of your bag!

Next, create ruffles with the thin ribbon. Sew it to the bottom of the small wash cloth.

Pin the wash cloth to the front of the towel, a few inches above the wide ruffles. Sew the 2 sides and bottom of the wash cloth to create an outer pocket.

Lay the beach towel out and take the thick ribbon and lay it out on the edge of the towel. Fold the towel over and pin it so that it is wide enough to go over the ribbon. Take the ribbon out. Do this on both sides of the towel. These will be your straps. The bag will cinch on the sides.

Sew the sides that are pinned.

Melt the edges of your ribbon so that they don’t fray and put a safety pin on the end and feed it through the sides of the towel. Do this on each side.

Pull the ribbon and tie it together in a bow. Tie the two front pieces together and the two back pieces together. These will make your front and back straps.

Here are my inside pockets! I put the smaller items in the small compartments, and my book in the bigger compartment.

This is my outside pocket. Full of the things that I will need to find at a moment’s notice! Like my keys and phone!

The best part is that you can just untie the straps and it turns right back into your towel! You don’t even have to pack a towel! Then when the swimming day is over, put your wet swimming suit in the towel part and it won’t get your treasures wet that are in your other pockets! The nice thing about having the straps cinch on the side is that your items won’t slip out of your towel!
You will be totally styling at the beach, pool, or just wherever this summer!
Please send me a link or email of pictures if you make this !

Verlene

Monday 25th of May 2015

Cute! I am making one for my sister for her birthday. I made a "trial one" first with just a bath towel. It turned out really cute too - Yellow, red and black. Thanks for the tutorial.

Kitty

Friday 20th of June 2014

Saw this at all free sewing, and it sounds like a good idea but I don't understand it, how are you closing the sides so the stuff doesn't fall out? if as I think I understand, the sides are folded over and gathered I assume it is a sort of gathered side but still open? sorry, I can't picture it.

McKenzie

Friday 20th of June 2014

The sides will bunch up when you have items in the bag and you hold it by the handles.

sarah

Wednesday 29th of May 2013

I totally LOVE multi-purpose homemade items!!, and this takes the cake! CUTE, FUNCTIONAL , and STYLISH.. Thanks for the pattern. I have searched everywhere for a decent beach bag, and this is definitely one of a kind!!! I'm going to try to make a male version also-for my 2 boys. I'll send pics your way when I figure out the right amount of boyish touch.

McKenzie

Wednesday 29th of May 2013

I would love to see the boy version! Thank you for your sweet words!

Kymmie

Wednesday 6th of July 2011

SO CUTE!

Erin

Thursday 5th of May 2011

This is a geourgious idea and so luxurious I cant wait to make one for myself and special friends who will appreciate it! oatesthreemom