DIY Beach Bag Tutorial

I totally meant to make this DIY Beach Bag in May.  Before summer.  But we’ve had a crazy summer and that didn’t happen.  I just made my perfect, giant bag this past week and now I’m sharing my beach bag tutorial with you all.

I decided to make a bag because my old pool bag was falling apart and I really needed a bigger one because I was chronically over-stuffing my old one which contributed to it falling apart.  So if you need a big, big bag for the pool or for the beach then this diy beach bag is definitely the bag for you.

To make your own Beach Bag you will need:

• 1.5 yards of stiff fusible interfacing (I chose a heavyweight fusible interfacing but I’d recommend medium weight interfacing)
• 3/4 yard of home decor fabric for the outside of the bag
• 3/4 yard of home decor fabric for the lining
• 2 yards of rope (I used 3/4 inch thick rope)
• 1 inch grommets (these are the grommets I used)
• rotary cutting set or scissors
• iron
• sewing machine
• heavy duty needle for the sewing machine
• coordinating thread
• pins

DIY Beach Bag Tutorial

Step 1: Wash, dry, and iron your fabrics for the outside of the bag and the lining.  Cut out two rectangles that are 20 X 26 inches from the interfacing, outside fabric, and the lining. 

Then cut a 3 inch square out of the corners of the bottom of your fabrics.

Step 2: Take one of your interfacing pieces and lay it down.  Read your interfacing instructions and make sure that you have the correct side facing up (the one with the adhesive on it).  Lay one of your outside fabric pieces on top of the interfacing, with the right side up. 

Follow your interfacing instructions and iron the top of the outside fabric in order to fuse the two together into one piece.  Repeat this process with your second pieces of interfacing and outside fabric.

Step 3: Lay one piece of interfacing/outside fabric down with the fabric side up.  Then lay your other interfacing/fabric piece on top with the right side of the fabric facing down.  The fabrics should be right sides together.  Pin and sew along the lines shown below, sewing 1/2 inch from the edge.

Step 4: Take one of your lining pieces and lay it down with the right side up.  Place the other lining piece on top of it with the right side down. 

Pin them together and sew along the lines below, sewing 1/2 inch from the edge.  Please note how this is different than the lines above… there is a big unsewn area on the one side to leave a hole.

Step 5: Take your interfacing piece that you sewed together… now you’re going to sew the corners on the bottom.  On one side take point A and B in the picture below and pinch them together so that the two seams meet.  Pin and sew across the line shown in the pictures below. 

Repeat this process for the other corner.

Step 6: Repeat the process of step 5 for the lining piece that you sewed.

Step 7: Turn your outside fabric/interfacing piece right side out.  Leave the lining piece the way it is.  Put the outside fabric/interfacing piece inside of the lining.  Line up the side seams so that they match.  Pin and sew along the top opening, sewing 1/2 inch from the edge.

Step 8: Now comes the hard part.  Remember that hole you left in the lining?  You’re going to use that hole to pull the basket out in order to turn it right side out.Pull it all the way through and sew up that hole. Then stuff the lining inside of the bag and give it a really good press.

Step 9: Now we are going to add the grommets.  The grommet set that I bought came with a little template that I used to place my grommets.  I lined it up so that it was 6 inches from the side seam and traced the markings.  Then I cut out the holes and attached the grommets.

Step 10: Put a piece of clear tape in the middle of your 2 yards of rope.  Cut in the middle of that tape so that you have two pieces.  Knot one end of the rope and stick it through one of the grommets.  Stick it through the other grommet on that same side and knot it at the end. 

Once you have tightened your knots then remove the tape and fluff the ends of the rope a little.  Repeat with the other piece of rope for the other side of the bag and you’re done!  I put my knots on the outside of the bag because I like that look but you could do them on the inside if you prefer.

Now you have a nice, big diy beach bag that’s actually big enough to fit all the stuff you need.  If you make one please let me know how it goes in the comments below!

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