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If you plan on going to the beach this summer, you’re gonna need this bag! Even if you plan to travel light, beach essentials–like cumbersome towels and clunky bottles of water and sunscreen–always take up more room in your bag than expected. Don’t even get us started on the additional gear you’ve got to truck along if you’ve got kids! So here is the solution: The big beach bag. I designed this DIY beach bag so that it could hold everything. It’s roomy, adorable, and it has a side pocket so you’ll be able to keep you cell phone and you keys out of the mess-and wet swimsuits. Plus, with two different handle lengths, you can carry it on the shoulder or by hand!

Materials:

• Two matching cotton fabrics
• 1 yard ½ for the bag
• ½ yard for the pocket and handles

I chose to mix and match with patterns and stripes!

Step 1

Cut the follwing pieces to make the bag:

• Two rectangles that are 36’ x 25’
• Two squares of 7”x 7” in the lower corners.

Then, serge or zigzag all the edges of both pieces.

Step 2

To make the side pocket, cut a rectangle of 12’ X 8’. Serge or zigzag the edge. With the iron, fold a side and sew it to make the upper edge of the pocket. Then iron the 3 other sides inwards.

Step 3

Add your pocket. Place the pocket fabric in the middle, about 6’ from the top edge. Secure it with pins, and sew the pocket on the sides and bottom. Note: You can make an extra vertical seam in the middle to divide the pocket into two handy compartments!

Step 4

Take the 2 bag pieces and put them on top of each other, wrong side out. Pin and sew the edges and the bottom. Don’t sew the square corners.

Step 5

Fold the bag putting the side seams on top of each other. Pin the bottom opening and sew. Repeat for the other side.

Step 6

Fold the top of the bag inside, make a fold of about 3’. Iron, pin and sew it on the whole length.

Step 7

Let’s make the handles. In the same fabric as the pocket, cut two straps of 4’ x 46’ lenght. Fold them lengthwise and iron the straps wrong side out. Pin and sew the edges together.

Step 8

Turns the straps right-side out and iron again to have them flat. Fold the unsewn edges through inside and iron them also.

Step 9

The last thing you need to do is sew the handles to the bag! Put the two handle edges on top of each other. Pin them on the bag above the pocket corner, and sew. Then measure from the seam 12’ and fold the strap. Pin the folded part on the bag and sew. You will have a short and a long handle, that way you will be able to carry the bag on shoulder or by hand.

Step 10

Strengthens the handles by an additional seam in the middle Remember that wet towels are heavy!

TA DA!

That’s it! I hope this big beach bag will be useful to you. Next, check out my tutorial for a matching pouch so you can keep smaller items– like your credit card, separate but on hand!

Where are you planning on taking The Big Beach Bag this summer?

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Ama Ryllis

Blogger at Ohoh Blog

Ama Ryllis is a DIY addict and the creative mind behind Ohoh Blog! Years ago, she moved from rainy Belgium to the Mexican desert and quit her interior design job in order to be a stay-at-home mum! She has always been crafty, and can usually be found upcycling things. Her favorite things to create are everyday home decor, DIY jewelry, and sewing projects.

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Latest posts by Ama Ryllis (see all)

• Hello, Summer! The DIY Beach Bag Pattern You Need - June 4, 2015