Summer is here!!With so many fun summer sewing projects on my list, one thing is for sure: you can never have too many bags for summer fun. I've got an easy beach/pool bag sewing tutorial to share with you today. This bag is great for hauling all your supplies for summer water fun. Grab your supplies, and let's get sewing! You will need some canvas fabric for the main bag, mesh, fold-over elastic, a zipper at least 12" long, and ripstop fabric for the pocket and straps. For this project, I used the Brother SB3734T Serger and the Brother Innov-ís NS1750D.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Cut your main piece of canvas fabric 22" wide, and 34" long {you will fold this in half}.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Cut and sew the straps. The straps should be cut 3" wide, and the length depends on how long you want your straps. I would cut them at least 40-45" long, and you can always shorten. Sew the straps with the long sides together and then turn right side out.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Fold the canvas main bag in half. Cut a pocket from the ripstop fabric. It should be 13" wide and about 12" tall. You can play with the size of this. The pocket will be placed on 1 side of the canvas bag. The pocket needs to be 3" from the top of the bag.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Sew the zipper - right sides together- to the top edge of the pocket and topstitch.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Flip the pocket up and sew the other edge of the zipper to the bag, making sure the zipper is sewn 3" from the top edge and centered in the middle of the bag side.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Flip the pocket back over and fold under the bottom edge - pin. Place each end of the strap on the open sides of your pocket. This will close the sides of the pocket and sew the straps to the bag. Pin all in place. Adjust your strap length now if desired.

Beach Bag Tutorial Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Sew along the bottom of the pocket and both sides of the strap.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • On the opposite side of the bag, we will now create the mesh pocket. Cut the pocket measurements the same as the other pocket. Cut your fold over elastic 2" shorter than the top of your pocket. Fold the elastic over the top of the mesh and sew. Stretch as you sew {I used a zig-zag stitch to sew}.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Stretch the top of the pocket flat and pin. Pin the bottom of the pocket and the sides under the straps as you did on the other side pocket. Stitch the bottom and straps down. Make sure your straps are the same length as the other side.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Fold the main bag body in half with the right sides together and sew up the side seams.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Fold the bag so that the side seam comes to a point at the bottom. Cut off 2.5" from the point and sew closed. Repeat on the other side.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

  • Finish the top edge with a serger, then fold over 1" and stitch around to hem.

Beach Bag Tutorial

 

You are finished! Get out and enjoy your new bag!

Beach Bag Tutorial