Super Simple Beach Bag

by Applejuice11

21K787

Intro: Super Simple Beach Bag

*some sewing experience required* Have you ever felt the need to go to the beach, but had no beach bag to put your towel in? That will never happen again thanks to The Super Simple Beach Bag! I made this a while ago, so I don't have pictures of me actually making the bag, but hopefully you can still understand my instructions.

STEP 1: Gather Your Materials and Tools

For this beach bag you will need...
      a piece of Oil Cloth cut to 40" x 22"
      *optional* 21" by 8" of Oil Cloth
      64" of strap material
      binder clips
      a sewing machine with a Teflon or Roller presser foot
      and some white thread

If you don't have a Teflon or roller presser foot you can put tissue paper between the foot an the fabric or masking tape on the bottom of your presser foot. If you try to sew on the front of the Oil Cloth with out a proper foot it will stick to the Oil cloth and make a mess.

STEP 2: Pocket (optional)

This step is not required but if you want a pocket in your bag then fold the Oil Cloth like the paper is folded below. Fold the Oil cloth into a Z shape with the top section being an inch taller than the other two, clip with binder clips and sew along both edges.

STEP 3: Start the Sewing!

Take one of the two short edges ( the 22" ones) and fold the white side down about an inch twice. Clip it together with the binder clips and sew straight across. if you are addin a pocket insert it under one of the top edges before sewing. Do the same to the other side. Refer to the picture if confused.

STEP 4: Assemble the Bag

Put the two front sides (the pretty sides) together with the newly stitched edges at the top and bottom. Clip together and stitch down both of the sides with about a Half inch seam allowance.

STEP 5: Square the Edges

Take one of the corners and position it so that the seam you just made is going down the middle. Cut 2 an 1/4 inches off the seam, clip and sew across the cut. Do the same to the other side.

STEP 6: Add the Straps

Take the 64" of strap and cut it in half, making two 32" straps. Sew them on to the bag going over the seam several times in a large X or two lines. Make sure that both straps are even and free of knots and twists.

STEP 7:

Trim all of the seams and hit the beach! You now have a one of a kind beach bag made with your own two hands!

7 Comments

craftyv 9 years ago

Love it and the Instructable. I have recently found some fabric and oilcloth with the same pattern so am looking for bag pattern where I can use both. Any ideas?

craftyv 9 years ago

Love it and the Instructable. I have recently found some fabric and oilcloth with the same pattern so am looking for bag pattern where I can use both. Any ideas?

mandolinible 11 years ago

Great tip about masking tape on the presser foot, thanks!

thepelton 13 years ago

Thanks, I just may. I have been checking my Email from the library computers, and the time there is limited, but I should have enough money soon to pay for a domestic ISP.

gannon 13 years ago

Nice job! I've made dozens of bags but have never worked with oilcloth. Thanks for the tip about the presser foot.