Beach Tote Bag Tutorial

Summer is on its way and one of my favorite parts of summer is sitting at the pool and watching my kids have a great time! Who else loves the pool? Or the beach? Today we have Karly from Paisley Roots here with a fun Beach Tote Bag Tutorial. It’s made from mesh to make it PERFECT for all things summer! Check this out:

Here’s Karly!

Hey! It’s Karly from Paisley Roots! Are you getting as excited for summer as I am?? This winter has been exceptionally cold and long for me and I am just dying to get into our sprinkler, swimsuit, and popsicle days! I love making my kids swimsuits and was thinking that a Beach Tote would be the perfect thing to make to help out with our lake trips this year!

This tote is 14.75″(37.5cm) tall and 12.5″(32cm) wide.

The wet bag is 5.25″ (13.5cm) wide by 8″(20.5cm) tall.

Beach Bag Tote Pattern & Tutorial

Supplies Needed:

1 yard PUL – Mine is from Sash Fabrics (matches my kids swimsuits!)
1 yard MESH
Matching Polyester Thread
4 large Eyelets
1 package 5/32″ Paracord
Bias Tape
Ball Point Needle
Lighter or match to burn Paracord ends
Grab the pattern HERE

Supplies for Wet Bag:

1 – 6″ zipper
PUL (6″ by 16″)(15cm by 40.5cm)
Matching Polyester Thread

NOTES:
Since PUL is a laminate fabric, once you sew into it, the holes will remain. The same goes with pinning, which is why I recommend using Wonderclips instead of pins.
Always backstitch at the beginning and end of seams.

Instructions for Beach Bag Tote:

Cut 2 Top layer pieces (25.75″ by 5.75″) (65.5cm by 14.5cm)
Cut 1 Mesh layer piece (26″ by 5.75″) (66cm by 14.5cm)
Cut 2 Bottom layer pieces (25.75″ by 4.75″) (65.5cm by 12cm)
Cut 2 circle for the bottom of bag
Cut 2 Loop pieces (2″ by 2.75″) (5cm by 7cm)
Cut 1 Handle (5″ by 3 3/4″) (12.5cm by 9.5cm)
Two scrap pieces of PUL (1.5″ by 2″) (4cm by 5cm)

Prepare the layers. Fold one PUL layer piece in half right sides together and sew along the edge using a 3/8″ (1cm) seam allowance. Repeat with the other 3 PUL layer pieces.

Set aside.

Fold Mesh layer in half, aligning the sides and sew with a 1/4″ (.5cm) seam allowance.

Turn mesh inside out and sew along the seam again with another 1/4″ (.5cm) seam allowance forming a French seam.
Set aside.

Take one of the loops and fold it in half the long way with right sides together. Sew using a 3/8″ (1cm) seam allowance.

Pull it right side out.
Align so the seam is in the middle and sew two topstitching threads down both sides using a 1/8″ (.2cm) seam allowance.
Repeat with the other loop.
Set aside.

Take the handle and fold the two sides inwards to the middle, wrong sides together.

Fold the handle in half again, enclosing the edges.

Sew open edge first using a 1/8″ (.2cm) seam allowance.

Repeat sewing the other edge with a 1/8″ (.2cm) seam allowance.
Sew 2 more topstitching line 3/8″ (1cm) from each edge.
Set aside.

Place the two bottom circle pieces wrong sides together.

Baste along the edge.
Set aside.

Take the 2 top PUL layers and the mesh layer.

Align seams and place PUL right sides together with the mesh sandwiched in the middle.
You can use Wonderclips to hold in place.
Sew along the top edge using a 3/8″ (1cm) seam allowance, removing the clips as you sew.

Pull the two PUL layers right side up and topstitch 3/8″ (1cm) from the mesh.

Take the 2 bottom PUL layers and align the seams up together with the bottom of the Mesh sandwiched in the middle.

Sew along the top edge using a 3/8″ (1cm) seam allowance.

Pull the two PUL layers right side up and topstitch 3/8″ (1cm) from the mesh.

Set aside.

Take the two loops and place them on opposite sides of the bottom circle.

Baste in place.

Take the main body of the bag and turn it inside out. (The French Seam will have a flat seam on the outside.)

Align the circle with loops facing the inside of the bag and the seam in the middle between the two loops.
Sew using a 3/8″ (1cm) seam allowance.

Open Bias Tape and fold the edge over 3/8″ (1cm). Align the edge of the bias tape with the edge of the circle. You can use Wonderclips to hold bias tape in place around the edge of the circle.

Sew using a 3/8″ (1cm) seam allowance, removing clips as you sew.

Fold Bias Tape over and sew along the bottom edge of the seam using a 1/8″ (.2cm) seam allowance, enclosing the raw edges.

Pull one of the top PUL sides down to keep it out of the way.

Take your handle and place it on the right side of the PUL, one part on each side of the seam. Make sure the same side of the handle is facing the right side of the PUL.
Baste in place.

Pull the PUL side up again.

Use Wonderclips to hold both PUL tops together.
Topstitch a line 2″ (5cm) from the top of the bag.

Open the seam and using the pattern, mark where the eyelets should go on the bag. Make sure they are facing the OUTSIDE of the bag.

Place a scrap piece of PUL (1.5″ by 2″) (4cm by 5cm) under each eyelet on inside of the bag to help support it.
Place your eyelets.

Make sure you are placing eyelets on only the outside layer.

Sew another topstitch seam 1″ (2.5cm) above the other topstitch seam (right above your eyelets).

Fold the top of each PUL piece over 3/8″ (1cm) and place together using wonderclips to hold in place.

Make sure your handle is facing up away from the seam.

Sew along the top using a 1/8″ 9.2cm) seam allowance.

Topstitch another line 3/8″ (1cm) from the top seam.

Now we’re onto the final bit!

Cut two pieces of paracord 64″ (162.5cm) long.

Make sure to burn both ends of your paracord strands with a lighter to keep them from fraying.

Grab 1 piece of paracord and place one side into one eyelet, thread it through to the opposite side, pull it out, thread into the eyelet right next to it and back through to the eyelet right next to the one you started with.

Repeat, with the other paracord, but this time start with the eyelets on the opposite side making two “U”s.