A DIY beach bag made from a beach towel! Choose a bright, fun towel and follow these simple steps to create the perfect carrier for towels, sunscreen, and snacks for pool days and beach trips.
The summer heat has officially arrived here in Virginia. While I love retreating to the cool indoors with the air conditioner, summer is really meant for getting outside—soaking up the sun, enjoying the scenery, and spending time with friends at the beach, water parks, and backyard pools. To make packing for those outings easier, I turned a brightly patterned beach towel into a roomy, handmade bag. It’s a fast, practical project that takes about 20 minutes and works well with any towel that already has a finished top hem.
I found these fun towels for $5 and made a large beach bag in no time. Using a towel saves effort because the top hem is already finished. Below are clear steps and supplies so you can make your own.
For more sewing projects like this, consider my sewing book for kids.
DIY Beach Bag Made from a Beach Towel
Makes 1 beach bag (approximately 20″ wide x 18″ tall)
Supplies:
- 1 beach towel
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Pins
- 2 pieces of 1″ wide cotton webbing, each 56″ long (medium weight)
- Thread
- Sewing machine
*Cotton webbing is available at fabric stores or online and comes in many colors.
Instructions
- Fold the beach towel in half with the finished hems together at the top and the fold along the bottom.
- Cut two rectangles that are 20″ wide and 18″ tall. Cut through both layers so you end up with two matching pieces.
- Place one rectangle on your work surface. Position one piece of webbing so the ends sit along the bottom edge of the towel piece, with each end 6″ from the side. Pin the webbing in place to create a handle loop.
- Sew close to the edge of the webbing: stitch up one side of the loop, across the top, and down the other side. This secures the strap to the towel panel. Repeat for the second towel piece and the second webbing strap.
- Lay both towel rectangles together with right sides facing each other, aligning the handles. Sew the side seams and the bottom with a 3/8″ seam allowance. Clip the corners close to the stitching to reduce bulk, being careful not to cut your stitches.
- Turn the bag right side out. Smooth the corners and press if desired.
If you don’t have a serger, finish the raw edges along the sides and bottom with a zigzag stitch to prevent fraying.
This bag is roomy enough to hold at least four beach towels plus extras like sunscreen, a water bottle, or a box of frozen treats. The finished top hem from the original towel gives a clean look without extra finishing.
If you liked this DIY beach bag you might also like:
Minion Tote Bag Tutorial: Make a DIY Minion tote that’s perfect for pool trips, library visits, or preschool.
Sunglasses Case Tutorial: Sew a sunglasses case in 15 minutes to keep in your pool bag or purse and protect lenses from scratches.
Fluffy Flip Flops: Use scrap fabric to decorate flip flops and create fun, fluffy summer footwear—an easy camp or craft project.
