Reversible Extra Large Beach Bag

Notice anything different? I'm thrilled with the new blog design. My friend Kate at College Dropout Designs did it for me. It was honestly the single best choice I've made in my short blogging adventure and Kate made it so easy and pain-free. Thanks Kate!

Let's talk about this beach bag. It is seriously my favorite thing I've made in a while. With Summer here, I am so ready for any and all bodies of water. The only problem with going anywhere with kids is there is so. much. stuff, especially when you go swimming or to the lake. I'm always juggling 18 bags (okay more like 4) while holding Gwen and trying to get Ivy to hold my hand.

It takes me forever to get us all packed and ready to go and the thing that gets me the most stressed out is towels. I can never find a bag big enough for all our towels and a blanket, plus all the snacks, hats, etc. So here it is: The EXTRA large beach bag.

Supplies:
1 yard of 2 different lightweight quilting cottons (2 yards total).
Coordinating thread (I just did white because it was in my bobbin)

1. Pre-wash and iron fabric (I just get the big wrinkles out) 
   
2. Take Fabric A and fold in half with right sides together, matching selvage edges. Cut an 8 inch wide strip of fabric off. Set aside 8 inch strip
   
3. With the fold at the bottom and selvage at the top sew a straight stitch on each side
   
4. Turning the corners. This is going to create the bottom of your bag. Flatten the corner and sew a straight stitch at 45 degrees across the corner (see black line below). Cut the corner off. Repeat on other side. (I measured 3 inches down from the corner and sewed there. You can do less or more depending on how wide you want the bottom of your bag.)
   
5. Repeat steps 1-4 with Fabric B
6. For the straps, cut each 8 inch piece in half length-wise, so that you now have 4 - four inch strips of fabric.
   
7. Take one strip of Fabric A and Fabric B place right sides together. Stitch three of the four sides, leaving one short side open. Turn right side out, using a knitting needle or dowel.  Repeat with other strap. 
   
8. Iron straps and top stitch the long sides only.
9. Trim your straps. I cut my straps to 26 inches long, but you can choose how long or short you want yours. Be sure to add at least one inch to your desired length for seam allowances. 
10. Assemble the bag: Turn Fabric A right side out, leave Fabric B wrong side out. Place Fabric A inside Fabric B. The right sides of your fabric should be together.
    
11. Tuck your straps in between Fabric A and B on each side of the bag. Leave a half to one inch of your strap poking out of the layers. Pin in place. (My straps start 4.5 inches from the side seams).
    
12. Sew around the top of your bag, leaving a small space to turn it right side out. 
13. Turn bag right side out. Tuck Fabric A into Fabric B.
14. Top stitch around the top of the bag to give finished look and add security to your straps.
15. Go to the beach!

I stole this idea from my sister-in-law. I saw her homemade massive bag in February and I knew I had finally found the answer to my towel dilemma. I have four towels in the bag while it was photographed, with plenty of room for a blanket and snacks.