![beach bag](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0060-e1340217508423-680x1024.jpg)
I always end up holding everybody’s things when we go swimming and have to hold too many bags. I made this huge bag for going to the beach and swimming pool for this summer holiday. Well, I say summer in a very optimistic way since so far we’ve had 9 days of sunshine and not even consecutive days… but today is shining so I’m in good spirit!
Here is what you’ll need: 1.50m of nice heavy fabric, 1.50 of lining fabric, fabric pen, pins, ruler, scissors, and usual sewing kit.
![what you need](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0002-300x199.jpg)
Start by cutting:
From the lining fabric:
2 rectangles measuring: 23″1/2 X 20″ (that will be the inside bag)
1 long strip measuring: about 60″ X 6″ ( that will be the gusset)
From the heavy fabric:
2 rectangles measuring 23″1/2 X20″
1 long strip measuring: 60″X 6″
2 straps measuring: 32″ X 5″
with the lining fabric place a plate at the bottom corners of the fabric, mark around it and cut on drawn line:
![place plate on bottom corners and mark](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0004-300x199.jpg)
![cut](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0005-300x199.jpg)
then mark the middle by folding the fabric in half at the top edge. Mark a line 2″ from the middle on each side:
![mark middle](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0006-1024x680.jpg)
pinch one drawn line:
![pinch](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0007-1024x680.jpg)
And bring it to the middle mark:
![bring to the middle](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0008-1024x680.jpg)
do the same for the other side, pin in place and repeat for the other lining fabric:
![pin](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0009-1024x680.jpg)
You now need to sew on the pleats doing a couple of back stitches.
![sew pleat in place](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0021-e1340208096791-199x300.jpg)
pin the gusset in place with the pleated fabric:
![pin gusset](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0022-1024x680.jpg)
sew all the way round and repeat for other side of lining fabric and you should end up with something looking like this:
![inside bag finished](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0023-300x199.jpg)
Now you need to repeat all those steps for the outside fabric:
![place plate, draw and cut](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0010-300x199.jpg)
![pinch](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0013-300x199.jpg)
![pin in place](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0015-300x199.jpg)
![pinch other side](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0016-300x199.jpg)
![press](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0017-300x199.jpg)
![pin and sew](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0018-300x199.jpg)
![sew the pleat](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0025-e1340215950116-199x300.jpg)
![pin gusset and sew](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0027-300x199.jpg)
![half finished sewn gusset](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0028-300x199.jpg)
Now sew the straps together length way:
![sew the straps](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0030-e1340216198265-199x300.jpg)
turn them over and press:
![turn over and press straps](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0031-e1340216252681-199x300.jpg)
top stitch on both sides:
![top stitch straps](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0033-e1340216301113-199x300.jpg)
now is the complicated bit, to put the bag together start by pining your straps on both side of bag:
now insert the outside of the bag inside the lining, so that the right side of outter bag is facing the right side of lining bag (Am I making sense at all here? if not please leave a note and I’ll explain again):
![outside bag going in the inner bag](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0035-300x199.jpg)
now match the edges and pin in place:
![pin](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0037-300x199.jpg)
sew all the way round, leaving a gap (hand size) to turn your bag later (I really insisted on the handles area just to make sure):
![sew all the way round... not completely!](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0038-e1340216713217-199x300.jpg)
don’t forget to leave a gap:
![leave a gap](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0039-300x199.jpg)
now you can turn your bag through the gap you left. It will look a mess but trust me it will work in the end!
![turn your bag the right way out, looking messy ....](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0040-e1340216847406-199x300.jpg)
it should look like that:
![bag turned right way out](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0041-300x199.jpg)
Now all you need to do is insert the lining inside the bag press all the way round on edges and top stitch to sew in place:
![top stitch your bag](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0042-e1340217009205-199x300.jpg)
I added some sew on poppers on the top edges on each side of the bag:
![poppers](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0044-300x199.jpg)
![poppers](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0046-e1340217098723-199x300.jpg)
Et voila! A huge beach bag to enjoy this summer!
![beach bag](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0062-e1340217169874-680x1024.jpg)
now for the challenge; will it take all the stuff I usually bring with me?
![DSC_0049](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0049-300x199.jpg)
It fits! and there’s more room let’s say for a bottle of wine! (I’m French don’t forget!)
![DSC_0056](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0056-300x199.jpg)
![DSC_0057](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0057-300x199.jpg)
![huge beach bag](http://quiltylicious.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DSC_0051-1024x680.jpg)