Thank you all for your nice comments about my Orla Kiely beach bag, and also for all the congratulations on the upcoming wedding! And now, a little something for you, in the form of a tutorial. (I wish it was a giveaway instead, but that might have to wait until after the wedding!)

This bag is constructed in much the same way as my market bag (market bag tutorial here), though the measurements have been adjusted to create a larger bag, complete with a large pocket and removable solid bottom (that makes it different enough, right?!)

I realize that summer beach days are still a ways off for most of us in the country… but maybe this bag could be used for something else while you wait for summer? I think I’ll use mine to bring home all the stuff I’ve bought while in Florida (9 yards of extra wide Kona cotton… oh yes, I definitely needed it!)

As you already saw, I used Orla Kiely dishtowels for these bags. They’re made of a nice heavy cotton and seem to work well for this project. Plus, they should still be available at your local Target store. The measurements are based on the measurements of these towels (20″ x 30″), but if you didn’t want to use these, other dishtowels would work, or any fabric you have on hand (I imagine it would be quite nice in a home dec weight cotton).

For this project you’ll need four dishtowels. These particular dishtowels are sold in packs of two, one printed and one solid. The two printed towels will make up the outside of the bag and the two solid towels will become the inside.

Note: 1/4″ seam allowance used

I tried to maximize the size of my bag, so I used a seam ripper to open up the hem on one printed and one solid towel. The front and back panels of the outside and inside are cut from one towel each. After opening the hem, cut the towel in half across the width of the towel. Due to the way the towel is hemmed, you’ll need to cut off the top edges where it’s cut on a diagonal. You will have four panels, each measuring 22″ across by 14″ high.

The remaining pieces will be cut from the two remaining towels. My diagram below shows how I cut out these pieces out of each towel. You’ll cut two straps, each 2″ in width, the length of the towel. The bottom of the bag is 15″ by 6.5″, and a pocket, which is 14″ by 10.5″. The remaining section can be used to cover the removable bottom. Cut the same pieces from the second towel.

Make the straps:

Match one printed strap and one solid strap, right sides together and sew along both long edges. Turn right side out and top stitch along each of the long edges.

Attach the inside pocket:

Hem the perimeter of the pocket piece and pin to the right side of one of your liner pieces. I like to center the pocket across the width, and attach it about 3/4″ from the bottom of the right side of the liner piece.

Attach the pocket to the liner piece, sewing along three sides, leaving the top open. At this point, you can decide if you want to sew in any dividers. I did an offset divided pocket on the first, and stitched a line right down the center on this one, creating two equal pockets.

Sew the lining:

Put the two lining pieces right sides together and stitch along both short edges.

Now attach the lining bottom piece. With right sides together, center the long edge of the bottom piece along the bottom edge of one lining piece, as pictured here –

Stitch along this edge, starting and stopping 1/4″ from each edge.

Repeat to attach the second side to the second lining piece. You now have the shape of a bag, with an opening at either end of the bottom piece.

Take the short edge of the bottom and align it with the bottom edge of the lining pieces that have not yet been sewn, as pictured – (repeat for second short edge)

Now you should have a completed bag, as such

Repeat the same steps (Sew the lining) to create the outside of the bag.

Now you’re ready to put the bags together! There are two methods – probably a right and a wrong… who knows!

Method 1:

Place the outside bag inside the liner, right sides together. Slip the handles in between these two layers, right sides together (the straps should be positioned straight, not on an angle as pictured below!). Pin and sew along the top edge, leaving an opening large enough to pull the bag pieces through. Fold in the raw edges of the opening and top stitch around the top edge.

Method 2: (my preferred method, though maybe just because it’s the way I’ve always done it…)

Place the liner inside the outer bag, wrong sides together, lining up the side seams. Fold the top edges inwards and iron flat. Slip the handles in between the layers, positioning them as you’d like. I placed mine about 4″ from each seam.

Topstitch along the top edge. To make sure the handles are secured, I also add an additional stitch line, about 1/4″ below the topstitched line.

Making the removable bag bottom:

I used cardboard pieces to create a solid bottom for this bag. My cardboard was a bit thin, so I used two layers. Use your remaining fabric to create a sleeve for the cardboard. On my first bag, I had enough of the printed towel, but on this one I did not, so I used the remaining liner fabric.

Cut the cardboard 6″ x 14 1/2″. Take your remaining fabric piece and cut a piece large enough to fit around the cardboard, leaving enough extra for the seam allowance. My two pieces of cardboard put together measured 1/4″ thick, so I cut the fabric 13″ wide. It measured 15″ in length already, and the piece I had leftover already was hemmed on one end, which I left as the opening.

With right sides together, sew along the long edge, then flatten the tube so that the seam is in the center of one side. Sew the un-hemmed edge shut.

Flip right side out and slide the cardboard inside. If you leave the hemmed edge open, you can replace the cardboard if needed, or remove it for washing.

Trim all threads and admire your new large tote bag!

As always, feel free to email me with any questions!