Getting things started with deciding the size of your bag. For the size of bag that I made, I cut my strips 5 inches wide by 21 inches along WOF (width of fabric). I cut out 5 pieces for each panel. (Figure 1) For my lining fabric, I cut a 21” x 21” square of fabric twice. Making it in the theme of summer, I picked 4 fun tropical fabrics. Sew your front strips together at ¼” seam allowance and set aside. (Figure 2)
Place your lining piece on your batting and cut around the shape of your piece about ½ inch. Place your front piece in line with the lining piece on the other side of the batting. You should have something that looks like Figure 3. Using a clear ruler, draw your quilt lines and quilt your pieces on your machine. (Figure 4) When complete, trim the sides of the batting off of the quilted pieces. Trim a 3” x 3” square off the bottom corners of your pieces. (Figure 5)
Using your quilted bag pieces as a pattern, cut out 2 vinyl pieces per bag panel. (Figure 6) To add a pocket, trace the bag from the bottom to the middle of the side. Set aside. For your matching bias tape, you can follow this Janome technique blog here! Using this bias tape, finish the top of the pocket off with this. (Figure 7)
Place the finished pocket on top of the vinyl piece. Place this vinyl piece on the lining side of a bag panel. Using fabric clips, clip the fabric together and flip the piece. (Figure 8) On the other side of the bag, place the second vinyl piece onto the fabric. Use clips to piece together the pieces. Placing a piece of tissue paper under your seam, stitch the top at ¼” Seam Allowance. (Figure 9) Place the bias tape along the length of your edge and use bias tape to finish. Repeat for the other side of the bag. (Figure 10) On the side with your pocket, stitch a straight line from the top of the pocket down to the bottom of the bag.
To make your straps, tape a 5” x 21” strip of fabric and press in half. Press the long edges in ½”, then the ends in at ½” as well. (Figure 11) Stitch across handle at ¼” intervals to create a faux quilted look. (Figure 12) Measure 6” inside the bag and mark. Match the edge of the strap to the mark, and place 1 ½” from the edge of the bag and clip. Sew a box x stitch to attach the straps. One strap goes on each side. (Figure 13)
Sewing the side seams, place both the front and back of the bag pieces together, and hold with clips. Sew at ¼” Seam Allowance, then finish with bias tape. Repeat for the other side and the bottom of the bag (Figure 14 & 15)
To finish the bottom, match the bottom seam line with the side seam so the 3” x 3” square is folded into a line. Stitch this seam and finish with bias tape like the previous seams. (Figure 16) Turn the bag inside out, and Viola! You are now the proud owner of a waterproof beach tote!
