Mesh Beach Bag

This Mesh Beach Bag is perfect for a quick trip to the beach.  Big enough to hold a towel, a hat, your sunscreen, and a great beach read, this do-it-yourself bag is easy to make and fun for anyone who's looking for a quick sewing project.  This is also a great project to help you use up all those fabric scraps that are taking up precious space in your closet.

Materials:

• 2– 14″ X 26″ — one for the outside and one for the lining for the bottom
• 2– 14″ X 26″ — screening material
• 2– 2″ X 26″ — for the hem at top of bag
• 2– 5″ X  26″ — shoulder straps
• 2– 26″ ric rac strips
• Sewing machine

Instructions:

1. Place the screen material in between the outside and lining fabric.  Pin and sew.
   
   
    
2. Fold the fabrics back so the wrong sides are facing each other and carefully iron.  Because the screen material might melt, I would stay away from it.
    
3. Repeat with other side.  This is a bit tricky as the previous screen will be sandwiched inside.  You will be sewing a tube.
    
4. Turn right sides out and this is what you will have:
   
   
    
5. Sew a seam 1/4″  from screen- pulling on the screen and the bottom of the bag away from each other. This will keep the fabric from folding up on itself.
    
6. Hem the top edges of the tote bag– I sewed the ric rac to the right sides of the fabric and then turned it under and ironed.
    
7. Repeat for other side or fold under 1/4″ and iron or zig zag stitch the edge.  This side will be on the inside so it doesn’t have to be sooo fancy if you don’t want it to be.
    
8. Fold in half and iron- the crease at the top edge will help when you sew it to the screen material.
    
9. Sandwich the screen edge in between the top hem- pin in place, set aside until handles are sewn.
   
   
    
10. Sew the handles- Fold in half the strips the long way and sew on 2 sides.  Turn right sides out and iron.  Sew 1/4″ from the edge on each side.
    
    
     
11. Pin the handles on the inside of the tote bag, tucked under the hem.  I pinned them 6″ from the outside edge.
    
    
     
12. Sew along the bottom edge of the hem on the right side so you can watch the outside {you want this seam to be the best}.
     
13. Fold handles up and stitch to secure.
     
14. Fold the bag in half -right sides facing and sew both sides.  You might want to zig zag stitch along the fabric raw edge to control the ravel.
    
    
     
15. Box pleate the bottom of the bag.
    
    
     
16. Turn right sides out and stuff it full of Beach accessories!  And, let me tell you- it will hold it! We have a monster sized beach town in there and it looks like there could be room for 3 more!