Get ready for the holidays by transforming last year’s scarf into a DIY beach bag! Tasha Chapman created this funky upcycling tutorial so you can embrace laid-back boho style and hit the beach with your new creation. Grab a scarf – ours was lightweight linen but you can use any type – and transform it into an embellished bag that will fit your towels, sunscreen, and all-important swimming costume (head over to our swimsuit patterns to learn how to sew your own). If you don’t have a scarf then any square piece of fabric will do – just finish the edges off first. Bandanas also work well – pick yours up from the charity shop for the ultimate sustainable craft. This bag is also a great beginner sewing project as it uses very simple techniques. If you’re new to the world of sewing don’t worry you can still make your own DIY beach bag. Just head over to our sewing for beginners and how to use a sewing machine guides to help you master the stitches used.
The world really is your oyster with Tasha’s DIY beach bag. Experiment with lots of tassels, colour, and embellishments for an over the top, summer festival feel. Add a bag charm and some pom poms too – why not! Once you’ve finished your DIY beach bag you can also whip up a quick crochet sunglasses case and fun picnic blanket to pop inside to complete your handmade summer collection. But now it’s time to hand over to the lovely Tasha Chapman and learn how to make a DIY beach bag.
(if you’re on the market for a new machine check out our best sewing machines for beginners)
Fold the scarf in half, top corners together and the sides lined up. Stitch up both sides.
Mark where your eyelet will go on each top corner. We put ours about 2-3cm (¾-1¼”) down from the top and over from the side.
Cut a round hole, large enough to fit the taller portion of the eyelet, through both layers of fabric. Set the eyelet in place following the directions on your kit. The fabric should be sandwiched between the two pieces of the eyelet. It’s best to hammer on a sturdy, solid surface such as a table or the floor. Repeat on the other corner.
Thread the cotton rope through the eyelet, in through the back and out of the front of the bag, on both corners. Wrapping the raw edges of the rope with tape stops them unravelling and makes it easy to fit them through the holes.
Adjust the length of rope according to how long you want your strap. You can leave it longer for a cross body bag or make it shorter for a shoulder bag. Tie a basic knot on each side to secure.
Now it’s time to make the tassels. There should be two long sections of rope hanging from each side of your bag. Trim this rope to the length you’d like your tassel to be – we made ours as long as the sides of the beach bag.
Begin untwisting the rope and combing out the tassel. Work in sections and continue combing until it’s all untangled. Be patient – it could take a few minutes of combing before a nice, fluffy tassel appears. Work slowly. You might also find it helpful to iron the rope straight after combing each section. Finish it off by gathering together and trimming the bottom into an even, straight line.
If you want, add some colourful wrapping to your tassels. Take a long length of yarn or embroidery thread and tie it onto the rope. Weave the knot and loose end of thread into the rope and then start wrapping around it. Continue wrapping until you’ve covered as much of the rope as you’d like. If you run out of yarn or want to change colours just knot two pieces together, weave the loose ends back into the rope and continue on.
At the end, tie the yarn into another knot around the rope. Weave the loose end back into the wrapping using a large needle, then trim it off. If you want, repeat the process on the top of the tassels for even more decoration.
You’ve now got a DIY beach bag to take on all your adventures! For more summer sewing projects check out these sewing kits for beginners and our sewing patterns for beginners which are full of fun and colourful things to sew. Want to make a matching accessory? Learn how to make a scrunchie.
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