Giant Quilted Beach Bag Sewing Tutorial by Jen Eskridge

This sewing tutorial features quilted fabric and is perfect for beach days or any days where a ridiculously large tote bag is warranted. Grab the pdf.

Beach Bag

by Jen Eskridge
Quilty Quill #2035

Scroll to the end for bag pattern variations.

DOWNLOAD THE PDF PATTERN
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Materials:

1 1/3 yard main fabric (bag body and binding) 7/8 yard fabric (side panel + pockets)
1 crib size pre-packed batting
1 1/2 yard cotton webbing (handles)

NOTE: Make this bag even quicker by purchasing the following instead of the suggested materials:

1 1/4 yard pre-quilted fabrics (bag body and sides) 1/2 yard traditional cotton (pockets and binding)
1 1/2 yard cotton webbing

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Cut Pieces:

Side Template:

Cut 4 Traditional Fabric *OR Cut 2 from pre-quilted fabric Cut 2 Pockets (at the dashed pocket line)
Cut 2 Batting *omit IF using pre-quilted fabrics

Bag Body:

Rotary Cut 2 fabric rectangles 38” x 20”
Rotary Cut 1 batting rectangle 38” x 20”

*OR cut one rectangle of the same size from pre-quilted fabric

Binding:

Cut 2 strips 2 1/4” x 10” to bind the side panels
Cut 3 strips 2 1/2” x Width of Fabric to bind the entire bag

Handles:

Cut cotton webbing into two equal 27” long pieces.

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Construction:

DOWNLOAD THE PDF PATTERN
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Step 1. Make the quilted panels

* Skip this step if you’ve purchased pre-quilted fabrics

Layer the following in this order:

Side panel right side down
Side panel batting
Side panel right side up

Pin the layers together and quilt though the three layers. Repeat these steps with the remaining side panel.

Layer the following in this order:

Bag body rectangle right side down
Bag body rectangle batting
Bag body rectangle right side up

Pin and repeat the same quilting steps used in making the side panels.

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Step 2. Pockets

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Fold the top edge of the shorter side panel pieces twice to the wrong side, 1/4”. Stitch along the fold to create a tidy hem for this side pocket. Lay the pocket on the quilted side panel and stitch it in place around the entire lower edge.

Step 3. Bind Pocket Tops

Fold the narrower, shorter binding strips in half length-wise and press. Apply a traditional quilt binding by machine to the top edge of each quilted pocket.

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Updated to add (2026): You may want to add a closure at the top of the side pockets as they tend to gap open after years of use.

Step 4. Apply Sides to Body

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Fold each pocket side panel in half to find the vertical center. Mark the center with a pin at the lower edge. Find the center of each 38” side of the larger rectangle piece and mark with a pin.

Measure from each corner 3” into the 38” side. Mark this with a pin. This will be where the top of the side panel meets the main bag pieces. It is also the extra height on the front and back of the bag.

Pin each side panel to each bag body center. Ease the bag body around the side panel curve, making sure each side panel top is 3” from the corner.

Note: You may choose to have the pocket face to the interior or exterior of the bag. This design element is entirely up to you.

Step 5. Bind the Entire Bag

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Join the short ends of the remaining 3 binding strips. Fold this in half along the length and press. Use traditional continuous binding methods to apply the binding to the entire perimeter of the bag.

Tips: Start the binding along the INSIDE top edge of the bag. Stitch carefully and ease the binding fabric around the side panel curved areas. Miter the corners, just like binding a regular quilt.

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Once the binding is applied, carefully fold it around the cut edges of the bag. Pin heavily and meticulously to ensure the binding doesn’t slip as it is stitched in place by sewing machine. Be patient. From the front, right-side of the bag, edge-stitch the binding in place.

Step 6. Handles

Place the cut edge of the handle 1 1/2” down from the top and 5” in from the bound edge.

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Stitch a LARGE X shape over the cut edge of each handle end. This bag is HUGE and will need the extra stitching to support the weight this bag can hold. Stitch over the X numerous times, including back-stitching to keep it secure. Repeat for all 4 handle ends.

Congratulations!

Your new Gia’Normous Beach Bag is Finished!

DOWNLOAD THE PDF PATTERN
*You must be logged into your free Quilty Quill account to get the pattern.

Bag Measures 12" deep x 14" tall x 20" wide

Updated to Add: Sturdy Pocket Variation

Instead of adding a simple piece of quilters cotton as the pocket ➡️

Cut the pocket pattern from additional quilted fabric.
Cut approximately 25" additional binding strips.
Bind the top edge of the pocket first.
Center it on the bag end pieces.
Sew a straight line vertically along the middle of the piece if you opt to create two pockets per bag end as shown above.
Baste the cut edge to the bag end.
Continue bag construction as illustrated in the original pattern above.

Updated to Add: Handles Variation

Instead of Webbing ➡️

Cut two pieces of quilter's cotton 10" x 30"
Cut 4 color coordinated squares measuring 4" x 4".
Create a "tube" by sewing the rectangles in half, along the longest side using a 1/2" seam allowance.
Turn the tube right side out.
Fold or gather each end of the tube so the width is roughly 1-1/2" at the cut edge.
Baste over each end to secure the width.
Pin the cut edge of each handle end in the same location the webbing as to be placed. Stitch in place.
With the remaining 4 squares of fabric, fold and press each edge 1/2" towards the wrong side.
Applique the square over the fabric handle end to conceal the cut edge.

NOTE: See in the photo above, I've quilted over the cut end when applying the square to give the handle more support and durability.