XL Beach bag - tutorial » BERNINA Blog

XL Beach bag – tutorial

It has been summer vacation in Flanders for several weeks now, and we are getting ready to go on our annual vacation.
My teenage daughter has developed her own style and saw a super cool beach bag on social media.
One that you can wear as an XL version, but can be made smaller if you have less stuff to carry.
‘Can you make one for me mommy?’, she asked.
Yeah sure, always happy when she asks me to make something for her anyway ;-).
And the idea for this XL Beach bag was born.
I’m happy to guide you through this tutorial so you can get started yourself.

And maybe even better, you get this beach bag pattern as a free gift with the purchase of any other pattern in the webshop of Bel’Etoile, valid until 31/08/2024!
The pattern includes an A4 file, A0 file and projector file, seam allowance is included.
You can also purchase the pattern separately at a small price, click here for more info:
https://www.beletoile.com/en/shop/xl-beach-bag-pdf-eng/

I used my BERNINA 480 and BERNINA L 890 to make my version of the bag ;-).

BERNINA L 890

The L 890 is perfectly suited for working with all types of fabrics, including knits as well as wovens. With One-Step BERNINA Air Threader ✓ Intuitive operation via touch screen ✓ Fast, precise & quiet ✓ Manufactured by BERNINA ✓ 100% designed and engineered in Switzerland ✓

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BERNINA 480

The B 480 is made for all sewers and hobby tailors who love beautiful design but also sophisticated automatic features. A brilliantly simple machine.

Learn more

Requirements

-fabric (see pattern for recommended fabrics and quantities)
-fusible interfacing H200
-6 anorak buttons
-sewing machine and overlocker

XL Beach bag – Tutorial

1.Cutting and preparing your pattern pieces

Cut your pattern pieces from your chosen fabric.

Finish 2 long edges and 1 short edge of both outer pocket pieces with your overlocker.
Finish the edges of the inner pocket all around with your overlocker.
Finish the edges of the phone pocket all around with your overlocker.

Iron fusible interfacing on the wrong side of both strap pieces.

Mark the placement for thebuttons on the outer pocket piece that will later become the back of your pocket.
Make the markings on the right and wrong sides of the fabric.

2.Attaching phone pocket

Stitch a guideline at 1cm from the edge of the pocket piece.

Fold over 1cm at the top of the pocket, right sides facing.
Pin into place.

Stitch both sides of fold into place at 1cm from the edge.

Fold back into place and push corners out.
Topstitch at 2mm from the edge.

Press the pocket seam 1cm inwards.
Use the stitched line as a guide.

Pin your pocket on the right side in the center of the inner pocket piece.
The correct placement is indicated on the pattern.

Stitch at 2mm from the edge.
Stitch a “corner” at the beginning and end for extra strength.

3. Preparing the inner pocket

I’m illustrating this step using drawings instead of photos because I used the selvedge of the fabric as the top edge (I like small details 😉 ).
Therefore I did not need to hem the top edge.

Iron the top edge of your inside pocket 1cm towards the wrong side.
Stitch into place right next to the edge.

Fold and press your inside pocket with the wrong sides together.
The hemmed top edge will be 3.5cm from the unhemmed edge, this line is also marked on the pattern.

Pin and stitch side seams of inner pocket piece.

Finished 😉

4. Preparing outer pocket pieces

Iron wonderdots (6 total) on the wrong side of the outer pocket piece that will later become the back of your pocket.
The placement of the wonderdots is indicated on the pattern.

Attach 3 anorak buttons to the bottom of your outer pocket piece.
Use the lower parts of the snaps.
We will attach the snaps at the top later.

The “bump” is on the right side of the fabric.

At the top of both outer pocket pieces, pess 1cm seam allowance inwards.

Then press another 2cm of seam allowance inwards.

The pressed lines will help you finish your top edges later.
For now, fold these back open.

5. Stitching outer pocket pieces together

Before sewing the outer pocket pieces together, take a moment to pin the inner pocket in place.
Place inner pocket and outer pocket piece (front panel) wrong sides together.
Place your inner pocket in the center of the outer pocket piece.

We are going to lay the unfinished top of the inside pocket against the pressed seam allowance line (see the photo below).
So you will place the top of the inside pocket 3cm from the top edge of the outer pocket piece.
Pin in place.

Now place both outer pocket pieces right sides together and pin the long sides and bottom short side.
Stitch in place.
Note, the pre-pressed seam allownace is folded back open to sew the side seams together.

Now fold the seam allowance at the top of your pocket pieces into place, using the lines your pressed in earlier.
Pin in place.

You pin the seam allowance over the inside pocket.

Stitch into place at 2mm from the edge, all the way around.

Turn your bag right side out and press flat.

Now also attach the buttons to the top of your bag on the indicated marks.

This is what your buttons will look like on the outside of the bag:

This is what your buttons will look like on the inside of the bag:

6. Preparing and attaching straps

If you haven’t already reinforced the straps with fusible interfacing, you can still do that now 😉

Press 1 long edge 1cm inwards.

Press both short ends 1cm inwards.

You corners look like this:

Now also press the other long edge 1cm inwards.

Your corners look like this:

Press your strap in half, wrong sides together.

Stitch both long sides at 2mm from the edge.

Repeat for the other strap.

Pin the ends of 1 strap to the front of your bag, use the marks on the pattern.
You pin the strap to the outside of the bag.
Make sure your strap is not twisted.