Beach Towel Tote

(Photo and text copyright Kathy Cano Murillo/The Arizona Republic, 2006)

Beach towels may be on clearance at the store, but we're still diving into the pool at every opportunity. Here's a way to take one of those jumbo towels and transform it into a functional (and very cute) tote bag.

Supplies: 40- by 70-inch beach towel with wide trim, pinking shears, sewing machine, thread, pins.

Directions: Fold the towel lengthwise. Cut the trim off one end of the towel and set aside, this will be the handles of the bag. At the other end, keep the trim (this is the bottom of the bag) and cut about 12 inches up (this is the top of the bag). Toss aside the excess, you will not need it. Unfold the towel and hem the raw edge by using the zigzag function on your sewing machine (to prevent fraying). Sew again with a regular stitch. Fold the towel again in the same fashion and sew the sides and bottom. Using the trim from the other end, cut it in half so you have two straps. Stitch the raw ends using the zigzag function. Sew one strip on the inside of each side of the bag so you end up with two handles.

Note: Use the excess towel to make another tote!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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