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MEET AMANDA
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Whether you're heading to the coast, the lake, or the pool, a few simple material swaps can turn an everyday tote into a bag that's ready for sand, wet towels, and sunny adventures.
One of my favorite things about sewing your own bags is that you can customize them for exactly how you'll use them.
When I was getting ready for a weekend at the beach, I knew I wanted a roomy tote that could hold towels, sunscreen, snacks, water bottles, and all the other essentials that somehow multiply before you leave the house.
The Kathy Tote was the perfect starting point.
Instead of sewing it exactly as written, I made a few simple changes to make it better suited for beach days—and I'd absolutely make these same changes again.
The Kathy Tote already checks a lot of boxes for a great beach bag.
Rather than changing the construction of the pattern, I simply changed a few of the materials.
That's one of the things I love about bagmaking. Once you understand how a pattern goes together, it's easy to customize it for different uses.
The first change I made was using a soft metallic vinyl for the lower exterior panels.
Beach bags spend a lot of time sitting on the ground, and I didn't want to worry about damp sand or dirt staining quilting cotton.
The vinyl gives the bag a little extra durability, and when I got home from the beach, I simply wiped it clean.
It was one of those small changes that made a big difference.
For the lining, I chose waterproof canvas instead of quilting cotton.
I love using waterproof canvas for bags that might carry damp towels, swimsuits, sunscreen, or water bottles because it's easy to wipe clean and adds just a little more body to the bag. It's also sturdier than cotton, so I didn't have to use interfacing, which is always a time saver.
The Kathy Tote already includes six interior slip pockets, and the waterproof canvas helps those pockets hold their shape beautifully.
One thing didn't quite go according to plan.
I was just a few inches short on my waterproof canvas.
Instead of buying more fabric, I added a coordinating 2½-inch strip of the swimsuit fabric to the top of each lining panel before cutting it to size.
That gave me exactly the extra height I needed.
Even better, it looks like it was designed that way from the beginning because the same fabric already appears on the outside of the bag.
Sometimes those "I hope this works" moments end up becoming your favorite design details.
I shared a quick video showing exactly how I did this, and it's a simple trick to keep in your back pocket whenever you're just a little short on fabric.
(Psst... I'll be sharing a full blog post on this fabric-saving trick soon, because it's one I use more often than you'd think!)
One of the biggest advantages of sewing your own bags is that you're never limited to the sample shown on the pattern cover.
You can choose materials that fit your lifestyle.
For this beach version of the Kathy Tote, those choices included:
None of those changes required altering the pattern itself—they simply made the finished bag work better for the way I planned to use it.
If you're looking for a roomy tote that's easy to customize for the beach, travel, shopping, or everyday errands, the Kathy Tote is a great place to start.
I'd love to see how you make it your own.
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Celebrate summer, patriotic holidays, and America's 250th anniversary with the Sparkler Pillow Pattern. Featuring a dimensional pinwheel star, classic Americana styling, and endless fabric possibilities, this beginner-friendly pillow cover can be made with coordinated red, white, and blue fabrics or your favorite patriotic scraps.
Gayle Point
July 08, 2026
Hi Amanda,
I have been wanting to message you to let you know I purchased your bag making bundle a couple of months ago. I am not a super seamstress, however, I have now made two Kathy bags. One of cotton fabric, the other of canvas ( not waterproof type), lined with cotton. They both are absolutely beautiful and all due to your excellent, excellent detailed instructions. I applaud you on your ability. Thank you so much. Getting ready to start a third tote.
Can you tell me where you get your waterproof vinyl as in the recent above Kathy tote? I plan on purchasing more patterns from you in the future. It makes a fun activity for me in the heat of the southern summers. I am not making them to sell.
Thank you again,
Gayle