Beach Tote Liner

Summer may be officially over, but my beach trips aren't!  Some of the my nicest trips to the beach have been in November and December.  Even on Christmas Day!

I saw this vinyl woven tote at Target early in the season, and knew it would go on clearance eventually.  Sure enough it did and I snatched it up and made a quickie fabric liner to keep the sand out.

Here's how I made it (you could use this method for lining any bag or basket).

I measured around the perimeter and added enough for two seam allowances.  I cut my fabric at that measurement x wof.  I stitched up both sides of the fabric with RST using the seam allowance measurement that I had added in.  I finished the seam with a zig zag stitch along the edge (didn't want to get my serger out).

I measured the width of the inside of the tote.  My bag is 6" wide on the inside.

I folded the fabric so the side seam was flat against the bottom of the bag RST.  This creates a triangle.  I placed my ruler at the 6" mark as shown, drew a line on the fabric, and pinned it in place.

I stitched along the drawn line.  Now the fabric liner has a boxed shape.

Place the fabric liner inside the bag and mark the placement and size of the handle hole. I used a 2 1/2" strip of fabric and cut it long enough to extend about an inch longer than the handle hole marking.  Stitch around the marking using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Cut along the marked line stopping about 1/4" before the end and then cut into each corner as shown.

Flip the fabric to the back side, and iron in place with Heat-n-Bond.

Determine how far you want the liner to hang over the outside of the bag.  Don't forget to leave enough length for the casing.  Trim of any excess length.  Make two buttonholes in the appropriate spots in the center front of the liner.  Fold the fabric WST and stitch the casing.  I made my own tie with a strip of white fabric and threaded it through the casing with a safty pin.

There you go.  A perfect fit!

Now, stuff it full of snacks and head to the beach!