Summer Series - Project #4

Last one!  It might not look the prettiest (I'm sure you could do a nicer job), but this is quite a functional item.  A camera case that your camera can wear while you take photos.  I love taking photos at the beach, but inevitably my camera comes into contact with sand and/or water - grrrr!  While this camera case won't solve the problem entirely, it will definitely help a little.

The Beachy Keen Camera Cover-up

Ta da!  You can leave it on while you take photos!

You can even look at your photos, and adjust your settings - while your camera stays nice and dry...


This was a pretty easy project, though a little bit fiddly due to its size (my impatience didn't help much either).  Still a beginners project, and I think it took me about 2 hours altogether...

You will need:

Cut your main pieces as follows (I cut each piece much bigger than I needed too, so that I could make any necessary adjustments throughout):

Now:

This was an afterthought, and very necessary I think...

I was too busy sewing to take photos of the next stages - sew your base piece to your camera bag.  I spent a little bit of time adjusting it at this point, as it was a little more roomy than I wanted.  Alternatively, you could also give your camera bag some extra padding for further protection.

 

Project #1 - here
Project #2 - here
Project #3 - here

Summer Series - Project #3

The second to last of my beach towel tutorials!  This is quite a floppy bag unless it is full.  I could have lined it or something to make it stiffer, but I wanted it to be easily washable and quick to dry...  That's the beauty of using towels!  I also didn't do any nice hemming, it's all very rough.  This was mainly because I don't enjoy hemming towel fabric, and my machine doesn't either.  Also because I'm not particularly fussy, and I wanted this to be the type of bag that you don't feel too precious about.  If you use it as intended, as a 'beach day' nappy/changing bag, then it's bound to get pretty banged up and dirty.  And despite the lack of hemming, it still looks pretty tidy & respectable really...

The Beach Baby Nappy Bag:

The towel works as a nappy changing mat (you can place a regular nappy mat over the top to protect it if you like, or even just use a cloth nappy), and also works as a nice drying spot if your bub has had a little swim.

Yet again this is a beginners project, which I completed during this afternoon's nap time.  The following tutorial is really just a basic outline of what you could do, but I think this is a fun project to be creative with.  I kept it pretty simple, with few pockets and a basic design - but you could definitely pretty it up and add some cute features...

You will need:

In retrospect I should have trimmed the sides of this pillow case to start off - so that the change mat fit the bag properly.  I ended up making some pleats to draw the sides in so that it fit well...  Yay for simple solutions!

NB:  These open ended side pockets didn't really work out for me - maybe close them up, or place them closer to the base of your bag...

As you can see, I was able to use existing features of the pillow case to make little outside pockets.  Maybe you can do the same - or make some pretty pockets of your own...

Yay!

Summer Series - Project #2

Maybe you guys are like me, and don't actually follow tutorials at all.  I just look at the pictures and go - "yeah I think I could make that," and then give it a go.  Well anyway, feel free to do just that, and completely ignore my instructions, which might not be that fab anyway.  But if you do want a step by step, this is how I made the following project...

The Sunbathing Companion

From this:

To this:

Just add your sunbathing self to this pic!

This project is a little more challenging than the last, though still really a beginner project (because what am I?  A beginner.  Yeah that's right).  It definitely took me a couple of hours to make this.

You will need: 

Cut the 1st towel into the following pieces (you should have a medium sized piece left over)

The instructions (sorry they're so hard to read on this one): Draw both edges together and pin - leaving 1cm(ish) between the edge of the pillow seam and your new seam, so that the towel lies flat (see the pic below for further clarification...

Then sew!

The pic doesn't show it, but both handles are on the same part of the towel, the erm, flap.  One on either side of the pillow.

 
I think velcro will work much better than domes, but either would be fine...

And well, that's pretty much it.  I don't know technical sewing terms, so I hope you were able to follow all of that, and if not, were able to figure out how to do it anyway.  The result will be a lovely sunbathing towel with an attached pillow, that can all be rolled up into a bag and carried (with sunbathing items included) down to the beach with you.  It had me hanging out for summer days, that's for sure.

If you DO make one, please pop back and share a link, I would love to see how yours turns out!

Check out more tutorials and projects here:

Or children's party ideas here:

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