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To make a towel bag that folds into a backpack, choose between sewing a fabric panel and flap onto one towel or turning a hand towel into a pocket attached to a larger towel. The fabric-panel design adds a closure and room for small items; the hand-towel design avoids cutting and hemming the main towel. Follow one pattern’s measurements and steps as a set.
Choose a towel backpack design
| Feature | Fabric-panel backpack | Hand-towel pocket backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Base | One beach or large bath towel, with a sewn fabric panel and flap | A large towel joined to a hand towel that forms the pocket |
| Closure | Hook-and-loop tape on the flap | The folded towel tucks into the pocket |
| Straps | Made from coordinating cotton fabric | Cotton webbing sewn onto the hand towel |
| Cutting and hemming | Requires cutting several fabric pieces and sewing the panel and straps | Designed to avoid cutting and hemming the towels |
| Finished size | About 17 inches tall by 15 inches wide, according to SewCanShe’s tutorial updated April 25, 2026 | Not stated in the Craftaholics Anonymous tutorial |
| Small extras | The tutorial describes room for items such as a water bottle, goggles, or snacks | Capacity for extras is not stated in the tutorial |
The steps and cutting list below follow the fabric-panel pattern from SewCanShe. For a simpler approach that uses a hand towel as the pocket, follow the separate Craftaholics Anonymous tutorial rather than combining its dimensions with this pattern.
Fabric-panel backpack: materials and measurements
- One beach towel or large bath towel
- One yard of coordinating cotton fabric
- Four inches of hook-and-loop tape
- One large safety pin
- A curved corner ruler or a template with a three-inch radius
- Basic sewing supplies, including a sewing machine and thread
Cut the coordinating cotton fabric into these pieces:
- Two strips, each 4 by 26 inches
- Two rectangles, each 18 by 16 inches
- Two rectangles, each 8 by 16 inches
- One strip, 3 by 8 inches
These are the pattern’s fabric measurements, not finished bag dimensions. Keep the towel intact; the added fabric creates the backpack panel, flap, and straps.
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- 2-in-1 BACKPACK IN SECONDS – Integrated drawcord channels cinch the cloth into a roomy daypack, freeing your hands for sunscreen and snacks; unroll to full 71 × 39 in coverage for lounging or picnics.
Sew the fabric-panel backpack
- Make the straps and panel pieces. Use the pattern’s directions to fold and sew the fabric strips into straps and assemble the panel and flap. The tutorial’s illustrated instructions show how the listed pieces correspond to each part.
- Add the closure. Sew the hook-and-loop tape to the towel and flap in the locations shown in the pattern so the flap can close over the panel.
- Position the panel. Center it on the towel, keeping the flap free to open and close.
- Sew the panel to the towel. Stitch around three sides of the panel, leaving the flap edge open. Backstitch at the towel’s top edges to reinforce the strap attachment area.
- Fold the towel into the backpack. Use the source pattern’s fold-up instructions or video to tuck the towel into the sewn panel and close the flap.
Thick towel layers can be bulky under a presser foot. SewCanShe notes that a walking foot, also called an even-feed foot, may help feed the layers evenly. It is optional, not a required part of the pattern.
Alternative: make a pocket from a hand towel
The Craftaholics Anonymous version uses a large towel, a hand towel, and 20 inches of cotton webbing. Its method places webbing straps on the hand towel, folds and sews that towel into a pocket, and attaches the pocket to the larger towel. The towel is then folded and tucked into the pocket for carrying. Use that tutorial’s placement and assembly instructions as a separate pattern; it is not the same construction as the fabric-panel backpack.
Rank #2
- 2-in-1 BACKPACK IN SECONDS – Integrated drawcord channels cinch the cloth into a roomy daypack, freeing your hands for sunscreen and snacks; unroll to full 71 × 39 in coverage for lounging or picnics.
Related variation: towel bag with a zippered pouch
Utah State University Extension describes a related towel bag with a zippered pouch and suggests 30 inches of one-inch webbing for a strap. That is a bag-style variation, not a measurement or step for either backpack pattern above: Utah State University Extension’s Beach Bag Towel.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- 2-in-1 BACKPACK IN SECONDS – Integrated drawcord channels cinch the cloth into a roomy daypack, freeing your hands for sunscreen and snacks; unroll to full 71 × 39 in coverage for lounging or picnics.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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