Beach Wrap with Pocket

Long, long ago, before my Pinterest boards were so full, I pinned this beach wrap. 

In these bygone days, Pinterest pins did not always link back to the original source so it took me until last week to realize that Victoria's Secret was the source of this fantastic idea.

When I started sewing a few months back, I didn't think I would ever attempt something I would wear in public, but it looked so easy, I was sure I could figure it out. 

This was not an easy project for me because I was having a bad brain day, so check out tutorials from Pia, Doranda, Diary of a Mad Crafter, and all the other brilliant crafters in Pinterland.

I bought 2 yards of a stretchy jersey fabric. I only needed a yard and a half. A good rule of thumb I read was to buy enough to wrap around your body 1.5 times, or as long as your arms will stretch out. 

As you can see, I way overshot on how much fabric that I needed. My fabric cutter at the store advised that I cut the fabric so that the fabric stretch up and down (the way it would hang) rather that side to side so it hangs better. That also requires more fabric. Bummer. 

I ended up cutting a rectangle 60" wide by 30" high. I had a TON of fabric left over!

For the straps, I cut 6 1"x 22" strips. 

I braided two straps and secured the ends with tape. 

I used a zig zag stitch around the entire rectangle to give a finished looked. Some tutorials skip this step. 

Someone woke up from his nap at this point. He was still sleepy so he cuddled against me on my chair. 

For the straps, I measured 8 inches from the top of the wide part of the rectangle down. Some tutorials cut out a C-shape for armholes, but I didn't think it was necessary.

To attach the straps, I just used a straight stitch. Then, I cut off the taped part. 

At this point, the wrap is done...

Marissa was a lovely mannequin while I worked on this wrap.

...Except the one thing. I need a pocket for my key card when I'm at a hotel. So I made one. I used my park card as a template, and cut around it, leaving about an inch on all sides. 

Placement for the pocket will be different on everyone. I put on the wrap, and then pinned the pocket where I wanted it, by my right hip.

I wasn't too concerned about how the pocket was sewn on because it's completely covered up by the front of the wrap. 

All ready for the pool!

Linked to:

Better Off Thread * Crystal & Co. * CSI Project * The Dedicated House * Home Stories From A to Z * House of Hepworths * I Heart Naptime * Keeping It Simple Crafts* Liz Marie * My Life According to Pinterest * New Nostalgia * Practically Functional * Pursuit of a Functional Home * Real Coake * Serendity Now * Sew Can Do * Sew Much Crafting * Uncommon Slice of Suburbia * SNAP