Making The Full-Length Side Pockets
This design has two, full length side pockets for storing your clothes, towels, whatever. You can also uses these for pillows. This was particularly helpful for me when I was pregnant. If you've ever been pregnant, I think you'll know what I'm talking about.
Sew the bed sheet rectangle 72″x 20″ to the the canvas strip that was cut previously and attach the zipper in the middle.
Repeat this procedure for the other side.
Pin these two rectangles to the bigger canvas rectangle. This forms your two side pockets.
Attaching the zipper
All zippers are sewn in the same way.
Sew the pieces together print side in, up to the head of the zipper leave the length of the zipper open and continue sewing from the end of the zipper until the end of the fabric.
Iron the seams open.
Print side down as in the picture above, place the zipper right side down and sew starting at the top. 
Turn the piece print side up and stitch the other side of the zipper tape.
Hello. This looks like a great project. Can you please offer it in printable form? Thank you. 🙂
How clever is this. Now all I have to do is remember to do this in summer as right now it’s pretty nippy down here ( 2 hrs south of Sydney) so I am definitely not thinking of the beach right now.
Hi Mayra,
Brilliant pattern, and great tutorial! Only, I got a little lost when you were describing what to do with the oil cloth. I think it would have helped to have had a visual, either a photo or one of your clear illustrations.
Any clarification or further explanation from you or another reader/sewer would be helpful!
Thanks!
Renee
Hi Renee, unfortunately, PrintFriendly only seems to work on the first page of the tutorial. I think the comments you saw before related to another post and sorry for the confusion and the wild goose chase. I have since corrected the comments. This particular project doesn’t have a downloadable pattern or instructions. The pattern is really just dimensions in any case.
Is there a way to download this pattern?
Hi Sue, we haven’t done this one in downloadable format. Perhaps we will at some point but for the moment, you can just follow along each page from the website. Many people use tablets or iPads to be able to have instructions right at their sewing tables.
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Mayra, this is a fabulous blanket. I love how it includes a carry handle, but my favourite part is the hidden pocket underneath. I’m showcasing your fab tutorial today.
so useful, picnics, play mat in the garden, beach, this is so versatile, cant wait to make one … or two what a great gift idea for the couple that has everything.. personalise it and there you go!!
Great!. Never thought about this, now I´m impatient for make it. Thanks for sharing
Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing it.
I cannot WAIT to make this!
I would pay for a video tutorial!!
This is the perfect beach blanket! Thanks for sharing!
I think it is a great idea. My only concern is the zippers in the middle of the blanket rather than along the outside edge. How can they be comfortable to lay or sit on?
I have tested this same issue and found that the zipper drops down with your weight due to the sand, placing the zippers along the outsides makes it difficult to feed a pillow, however with any design you are most welcome to change it to your taste and needs, hope you enjoy the project, it does make a great Christmas present.
That is awesome!! Thank you for sharing!! 🙂
Ultimate Beach Blanket is great and can be adapted to sit with children watching youth soccer games or picnicing at parks as well!