The BEACH ROBE PATTERN

A few years ago on a whim we took Lucy’s bathrobe to the pool and I decided that it was the only way to go. The robe was warm, cozy, and didn’t fall off as she tried to eat her post-swimming snack.
So instead of taking our towels to the beach and pool, now we take our robes!
And I often get comments from people asking where we bought them.
I love surprising them with, “I made it.”

Now you can surprise them too! These robes are easy to make and don’t require any special skills or tools.

THE BEACH ROBE PATTERN – $8

Purchase the Pattern HERE in the SHOP

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The Beach Robe is made from a large beach/bath towel and bound with simple bias tape. You can also use normal terry cloth fabric but I find that the cutest terry cloth is in the towel aisle of your local retail store.
What I love about the Beach Robe:
* My kids love them and are excited to get out of the pool and put them on.
* The robe is fun to sew and so cute when it comes together. My husband’s sick of hearing “awww” coming from my sewing room.
* It’s a great go-to sewing project for birthday gifts! Every niece, nephew, friend, and child should have one!
* The Beach Robe is good all year long since it can be used for summer fun and also at home, after a bath or shower.
* The robe makes an excellent “dressing room” when changing clothes. With the robe on, my child holds the front open slightly and we discreetly pull off their swimsuit and slip on the undies and clothes. I really love that aspect.
* And most of all….the robe comes with options:
Make the robe long-sleeved or short-sleeved.
Give it a hood lining.
Go hoodless!

It’s a choose-you-own adventure kind of project.
The robe is unisex, comes in 3 sizes, 4 looks, and with 12 pattern pages that are printable from your home computer, on standard 8.5 x 11 paper.
Here are the nitty gritty details….
* This is a 29-page PDF document, which means you download it after payment to your computer. The pattern is not mailed to you. When you open the download pattern link, make sure you save the pdf file to your computer so you always have it for future use!
* The file size is about 2MB
* The first 17 pages are filled with colorful photos and step-by-step instructions for making a beach robe. You don’t need to print these pages, if you plan to reference it your computer as you sew.
* The last 12 pages are pattern pieces that can be printed and taped together
* The pattern contains detailed info about sewing fabrics that have “nap”, such as Terry Cloth.

The pattern comes in 3 sizes
The sizes are wide-ranging since a robe is loose and accommodates many sizes.
* 9 months-18 months
* 18 months-3 Toddler
* 3 Toddler-4 Toddler + (my daughter is a skinny 5 year old and the 4T yellow robe above fits her great)

There are 4 looks (and plenty of room for your own interpretation):
* Long-sleeves or short-sleeves
* Lined hood
* Hoodless
* Partial ties or Full tie

Skill Level
The pattern is aimed at the “experienced-beginner” level and up. Anyone can tackle it but it’s probably not a first-time sewer project.

Fabric and Supplies needed
* 1 to 2 large Beach/Bath towels (or 1 3/4 yards of terry cloth fabric)
* 3 packages of 1/2 inch wide, double-fold bias tape (or about 7-8 yards of handmade bias tape)
* Standard sewing machine and standard presser feet – no fancy tools (a Serger is optional)

We’ve also added an alternate method for sewing the sleeves. Check out our updated tutorial HERE:
Go from this.
To this:

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THE BEACH ROBE PATTERN – $8
Purchase the Pattern HERE in the SHOP

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Frequently Asked Questions:

* Will the Beach Robe Pattern come in larger sizes?
I had no idea you’d be so interested in the Robe for older kids. I don’t offer larger pattern sizes at this time (and nearly killed myself getting the current 3 sizes put together). But you can try to enlarge the pattern yourself by extending the pieces and using something your older child currently wears as your guide. Sorry, I don’t have step-by-step info for that but it’s the kind of sewing I love….winging it and figuring it out!

* Do I need a fancy sewing foot or other equipment to make the robe?
Nope! I sewed all of my robes on a standard sewing machine with a standard machine foot, using normal old thread, and at one point I even used a ball needle (which is typically used for knits) since my Universal needle broke and I was out! Haah. So there you go, “winging it” Sewing 101.
One of my pattern testers recommended a Walking Foot for terry cloth that is very thick. But if you sew with thinner towels (as discussed in the pattern) you’ll be fine with a standard foot.

* Does the pattern print to paper sizes other than U.S. Letter (8.5 x 11)?
Yes…though you may have to juggle it just a bit. The pages print right to the edge of the paper (borderless) and the pages are meant to butt up right next to each other, so that the dotted lines meet. When you print to another paper size, the image should still be true to size, but you may have a bit of a border or space on the edge. You need to line up the dotted lines with each other and you should be set. One of my pattern testers from Belgium printed on European paper size and said she had to shimmy the pages a bit here and there but got it to work fine.

* My child is a bit more “round” at the waist than most kids. Will the pattern fit?
The robe is designed to accommodate many body types, since robes are loose fitting. So yes! Owen has worn his with over a bulky life vest and it still fits.
And that’s it!
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Sewing.

  1. 1) Amy Forrer

    tried to pay with paypal but did not go through…is this still available? hope so! best, Amy

  2. 2) Diane

    Hi – Would you be willing to make me the orange and white robe shown here: http://www.saltwater-kids.com/2011/06/testing-testing.html

    I have been searching hi and low for an orange robe for my son’s birthday and I am not having much luck. His favorite color is orange, and the one shown in the link above it exactly what I’ve been looking for!

  3. 3) Kim

    I too are looking for the beach robe pattern. Do you still have them?

  4. 5) Suzanne

    Dana,
    thank you for making such a straight forward pattern. Your pattern was detailed and well illustrated. Even for less than experienced sewer the robes were a breeze to make.
    I have made three robes: 4T and then two lengthened for 5T and 6 it was easy to lengthen a few inches and the 4T shoulders even fit a skinny 8 year old.
    We get compliments everywhere we go. They are great for running to the car after swim lessons in cold Utah winters.
    Thanks

    • 6) Rachael

      Suzanne-
      I am interested in making this for my 5.5 year old. I wanted to find out for your larger ones did you only legthen the body length and sleeve length or did you have to make other adjustments? Did you make adjustments to the hood? (my boy LOVES a hood do I gotta make that work! šŸ™‚ ) Any help you can offer would be great. I want to buy the pattern, but want to make sure I can make it work for both my older and younger child…
      Thanks,
      Rachael
      ramealor yahoo com

  5. 7) Gina

    Thank you so much for designing this pattern. I purchased it a long time ago and finally got time to make it a couple weeks ago. It went together so well, and it looks great. It’s a fabulous beginner project, and I definitely see more of these in my future! I wrote a little review with pics at http://willyount.blogspot.com/2012/07/made-beach-robe-review.html.

  6. 8) Jamie

    I just love all your stuff!! Thank you!

  7. I just made my first one and you’re right, the awwwwww is involuntary. Thanks so much for a great pattern. It’s very easy to follow! This was my first ever piece of clothing and it was super simple.

  8. 10) Erica

    Hi there

    How long (approximately) will it take a beginner sewer to make a hooded, lined, long-sleeved girls’ beach robe?

    Thanks

  9. 11) Ruby

    I really want to make this for my 6 year old son! Can it easily be adjusted for larger sizes??

    • 12) Dana

      you just need to follow the pattern lines and draw them a bit larger in the length mostly, for a 6 year old. I would use some clothing he owns to gauge the sizing. Sorry, I don’t have instructions for this but it wouldn’t be hard to do.

      • 13) Ruby

        Thanks Dana! I bought my fabric today and will purchase your pattern. Wish me luck with the sizing! This will be my first attempt at altering a pattern! šŸ™‚

  10. 14) Alix

    Hi Dana, I love this beach robe (and my friends do too) and am wanting to sell the finished product on my etsy shop. Do I need to buy a special license to do this? Thanks!

  11. SO excited to go home and make this as a birthday present for a 2-year-old’s Beach Birthday Party tomorrow. Wish me luck! šŸ™‚ Do you think I’ll have time to make them for my 2 and 5 year olds too? LOL…

  12. 16) Nnacy

    thanks for all the great instructions and pictures.. I would suggest you number pages though, so we don’t have to as there are quite a few to keep track of:) I’m off to sew!

  13. 17) me'mere

    This is a great pattern, and I had no problem purchasing on line. I am starting my 3rd robe and made only one change…I used the terrycloth for the inside of the hood and used a cotton beachy fabric on the outside. It makes a cute contrast to the robe and the terry will better absorb water from wet hair. Highly recommend this pattern!!!

  14. 18) Molly

    Hello – this pattern is so cute. Is it still available?

  15. 19) donnie loy

    Please send me the link for the bathrob.

    • 20) Linda griffin

      Please send link for child beach robe size 3-4. Thank you

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