In this Friday Sews, I’m sharing one of my favorite kinds of makes—an easy, trendy vacation set that starts with something unexpected: Walmart beach towels. I wanted a matching little cord set for summer (because vacation is my happy place), and towel fabric is just perfect for beach and pool lounging. I walk you through how I turned striped cotton toweling into comfy shorts with patch pockets and an elastic waist, plus a cute front-tie top that’s great on its own or layered over a swimsuit top. For the patterns, I used McCalls 8063 (Top view A) and McCalls 8563 (Shorts view A). The big takeaway is that you don’t need fancy fabric to get that boutique, cruise-wear look—just a good plan and a pattern you can trust. This is a beginner-friendly sew, but it still feels polished and “put together,” especially as a matching set. If you love thrift flips, upcycles, and practical makes you’ll actually wear, this one’s for you.