How to Install a Zippered Roll Up Window in Canvas

X-HT-200575

Consider adding a roll-up window to your canvas project. Roll-up windows allow airflow into the cockpit when it gets stuffy, but it also allows you to close up the window during inclement weather. Adding a roll-up clear vinyl window to a canvas panel can be a difficult project, and your window and canvas can end up wrinkled if the process is not done correctly.

Materials List:

Polyester White Loop – #105033
Polyester White Hook – #105034
PremoBond® Tex 90 (V-92) White UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. – #123337
Sattler® Acrylic Bias Binding Tape Pacific Blue – #125600
Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas – #129
Plastipane 30 Gauge Vinyl Window Material 54" x 170" Sheet – #103439
Lenzip® #10 White Continuous Molded Tooth Zipper Chain – #124381
Lenzip® #10 White Style A Single Locking Delrin® Zipper Pull (Molded Tooth Chain) – #125133
Sailrite® Snap Fastener Cloth-to-Cloth Set (Stainless Steel) – #555001

Tools List:

Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine – #311602
Sailrite® Edge Cordless Hotknife 18V Package – #122177
Sailrite® Tempered Cutting Glass – #121915
Soapstone Fabric Marking Pencil White – #102766
Sailrite® Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24"
Sailrite® Snap Fastener Deluxe Installation Tool – #100949

Great-looking roll-up window

Watch our detailed how-to video for a step-by-step demonstration of how to tackle this project properly for professional-looking results. At the end, you’ll have a functional, great-looking roll-up window.

This roll-up window installation process is not the same as a U-shape or smiley face window installation. In that window installation, you are installing a zipper in a window. Here, we’re installing the window in a piece of canvas, and that requires us to not cut out the canvas prior to basting or sewing around the outer perimeter of the window. If you were to cut out the canvas and then baste the window in place with the zipper already installed on the window, you would discover that your assembly would not be flat and would not look good.

If you are interested in other window installation project videos, we have lots of DIYs for everything you’re looking for. If you would like to install a curved or U-shaped zippered window, refer to our "How to Install a Curved Zipper" blog (#300104XHT) for a series of videos showing you how to install curved zippers in a boat enclosure. If you’d like a zippered window with a removable screen, the "How to Install a Zippered Window With Removable Screen" (#200563XHT) blog is the one you’re looking for.

Be sure to explore our entire lineup of helpful how-to videos. Here at Sailrite^® we’re passionate about DIY and about helping our customers succeed in all their sewing endeavors. Feel free to contact us if you have questions about your DIY — we’re always happy to help!