How to Sew a Zippered Mesh Storage Bag

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If you're a boat owner, you know that storage solutions are at a premium on your vessel. But there's great news — you can give yourself more room to organize and store sailing essentials by making removable mesh storage bags for your boat! In this DIY video, we'll show you how you can transform almost any out-of-the-way cubby with a useful mesh zipper pouch.

Video Chapters:

Intro — 0:00 min.
Measuring Space — 56:31 min.
Marking & Cutting Back Plate — 2:16 min.
Marking & Cutting Front Plate — 8:17 min.
Adding Zipper to Front Plate — 11:44 min.
Adding Piping to Front Plate — 19:14 min.
Making Continuous Boxing — 24:35 min.
Adding Stiffener to Boxing — 27:50 min.
Sewing Boxing to Front Plate — 32:57 min.
Adding Snap Reinforcement Strip to Back Plate — 41:35 min.
Installing Snaps — 43:25 min.
Sewing Assembly to Back Plate — 46:38 min.
Mounting YKK^® SNAD^® Fasteners — 52:21 min.
Materials & Tools List — 59:47 min.

Materials List:

Soltis^® 86 Vinyl Mesh White 69" Fabric (#120725)
Lenzip^® #10 White Continuous Molded Tooth Zipper Chain (#124381)
Seamstick 1/4" Basting Tape for Canvas & Upholstery (36 yds.) (#122065)
PremoBond^® Tex 90 (V-92) White UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. (1,350 yds.) (#123337)
Lenzip^® #10 White Style C Single Non-Locking Metal Zipper Pull (Molded Tooth Chain) (#124403)
EverSoft™ Vinyl Welting / Piping White (#125109)
Tape Dacron^® 8 oz. White 4" (Not Adhesive Backed) (#104472)
Sailrite^® Woven Sew In Tags (2 pack) (#121627)
YKK^® SNAD^® Fastener Adhesive-Backed Domed Stud White 40mm (#103354)
DOT^® Snap Fastener Button 11/64" (Nickel-Plated Brass) (#333777)
DOT^® Snap Fastener Normal Action Socket (Nickel-Plated Brass) (#333050)
3M™ Tape Primer 94 Adhesive Promoter Ampule (#120671)
Masking Tape, Rubbing Alcohol

Tools List:

Scribe-All^® Black Marking Pencil for Vinyl (#121977)
Deluxe Tape Measure 120" (#123120)
Sailrite^® Scratch Awl (#123270)
Gingher^® 8" Scissors Right Handed (#19104)
303^® Multi-Surface Cleaner 32 oz. (Quart) (#30553)
Sailrite^®Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" (#102400)
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine (110V) (#311602)
Suisei Magnetic Sewing Guide (#102983)
Seam Ripper Deluxe (#18104)
Sailrite^® Leather Strap Cutter (#123268)
Sewing Gauge Ruler 6" (#102995)
Pres-N-Snap Installation Tool (#109011)
Tape Measure, Straightedge, Rag, Pencil, Mallet, Screwdriver, Clamp

DIY Zippered Vinyl Mesh Storage Bag 2 — We used YKK^® SNAD^® Fasteners to hang our bag without drilling into our boat.

We recommend using a vinyl mesh for your zippered boat bag. That's because mesh fabrics drain water and allow airflow, which will help keep the bag's contents dry. This is especially important in a marine environment, since moisture trapped in a non-breathable bag can foster mold and mildew growth. We chose Soltis^® 86 vinyl mesh fabric for our bag, but you can also use Phifertex^® or Textilene^®. Whichever brand you go with, just make sure to choose an open mesh fabric so your bag drains water effectively.

At Sailrite^®, we're all about helping you learn new DIY techniques and tricks — and this project is no exception. This video will show you how to use two project items in ways you may not have thought of before. Here's a sneak peek: Premade piping and the Sailrite^® Leather Strap Cutter have alternate applications. Can you guess what they are? We won't give away the surprise ... you'll have to watch the video to discover the hidden talents of these DIY favorites.

DIY Zippered Vinyl Mesh Storage Bag 3 — Learn how to build a bag-style zipper with two sliders in this DIY!

Another great thing about this mesh bag is that it doesn't just have to go on a boat. You can hang this by your pool, in your outdoor entertaining area, in your garage or anywhere else you need a sturdy, removable storage bag that minimizes the risk of mold and mildew growth. Ready to DIY the storage solution you need? Watch the video now to learn how to make a mesh bag.

Where did you put your custom zippered mesh bag? Tell us in the comments below. And if you want to show off your handiwork, share some pictures of your bag on your favorite social media platform and tag us at #sailrite. We love seeing what our talented customers are up to — share your photos today!