Skip to content
Over 180 freebooks free for newsletter subscribers

Estimated reading time: 3 min

Sewing pattern: how to sew a mesh bag

27.05.2018 by Sabine Schmidt

Schnittmuster: Tasche aus Mesh nähen
Small bags are perfect for keeping everything you need close at hand in everyday life. With my sewing tutorial and free pattern, even beginners can sew a practical mesh bag!

Simple and fun: Sew a mesh bag

Ever since I started sewing little bags out of clear vinyl and mesh, that is, this net fabric, I've been totally enthusiastic about these materials. It’s great that you can actually see through them! That's why I grabbed the Nanami makeup bag pattern and got started right away. The result is a small bag with a zipper and two compartments made of vinyl and mesh that works perfectly as a mini organizer for your handbag. Granted, an arsenal of makeup, tampons, and lip balm won't fit inside. But the bag is perfect for a few business cards, pens, and a cell phone. And: It's light as a feather! I really don't like it when my shoulder bag weighs me down. :) Sewing a mesh bag

Overview: Materials used, measurements & accessories

Happy simple sewing, your Sabine Sewing a mesh bag

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Step-by-step instructions

Sew a mesh bag – here's how

A featherlight mini bag with a zipper and two see-through pockets made of clear vinyl and mesh – works wonderfully as a mini organiser for your handbag. It uses the free sewing pattern „Schminktäschchen Nanami“.

  1. Step

    Cut the outer pieces and Bosal fleece

    Cut two pattern pieces from the outer fabric (ideally with the fabric folded double) and one pattern piece from the Bosal fleece.

    Cut the outer pieces and Bosal fleece
  2. Step

    Fuse the Bosal between the outer pieces

    Place the Bosal fleece between the two main fabric pattern pieces and iron it in place.

    Fuse the Bosal between the outer pieces
  3. Step

    Cut the vinyl and mesh pieces

    Divide the sewing pattern at the lower edge of the zipper.

    Use the lower section to cut one piece from the clear vinyl and one mesh piece.

    Use the upper section of the pattern to cut an additional piece of cotton fabric.

    Cut the vinyl and mesh pieces
  4. Step

    Prepare the zipper

    Thread the zipper pull onto a piece of continuous zipper about 21 cm long.

    Cut two fabric pieces of 3 × 5 cm, fold the short sides towards each other and press them.

    Stitch the fabric tabs to the ends of the zipper with a straight stitch. On both sides, the zipper tab should be about 1.5 cm from the edge of the pattern.

    Prepare the zipper
  5. Step

    Bind the mesh and vinyl with bias binding

    Bind the upper straight edge of the mesh and clear vinyl with cotton bias binding.

    Bind the mesh and vinyl with bias binding
  6. Step

    Join the zipper to the fabric strip

    Sew the 4th fabric strip right sides together onto the upper edge of the zipper.

    Then edgestitch from the right side with a straight stitch.

    Sew on the mesh piece with a straight stitch at the same distance from the zipper.

    Join the zipper to the fabric strip
  7. Step

    Secure the mesh piece on the outer bag

    Trim the fabric tabs on the zipper a little and secure the mesh piece on the prepared, interfaced bag piece.

    Add extra pins on the back so nothing shifts.

    Secure the mesh piece on the outer bag
  8. Step

    Bind the bag with bias binding

    Start the bias binding on the side with the vinyl pocket.

    On the lower straight edge of the bag, start just before the curve and leave about 8 cm of bias binding as seam allowance.

    At the corners, fold the bias binding to the right so it forms a diagonal to the corner, then back to the left along the fabric edge. Sew to just before the corner, secure the thread, turn the bag and keep sewing.

    Leave the end of the bias binding overlapping by about 8 cm as well.

    Bind the bag with bias binding
  9. Step

    Join the bias binding ends

    Open the bias binding and place the two ends right sides together. Mark the joining point with pins.

    Join the two ends with a straight stitch.

    Trim the seam allowance and press it open, then sew on the rest of the bias binding.

    Join the bias binding ends
  10. Step

    Edgestitch the bias binding

    Fold the bias binding around the fabric edge and secure it with fabric clips.

    Then edgestitch it in place with a straight stitch. Done!

    Edgestitch the bias binding

Comments

Comments are loading …

About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.