Mesh Pool Toy Duffle TUTORIAL

Welcome to Color Your Summer 3!

I am pleased as peach to have orange kicking off the series for us.

The top of my project even sort of looks like…an orange. 😉

Sweet.

It’s a really quick sewing project with some out of the ordinary materials but a lot of practicality. It’s a fun  catch all for all those sopping wet pool toys and a great way to keep things stored and ready for the next pool adventure.

You’ll need:

1/2 yard nylon mesh netting
5 inches or 1/4 yard nylon rip stop fabric
1 – drawstring stopper
1 – nylon shoelace at least 45 inches long
matching threads

Note About the Materials: 
-The nylon mesh netting might be pricey – if I am remembering correctly. Be sure to use a coupon on this. I found mine at Jo-Ann Fabrics in the specialty fabrics near the ripstop nylon/wind breaker fabric.
-If your store will allow you to cut by the inch, get 5 inches of the rip stop. If not, get 1/4 a yard. I have had different Jo-Ann stores have different policies on this. Some will cut as small as two inches and some only cut by the inch after 1/4 yard…
-The drawstring stopper should be available at any fabric store in the button and notions section. I live in a small town with a tiny Walmart, and they carry it in their fabric/craft section.
-The nylon shoelace is just nylon cording. If you can find a place that sells it by the yard that’s even better (read: cheaper). Like I said, I live in a small town, so I had to get creative. I found a pack of two nylon shoelaces for $2.00 in the shoe department of my local Walmart. I got 60 inch long laces but only the 45 inch length is necessary.

So…Let’s get to it shall we?

CUT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR BAG

*Make a pattern for your circle. If you have a lid large enough then trace that and be done! If not, you’ll need to make a pattern. You have to start on paper because tracing on nylon mesh is near impossible.
*Measure a radius of 5.5 inches. Make a homemade protractor with a pencil and some yarn. Make a semi-circle.

*Use your pattern as a guide to cut out your nylon circle. I didn’t bother tracing it because it wouldn’t really show up anyway. I just cut it carefully and slowly around my paper pattern.
*Then, I realized that I could also have made a quarter circle pattern. Duh. 😉 So, do whatever you feel most comfortable with to get that circle.

SEW THE BODY OF THE BAG

*We get to do a little math here. Take the diameter of your circle, 11, and multiply it by pi. Here’s the equation to make it more clear:

11 x 3.14 = 34.5

So, 34.5 is your circumference. To that you need to add one inch to allow for seam allowance = 35.5.

*Now cut a rectangle of mesh 15 inches tall and 35.5 inches wide.
*Sew the two short ends of the mesh together with a 1/2 inch seam allowance. A regular stitch should do fine. If you want to serge the seam or stitched over it twice to ensure it’s secure, you can. I didn’t and my bag has been holding up great.
*Trim away excess seam allowance (and most likely some of the messy selvage).

ASSEMBLE THE BAG

*Pin the tube of mesh you just sewed to the circle of mesh.

CREATE A TOP CASING

*Prepare your nylon. If you have to cut it down to five inches then do so now. Instead of cutting it all the way with scissors, I cut a slit in the nylon and rip it along the grain. It is loud as Hades but will cut it straight for you with little effort. It might look wonky right after, but when you smooth it out, it should be perfectly right.
* You will want to end up with a nylon piece 5 inches tall and 35.5 inches wide.

*Sew the short ends together. Press the tube in half height wise with your iron, then press in each raw edge about 3/8 – 1/2 of an inch. Make sure your iron is set on nylon or polyester (a warm rather than hot setting). Also make sure you are pressing everything with wrong sides facing inward.

*Using a disappearing fabric marker, mark two slits for the nylon cording to come out of.
*Measure the slits with your button hole foot. Using that measurement, sew two button holes in the spots that you marked. The buttonholes only need to be 1/2 an inch tall.

*Cut those “button” holes open.
*Now, sandwich the top of the mesh bag into the nylon. Pin all the way around.
*Sew the nylon top to the bag all the way around, being sure to catching all layers.
*Add another line of stitching for strength and aesthetics.

ADD YOUR DRAWSTRING

*Now for the fun part…

*Clip a paper clip to your nylon cording and feeding it through the casing you just created.
*Pull both ends tight and even. Wiggle the ends of the nylon cording through the draw string stopper. This will take a bit of patience and diligence because it can be a tight squeeze.

*If you think your cord is too long. Trim it back, knot the ends and carefully singe them with a flame to prevent fraying.

You are D.O.N.E! 🙂 Easy right? Definitely a project you can complete start to finish in a nap time. Gotta love those.

Throw in your pool toys and you’re set to go!

I love how the bag keeps everything together and allows it to properly dry without growing mildew.

Variations: Make the bottom out of nylon rip-stop fabric (this may impede air flow though), add a handle or even back pack handles sandwiched between the top casing and the bottom circle seam. Use this bag as a mess kit wash bag at scout/girl scout camp, take it to the beach to store flip flops, etc., make a smaller one and put wet swim suits it in…So many possibilites!

Well, that’s it! Orange you glad you stopped by? 😉

Be sure to say hi to JoJo & Eloise who is sharing a super cute project at Kojodesigns today!

And click HERE to read about all the great giveaways going on throughout this series!