Is there anyone who doesn't enjoy the fun bright colors of summer year round? I know I'm always bright eyed when I walk through the summer season aisles at the store! A not so fun fact though; many seasonal items often end up in the trash after just a few uses because they break due to poor quality, it's annoying to store off season, or its just easier to replace with a new one next season. I've seen a few folks using pool floats as a material and I really wanted to try it!
I have an unfortunate history of my TSA bags dramatically breaking while I'm packing, you know the clear ones you find for a few dollars in the travel section? Well I have another trip coming up, but I really don't want to buy one just to have it break by the end of the trip. So I'm gonna try to make one, from an old pool floaty a neighbor gave me! How cute are those stars?! Let's make a DIY Zipper bag!
Make sure to wash your pool float with some soap in a tub, giving it a good rinse. Lakes, saltwater, or chlorine can all be pretty yucky long term for materials! Also skip the fabric scissors when you deconstruct, go for some sturdy craft scissors and cut along the seams!
Supplies
Clear vinyl, you can use an old pool float, an old shower curtain, or look for other clear vinyl at the fabric store. You can also use opaque vinyl if it's not a TSA bag
about a 1/4 yd fabric (scraps are great)
Zipper, I used one that was about 7"
Bias tape (optional)
Sewing clips or paperclips, just no pins!
Zipper Foot
Sewing machine and supplies
You're going to want to start by covering the ends of your zipper with zipper tabs, this gives the bag a nice finished look. I cut out 2 squares that are about 3" x 2". Fold the fabric in half, tuck in all the raw edges and iron it flat.
Sandwich the zipper end in the fabric fold and sew around the edges of your fabric square. Repeat on the other end.
Measure the full length of your zipper now that you've added the zipper tabs to the end. Take that measurement and add enough seam allowance for 2 seams, this will be the length of your fabric strips and vinyl. For the fabric pieces, I cut mine at 11" x 3.5". You need 4 fabric pieces total. You can also cut your 2 pieces of vinyl, mine measures 11" by 8.5" which is tall enough that it will be sandwiched by the fabric almost up to the zipper. This is good, so if you have anything that spills it would soak through all the fabric and ruin anything!
Your fabric strips will be sewn in a sandwich with these layers, top down: Fabric good side down, zipper-good side up, fabric good side up. Your fabric edges should line up with the top edge of the zipper tape. Use a zipper foot if you have one to get as close as possible to the zipper without hitting it!
After sewing, fold the fabric so both pretty sides face out and the seam is sandwiched between them. Repeat for the other side! Top stitch around the zipper.
On your fabric pieces, iron a seam allowance in towards the wrong sides of the fabric along the edges farthest from the zipper. Do this for all 4 pieces of fabric.
Take one of your vinyl pieces, sandwich it between the 2 layers of fabric, getting the vinyl as close to the zipper seam as possible. Use sewing clips instead of pins, so you don't add unnecessary holes in the vinyl or ruin your pins! Set your sewing machine to the longest stitch length. This prevents the fabric from becoming too perforated and ripping. Sew along the edge of the fabric, making sure that you catch the fabric hems on both sides. Repeat with your other piece of vinyl!
Unzip your zipper, so you can easily turn your bag right side out! Arrange the bag so the right side are facing each other and sew all around the bag.
*Optional* I wanted to add bias tape to my interior edges to make the seams feel more enclosed since I'm using such a wide stitch length. I did this the lazy way by taking my tape and sandwiching my interior hems and just sewing. I am using a long stitch length here too.
To add a boxed shape, we need to pinch the corner lining up the side seam and bottom seam over top of each other. Measure about 1" in from the top of your corner and sew across the side seam + bottom seam. You should now have a little triangle flap! Repeat for the other side.
Flip your bag inside out and admire your handiwork!
You can also make this bag with opaque pool floaties you just won't be able to use it for a TSA bag! This black and green one was made from a Toucan float!
I'm so glad I was able to find such a practical reuse for something that might have gone to a landfill otherwise! Let me know if you try this tutorial, tag me on Instagram at @Sunny_Salvage or post it to my Facebook page! You can also follow me on Pinterest for more upcycling ideas. Happy upcycling!
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