Make a Mesh Lingerie Bag for Laundry or Travelling

mesh lingerie bag

I'm always keen to try new things so when I saw this ‘fabric' I just had to give it a try.  Fabric that is far more air and holes than it is fabric.  I thought this was going to be a nightmare to sew, but I was wrong.  It's easy!

Where to buy mesh

It's not something you'll find everywhere and might not be in your local fabric store.  You can find a great selection of mesh fabric online at Fabric.com

How to sew a mesh lingerie bag

The size of your bag will be determined by the size of your zip, because the zip will go the full width of the bag.  My zip was 14 inches so I cut my mesh 15 inches wide and 22 inches long.  I'll trim it later

Cut a piece of mesh to size.  I found it easy to follow the pattern of holes with your scissors to cut a straight line.

 mesh lingerie bag

Cut some strips of fabric for the zipper edging and the binding.  My zipper strips were 1.5 inches wide and the binding strips were 15 inches long and 2 inches wide, folded, and pressed into quarters.  Now we are ready to start.

Sew the zipper strips to the zipper, with the right side of the fabric facing the right side of the zipper.  Use your zipper foot and repeat for each side.

 mesh lingerie bag

 mesh lingerie bag

Then switch back to your regular foot and overcast or zig-zag along the edge of the zipper tape on each side, to secure with some extra stitching and also to stop the fabric from fraying at the edges.

 mesh lingerie bag

Press and topstitch along each side of the zipper.

mesh lingerie bag

Pin the mesh to one of the fabric strips.  Although there is no right side to the mesh, you should pin it to the right side of the fabric.  Stitch, and then overcast or zig-zag like before to get a strong and neat edge.  Remember, we are mostly sewing air so it helps to sew each seam twice.  You'll get the best result, I found, by sewing with the mesh on the bottom as the feed dogs help it through.

mesh lingerie bag

Fold up the mesh to meet the other fabric piece and repeat, sewing the mesh to the right side of the fabric.

 mesh lingerie bag

Turn right side out.  Square up and pin along the top edge to hold everything in place.  Neaten your edges, cutting off any excess, and trimming off the ends of the zipper.  If your zip is hanging off the end, DO NOT cut off the zipper pull!

mesh lingerie bag

You might choose now to baste the side seams to stop things shifting, but I found that this did stretch the mesh a little, so that's up to you.  Add the binding to the front of the bag side seams, turning in the raw edges top and bottom.  Stitch in the first fold.

 mesh lingerie bag

mesh lingerie bag

Fold under the binding to the back and pin in place, or if you have them, the Clover Wonder Clips are ideal for this.  Top stitch from the front making sure to catch the edge of the binding on the back side.

 mesh lingerie bag

Repeat for the other side seam and you are done.

 mesh lingerie bag

mesh lingerie bag

I'll be using these bags for traveling, to keep things tidy in my case, and they'll also be handy to sort out the clean clothes from the worn ones.  When I get back, I can simply throw the whole lot into the washer still in the bag.  Perfect.

 mesh lingerie bag

Do you have any other ideas for how you could use this mesh fabric?

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Mary Anne
Mary Anne

Thank you, Deby, for this great tutorial and instruction! I recently decided to make lingerie bags for friends and family for Christmas and then stumbled upon your site. It is exactly what I was looking for! I can’t wait to get started!!

Bev
Bev

Amazing! First time I have sewn “air” (mesh) but the pattern was so detailed and easy to follow I did not feel intimidated. Since it is now July, I am starting my Christmas gift sewing. This lingerie bag will be made several times for friends! Thank you so much for such easy instructions and the pictures made it even easier!

Ash S
Ash S

So it’s now 2021 and your tutorial is still useful! Thanks for the info, I’m in the middle of making a large bag now and so far it looks much sturdier than what you can buy in the shops. Great idea to bind the sides and use fabric with the zip!

mary
mary

Thanks. My son brought home a huge mesh laundry bag from school. It was much too large to be useful at home, so I used your tutorial and made several smaller bags from the one large bag.

Sue
Sue

I’ve often wondered how to sew mesh, great idea to use bias strips for the sides. I’ll be making some now

Lesley Brough
Lesley Brough

Well what luck this was. I came across a small roll of pink lace type that I bought in the Azores on a cruise to use for my card making and never did. Now I have a use for it especially for tights and those small foot ones yhat can so easily get lost in the wash. Thank you.

kadunajoy
kadunajoy

Face Masks. I did not have much elastic when Covid-19 hit. My face masks all have ties and Mesh Lingerie Bag is perfect for preventing tangled mess of ties.

Sheila Kester
Sheila Kester

These bags would be great for produce at the grocery. It would keep more plastic out of the ocean and land fill. That is what I am going to make. I really appreciate your tutorial. I am more confident now. Thanks.

Hope
Hope

Thanks for the tutorial. I love the idea of how you made it with the fabric. I looked on line for small mesh bags to find alot of out of stock or too expensive. So I will find some mesh and try to make them myself. Thanks to you and your bright idea!

hallowmac
hallowmac

Thank you for the tutorial. I have been using mesh bags for all of my laundry needs for years. It keeps my clothes from stretching, socks from getting eaten, bras keep their shape and etc. I purchased 2 yards of mesh fabric, but I have to say that I have been too intimidated to sew the mesh for fear of it stretching when I sewed the seams. After reading your tutorial, I am going to make one right a way. You have inspired me. Thanks a million.

Karen Badger
Karen Badger

So nice to make my own! Thank you for the tutorial!

Theresia Brouns

Just made the bag. It was quick, easy, cheap, and fun. What more could you want. Thank you.

So Sew Easy
Admin
Active Member

Looks great! Thanks for sharing and happy sewing.

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Carol
Carol

I use mesh bags to wash my great grandson’s socks.(The washer really does eat them.) I haven’t lost one of his socks in over a year now. I have a front loading machine and one day, I found a whole pile of his socks underneath the rubber seal that covers the door. In a top loader they get under the agitator and get all chewed up, so YES, The washer does eat them. I used to think that was a joke…LOL.. I babysit three days a week and I was getting quite a collection of mismatched socks before I started using mesh bags.

HelenG
HelenG

Thank you for this tutorial. I’d like to make a mesh bag as an insert for our dog’s bedding, inside the cover. It can then be filled with old wadding and washed as is, but I need an opening which I can use to top up/replace the filling as it wears down. I was wondering how to put a zip in it without it being too difficult and your idea of using the fabric strips for the zip part is brilliant. Great illustrations. Thank you.

anna
anna

Thanks for this great tutorial. I like to make embroidered laundry bags as graduation gifts. This just got added to that list as well. It’s so practical, and I matched it with the laundry bag and it’s adorable. ( if laundry supplies can be adorable?) Thanks for sharing your talents!!

Mary
Mary

I love this idea, I might use this for a retreat idea.

Carolyn Oliver
Carolyn Oliver
Reply to  Mary

I love this idea and can’t wait to sew it. I found an XL mesh bag at Goodwill to use for a water bottle holder on a doll’s backpack. I only needed a little bit so now I can make lingerie bags with the remainder! Thank you!

Natasha Gordon
Natasha Gordon

I made one today, have been thinking about doing one for weeks and finally got it done. Thanks for the great tutorial :)!!!!

Andrea
Andrea

I’ll be the weird one on this topic :O) I’m a spinner & use mesh bags to wash the raw fleece from various livestock that I spin. It has been hard to find mesh laundry bags large enough to hold a decent amount of fleece & sturdy enough to survive more than a few washings. This tutorial has been great. I look forward to being able to make my own bags in any size! Thank you so much for posting this. With permission, I’d like to be able to forward the link to it on several fiber lists.

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Andrea

Hi Andrea – nothing weird – they can be used for so many things. And yes, please do share wherever you like. The more the merrier!

Holly
Holly

Wonderful tutorial and handy mesh bag. Could also be used to store kid’s bath toys or wet beach/pool items. Thank you!

Georgia Anderson

Learned to use mesh laundry bags while living in Japan where the washing machines have no center agitator post and things can get really tangled. Most of them have plastic molded teeth zips which obviously won’t rust. They are available in shorter sizes from:
http://www.zipperstop.com/product/ykk-5-molded-plastic-closed-bottom-7-to-250/

Pam @Threading My Way

This is such a great idea, Deby. The ones you buy don’t last long at all.

Pam @Threading My Way

Hi Deby, I’ve featured your mesh bag today. I’ve added these to my To Do list. Going to try and find the mesh fabric locally.

Jess @ Chaos & Love
Jess @ Chaos & Love

Great idea! I use mesh bags for so many things – it would be great to have a bunch!

Thanks for linking up with the Caffeinated Crafters! We look forward to seeing what you’ve got in store for next week!

Cheri

I found some large mesh at a thrift store…knew I could figure somethign to make with it so I did..make one of these lingerie bags! Worked out great but I just did french seams.. I LOVE how you used the binding. I will be sure to do your way next time I make them! Found you on Artsey Fartsey Linkyy

Embroiderymad

Great little bag, thanks for sharing.

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Embroiderymad

Wow I just visited – those embroidery designs are amazing. You are lucky to have such a wonderful sewing machine. I’d love to see one in action one day – but then I might want one for myself, so best not to!

Ren
Ren

This is great with the zip! And I kid you not, I just made a prototype “suitcase packing bag” for July’s First Tuesday Tutorial yesterday. Mine uses a fold-over and button/snap closure though, but clearly great minds think alike: http://instagram.com/p/pbOW38TTiC/

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Ren

Funny how we all turn to thinking of the same things at the same time. I can’t tell you the number of times I have scheduled up a post and tutorial, only within a week to see two or three others on the same subject, sometimes almost identical! It worries me that people think I’m copying, but I think these things just happen. Like when 3 comet disaster movies all come out in the same year…. The bag looks great!

Ren
Ren

That was my first thought when I saw it in my link party this morning: she’s gonna’ think I’m copying. I’m glad you understand, and have even experienced it yourself.

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Ren

It happens to me all the time – makes me feel just the same way. But we are all inspired by the same things, the same pins we see, the fabric that comes on sale, the patterns or runway releases, the seasons or events, so its no wonder we all come up with similar ideas at similar times.

Natalie Cleckner
Natalie Cleckner

Love this! I am hosting a lingerie party for my friend next month and this would be cute to give her her present in. Thanks

Kristina & Millie
Kristina & Millie

too awesome! I need to seriously work on zippers next!

Lori
Lori

Thank you Deby, my daughter picked up a couple little mesh bags from the local dollar store here, and 1st wash, mesh came off zipper. So I will use your method to make them new and better…….

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Lori

Yes, that can be the problem when what you are sewing is mostly air!

Tracey
Tracey

Oh my goodness, how cute and useful!! Don’t you ever sleep?? Every time I turn on my computer, you’ve added something new and its always a treat. 🙂 Thanks for all you do!!!

Deby at So Sew Easy
Active Member
Reply to  Tracey

I’m just ‘lucky’ that I lost my job and now have all this free time to sew. Plus, I’m a quick worker. Almost everything I do on here is quick and easy – so I can get more done!