Tips for sewing clear vinyl

I recall my beach vacation a few years ago. Typically, I gift most of the items I sew, but I always keep a few pouches for myself to use on vacation. For that trip, I scattered my essentials across five or six different pouches. At the hotel, I had to open and close several pouches to find what I needed –  every single time! It was quite frustrating. I promised myself then that I would sew pouches with a “clear window” to see the content without opening them. Years have passed, and I’m finally working on those pouches now.

Sewing with clear vinyl can be tricky, so I want to share an important tip to help you succeed!

First, you might be wondering where to buy clear vinyl. I found mine at a hardware store, in the oilcloth section. I bought a completely transparent one, but it is good to know that there are also options with various patterns, like the samples below.

Cutting clear vinyl to the desired size can be challenging without a paper backing due to its transparency. Here’s how to make this step easier, if your vinyl does not have a paper backing.

Fuse a piece of freezer paper to the vinyl. Use a piece of paper larger than the size you need. Fuse the paper with an iron set to medium temperature—be careful, as the vinyl softens quickly. Cut roughly around the paper with scissors.

Let the piece cool, then use a rotary cutter and ruler to trim it to the desired size.

Once cut, remove the paper, and you’re ready to start sewing!

Here is one of my first pouches made with a clear window!

Stay tuned for more!

Happy sewing!