9. Beach Day Tote with Mesh Window
Nothing says summer quite like a bright, breezy beach tote, and this version includes a mesh window so sandy items can drain and air out. The clear window is fun to peek through, and it makes the bag look cheerful and modern. It’s a great project to sew for a vacation, a pool day, or a picnic in the park.
Use a sturdy cotton or canvas for the main body and a piece of vinyl mesh for the window panel. Sew the mesh into a section of the front or back panel, reinforcing the edges with double topstitching. The rest of the bag is a simple tote construction, but using brighter colors, summery prints, or nautical stripes gives it that beachy personality.
You’ll spend about two to three hours on this project. The difficulty is beginner to easy intermediate, and the most important step is securing the mesh well so it doesn’t pull away from the seams. To customize, add a waterproof lining, an internal wet bag for swimsuits, or a snap-down towel clip on the side.