How to Sew a Curved Zipper With a Screen

SKU: X-HT-300532
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You love spending time on your boat. The sun, waves and breeze are all a relaxing, fun and much-loved part of the boating experience. But what's not so well loved? Bugs! Bugs flying into your boat enclosure and buzzing annoyingly can ruin an otherwise great outing. But not anymore! In today's how-to video, we'll show you how to sew a curved zipper in your window with a permanent screen. Keep bugs out when your enclosure windows are rolled-up with this useful DIY tutorial.

Even if you're a beginner sewer, you'll be able to tackle this project. Our tutorial walks you through each part of the patterning, basting and sewing process in clear detail without skipping any steps. We chose a fiberglass mesh fabric for our window screen. This tightly woven fiberglass screen is designed to keep out mosquitos and even small insects like no-see-ums or midges.

Another choice for your window screen is Phifertex® Standard Vinyl Mesh. Phifertex is a highly UV-resistant mesh fabric that will last longer in the sun than the fiberglass mesh fabric we chose. While Phifertex is great for keeping out mosquitos, it won't keep out the smaller insects like midges and no-see-ums. It's up to you which mesh fabric you choose for your window screen — whether you value UV resistance and screen longevity over keeping out small bugs. You can order a small sample of our mesh fabrics if you'd like to see the fabric in person before making a decision. Just click "Order Sample" on the fabric product page to add a sample to your shopping cart.

Watch the video below to learn how to sew a curved zipper in a vinyl window with a screen.

We also have a video on installing a curved zipper in window material without a screen. If you'd like to watch that video, search for "How to Sew a Curved Zipper in Vinyl Window" (#300531XHT) on the Sailrite website.

  • Marking Clear Vinyl Window Material — 0:48​ min.
  • Basting First Bias Binding Strip — 2:05​ min.
  • Testing Thread Tension — 5:33​ min.
  • Sewing Inside Edge of First Binding Strip — 7:04​ min.
  • Marking & Pre-Shrinking Zipper — 9:11​ min.
  • Basting & Sewing First Half of Zipper — 12:08​ min.
  • Basting Mesh Fabric & Second Binding Strip — 17:20​ min.
  • Sewing Mesh Fabric & Binding — 21:21​ min.
  • Basting & Sewing Second Half of Zipper — 23:44​ min.
  • Slitting Clear Vinyl — 33:09​ min.
  • How to Remove Seamstick Residue — 36:39​ min.
  • Materials & Tools List — 37:47​ min.
  • Clear Vinyl Window Material from Sailrite (we used Strataglass™ 30 Gauge) #791
  • Seamstick 1/4" Basting Tape for Canvas & Upholstery (36 yds.) #122065
  • Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas (36 yds.) #122064​
  • Bias Binding Tape 3/4" from Sailrite (we used Sunbrella® Acrylic Bias Binding Tape Black) #29138
  • Tex 90 Polyester or Lifetime Thread from Sailrite
  • YKK® Continuous Zipper Chain #10 Black (Coil Chain) #102215
  • YKK® Zipper Slider #10 Black Metal Single Non‑Locking Pull (Coil Chain) #102216
  • Fiberglass Mesh Charcoal 60" Fabric #103122 or Phifertex® Standard Vinyl Mesh Fabric
  • Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" #102400
  • Scribe‑All® Black Marking Pencil for Vinyl #121977
  • Gingher® 8" Scissors Right Handed #19104
  • Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine #300600
  • Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Industrial Sewing Table #120934
  • Chalk Pencil Cartridge Set #121669
  • Scratch Awl Yellow #2354
  • Seam Ripper Deluxe #18104
  • 3M™ Specialty Adhesive Remover 32 oz. (Quart) #108984​
  • Thanks for watching! We hope this video solved the pesky bug problem in your boat enclosure. What did you think of this DIY? Share your thoughts in the comments below!