Cute and Easy DIY Bag Made From Jeans
You don’t need to throw your old or torn jeans away. I’m going to show you how easy it is to upcycle denim into a really cool bag made from jeans.
Straight leg or bootleg jeans work a bit better for this than skinny jeans, but use whatever you have.
This is an easy project that beginners can tackle with confidence.
Tools and materials:
- Bootleg jeans
- Lining fabric
- Fusible interfacing
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Tailor’s chalk
- Pins
- Safety pin or Kirby grip
- Sewing machine
1. Prepare the denim fabric
Lay the jeans flat. Cut off one leg just below the crotch.
Put the rest of the fabric aside.
Cut open the inner leg seam and open the leg out flat.
Draw a straight line across the leg just below the top.
Draw a line parallel to it at the bottom of the straight section of the leg.
Cut along both lines.
Draw and cut a line along one long edge, to straighten it out.
Fold the leg in half and cut the other edge to match.
2. Cut out the bag shape
Your finished rectangle should be approximately 21 inches (52 cm) long by 14 inches (35 cm) wide.
Fold it in half widthways with the right sides together.
Measure and cut out a 1.6 inch (4 cm) by 1.2 inch (3 cm) rectangle through both layers of each corner on the folded edge.
Cut a piece of lining fabric and a piece of interfacing to the same size and shape.
Press the interfacing to the wrong side of the denim. This will make a firmer bag and also strengthen any weak or torn areas.
3. Make the handles
Cut two pieces of denim from the other leg, each 20 inches (50 cm) long by 4 inches (10 cm) deep.
Fold them in half lengthways with the right sides together.
Sew the long edges together, taking a quarter inch (half centimeter) seam allowance.
Use a Kirby grip or safety pin to turn them right side out.
Topstitch along each long side, a quarter inch (half centimeter) from the edge.
4. Attach the pocket
Cut one of the pockets from the jeans, leaving about 0.75 inches (2 cm) of fabric around it.
Pin the pocket 2 to 3 inches (5 cm to 8 cm) from the top edge of the bag.
Sew it in place, stitching on to the extra fabric around the pocket on all sides.
5. Attach the handles
Measure 2.4 inches (6 cm) in from each side along the top and bottom edges of the bag.
Pin one handle to each edge, lining up the raw edges and placing the outer edges of the handle against the marks.
Sew the handles in place on the right side.
6. Assemble the bag
Fold the bag in half widthways with the right sides together. Match the top edges and the cut-outs.
Sew the side seams as far as the cut-outs.
Bring the sides of the cut-out together diagonally with the side seam in the center, and sew them in place.
7. Attach the lining
Sew the side seams and cut-outs of the lining in the same way, leaving a large opening in one of the side seams.
Turn the lining right side out.
Tuck it inside the bag, so the right sides are together.
Line up the side seams and the raw edges.
Pin and sew the top edges together.
Pull the lining outside the bag.
Pin and sew the cut-out corners of the lining and the bag together on each side.
8. Finishing
Pull the bag out through the opening in the lining.
Sew the opening closed.
Roll the top edge of the lining and bag between your fingers to get a sharp seam.
Pin the lining in place and topstitch one or two rows around the edge from the right side.
DIY bag made from jeans
Upcycled denim jeans make a very cute and surprisingly strong bag.
You can put a snap-on or velcro closure inside the top edge for extra security. It’s also very easy to add inside pockets to the lining before assembling it.
And of course you can join a piece of fabric from the other leg to make the bag larger. Have fun experimenting and being creative!
For more sewing patterns and idea, please follow me on TikTok: @tugbaisler
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I have made several purses from all different kinds of material. But it has been several years so thank you for sharing this. Now I can get inspired to start making them again!
I ove Jean bags…thank you for such clear directions and great pictures!