How to DIY a Cute Denim Bag From Old Jeans

Enitan Agbabiaka
by Enitan Agbabiaka
6 Materials
$5
10 Minutes
Easy

I love making denim bags from old jeans. Upcycling jeans into bags is such a great use of old jeans because denim is a nice strong fabric.


The best thing about this project is it is so easy. You can make this bag in ten minutes.

Tools and materials:

  • Old jeans
  • Woven rope or ribbon
  • Denim waistband
  • Four denim belt loops
  • Fabric
  • Closure
Materials

1. What you need

You will need one leg of pencil leg jeans, a denim waistband, four denim belt loops and fabric for a lining.

Measuring

2. Cut, pin and sew

Cut the leg of the jeans to be 9.5 inches wide and 22 inches long. 

Pinning

Double fold one side .25 inch. Pin it in place and sew.

Lining

For the lining, cut the fabric the same size, 9.5 inches wide by 22 inches in length.


Fold and iron the top edges of both sides.

Adding embellishment

3. Embellishments

Take the belt loops, pin and sew them across the front of the top part of the bag.

Adding embellishment

Take a piece of 1-inch-wide woven rope and measure it to be 33 inches long. Then fold it in half and cut it into two pieces. 

Adding embellishment

Burn the edges to prevent fraying. 

Adding embellishment

Thread one rope through the two belt loops on one side and the other through the loops on the other side.

Folding

Fold the bottom up, with the right sides facing in and the pin and sew the sides of the bag. Do the same with the lining.

Shaping the bag

4. Shape the bag

Measure 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) up and across the bottom corners of the bag and the lining.


Then inside that square measure 2 centimeters (.8 inch) up and across. 

Shaping the bag

Cut out the 2-centimeter (.8 inch) squares.


Fold in the corners so the edge from the bottom and side of the bag are facing each other. 

Shaping the bag

Pin them together and sew. Then turn the bag and the lining so the right side is facing out.

Adding strap

5. Add your strap

Measure another piece of the 1-inch-wide woven rope 18 inches long.


This is your strap. Pin each side to one side of the bag and sew them in place.

Adding lining

6. Add your lining

Turn the lining inside out, put it in the bag and use a hot glue gun to glue it to the bag.

Attaching closure

7. Attach a closure

Now your bag will need some type of closure.


I am using a 3 in 1 fastener strip. You can also use magnet closures or Velcro.


If you’re using a fastener like me, hot glue the edges inward. Glue the fastener to the lining.

Trimming rope

As a final step, if the rope on the bag is too long, cut it to the desired length and burn the edges to prevent fraying.

DIY denim bag from old jeans


DIY denim bag from old jeans

DIY denim bag from old jeans 

Can you believe how quick and easy this project was? Best of all, we did some amazing upcycling and created a very cool looking bag.


Bags are always practical and useful so it’s great to upcycle old clothes to create bags. Bags are also easy because you don’t need to deal with complicated patterns.


What do you guys think? How did your bag come out? I want to hear all about it. Leave me a comment in the comments section.


For another denim DIY, check out my post on How to DIY a Cute Denim Patch Mini Skirt From Jeans.

Suggested materials:
  • Old jeans
  • Woven rope or ribbon
  • Denim waistband
See all materials

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