How to DIY a Cute Pocket Jean Purse

Tools and materials:

• Old jeans
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks or super glue
• Zipper
• Rope or cord
• 2 lace locks (optional)
• 2 small foldover binder clips
• Ruler
• Fabric marker
• Seam ripper or small scissors
• Cutting-out scissors
• Sewing machine (optional)

1. Cut out the base purse

I'm using a pair of boot cut jeans for this project. You need a distance of at least 8 inches (20 cm) between the inner and outer leg seams.

Mark out a rectangle 8 inches (20 cm) wide across one leg of the jeans and 9 inches (22 cm) long. Make sure to incorporate at least one leg seam in your rectangle.

Cut out the fabric through both layers of the jeans leg.

Cut off one of the leg seams if necessary, so your rectangle has one closed side and three open sides.

2. Finish the edges

Open out the fabric and turn in half an inch (1 cm) along the two short sides. Glue them in place.

3. Add the zipper

Place the zipper right side facing you over the center seam on the wrong side of the purse.

The top of the tape should extend half an inch (1 cm) outside the raw edge.

Don’t worry if your zipper is too long. We’ll adjust the length later.

Glue a line along one side of the zipper tape and press the folded edge to it. Repeat for the other edge.

Press both edges down firmly.

4. Attach the handle loops

Carefully cut or seam rip two belt loops from the jeans.

Turn the purse wrong side out and place a foldover clip over the zipper tape at each end.

Fold one belt loop in half with the wrong sides together and place it between the two layers of the purse, close to the zipper.

The open ends of the loop should extend half an inch (1 cm) outside the edge.

Glue the loop together and to the top and bottom layer of the purse.

Repeat with the second loop on the opposite side.

Remove the foldover clips and cut the zipper tape to length, if necessary.

Glue the side seams of the purse closed, above and below the loops. 

Secure the ends of the zipper tape to the fabric.

Trim the excess from the ends of the loops.

5. Add the outer pocket

Open the zipper and turn the purse right side out.

Cut a patch pocket from a pair of jeans. Use a pocket with a flap closure if you have one.

Glue the outer edges of the pocket to the outside of the purse. 

6. Attach the handle

Cut the rope or cord to the length you want.

Push each end through the loops and knot them securely. Make sure the knot is large enough so it won't pull through the loop.

If you prefer, you can attach lace locks to the ends of the cord before knotting it.

Cut a 3 inch (8 cm) piece of cord and thread it through the hole of the zipper tab.

Glue the two sides of the cord together just above the tab and leave the ends free.

DIY jean purse

You can wear your DIY jean purse as a crossbody or shoulder bag.

It would also look great with a chain handle instead of the rope or cord. I’d suggest attaching the chain with a D ring through each loop.

The hot glue technique is almost as strong as sewing when using a fabric like denim. It also dries faster than most fabric glue. It’s not recommended for a heat sensitive material like polyester though, which can melt if the glue is too hot.

Did you enjoy this tutorial? Leave a comment.

And, for another denim upcycle, check out my post on How to DIY a Cute Floral Cosmetic Bag.