How to Make a Purse Out of Jean Legs
Think twice before tossing away an old pair of jeans. While your jeans may no longer fit or have gone out of style, employing a few basic craft making techniques will transform the jeans into a purse in no time. Denim is a tough material with tight threading, suitable for holding weighted objects and resisting wind. Show off your purse to friends, family and the denim enthusiast in your life once the craft is complete.
Things You'll Need
- Jeans
- Scissors
- Needle
- Thread
- Lighter
- Ironing board
- Iron
- Measuring tape
- Standard chalk
- Tape
- 1 1/2-inch button
Instructions
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1
Lay a pair of jeans upside down onto a flat work surface. Cut the jeans in half, from left to right, 1/4 inch below the backside pockets. The top portion of the jeans, with the pockets, will act as your purse.
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2
Sew the bottom of the purse together using a cross stitch pattern 1/8 inch removed from the edge. Singe the underside edge of the purse to remove any loose strands of denim and to prevent the fabric from fraying.
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3
Place the legs of the jeans onto an ironing board. Iron both sides of the jeans with high heat to soften and relax the fabric.
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4
Draw three 1/2-by-24-inch rectangles onto the legs of the jeans with standard chalk. Cut out each rectangular strip.
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5
Cut one 3/4-inch vertical slit into the top left edge of the purse. Cut a second 3/4-inch vertical slit into the top right edge of the purse. Sew the perimeter of each slit opening with a cross stitch pattern. Avoid sewing either hole closed. The holes are necessary for holding the purse strap.
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6
Lay the three denim strips onto the work surface so one set of short ends are facing you. Tape the 1 1/2-inch ends of the denim strips to the surface at the far end of the table.
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7
Braid the strips. Cross the left strip over the center strip. The left strip is now at center. Cross the right strip over the center strip. The right strip is now at center. Continue this process until only 1 1/2 inch of loose denim remains at the near end of the braid.
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8
Tie the near end loose strips of denim into a knot. Remove the tape from the far end of the braid. Tie the far end loose strips of denim into a knot. Press one knot through the left side purse hole. Press the opposite knot through the right side purse hole.
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9
Cut one 1 1/2 inch vertical slit into the top edge of the purse at center. Sew the perimeter of the slit openings with a cross stitch pattern. Avoid sewing either hole closed. The hole is necessary to secure the button for the purse.
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10
Sew a 1 1/2-inch button into the inside of the purse along the top edge at center.
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References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
