How to Make Grocery Bags from Old Blue Jeans

Many grocery stores are asking people to use cloth bags for their groceries in order to help the environment. Plastic bags are flimsy and are not usually recyclable. But the problem with most cloth bags is that they are small and unattractive. The solution is to make your own using old, unwanted blue jeans. Blue jean grocery bags are bigger, stronger and better for the environment. Plus blue jeans are always cool.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old blue jeans
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Pins
• Sewing Machine
• Blue thread

1. 

   Lay jeans on a flat surface. Measure 17 inches from the waist band with a tape measure. Cut the pant legs off and place to the side.

2. 

   Cut apart the inseam starting with the right leg and keep cutting until both the front and back are completely separated.

3. 

   Lift the top of the jeans up so that you are looking at the inside of the back of the jeans. Pull the right and left legs together. Cut off the extra material. The part you cut off will look like triangle. Pin the edges together.

4. 

   Flip the jeans over carefully and repeat Step 3 for the front of the jeans. Be sure to start cutting under the old inseam so that it will completely cut away. Turn the jeans inside out. Sew the pinned sections together for the front and then the back. It will look like a skirt. Set aside.

5. 

   Grab one pant leg from Step 1. Cut down each side so you have a single piece of blue jeans material. Trim off the bottom cuff. This will form the bottom of the bag.

6. Take the top part of the jeans from Step 4. It should still be inside out. Place on the table with the front zipper in the middle.

7. 

   Pin the bottom of the bag from Step 5 to the cut off legs of the blue jeans that you laid out in Step 6. Start with the middle under the zipper. When you get towards each end, cut off any excess material. Tuck the bottom of the bag into the opening as you pin. Cut off excess material in the corners. Fold the corner and pin closed.

8. 

   Sew where you have pinned. Keep turning the bag as you sew until you have sewn around the whole bottom. Turn the bag right side out and set aside.

9. 

   Get the other pant leg not used in Step 5. Cut off the seams so you have two piece of blue jean material. Cut off the bottom cuff.

10. 

    Take one piece and pin the sides together inside out. Pin all the way around but leave one end open. This will form your strap.

11. 

    Sew together leaving the open end open. Pull the material inside out through the open end. Push all the material through the open end until the strap is right side out. Repeat Step 10 for the other strap.

12. 

    Pin the straps on the bag between belt loops making sure they are even on both sides. Turn the bag inside out and sew the straps onto the bag. Turn right side out and your bag is ready to go shopping.

Tips & Warnings

• For a bag this size, use size 14 blue jeans. For a smaller bag, use smaller jeans.
• For added style, decorate your bag with fabric paint, metal studs or sparkles.
• Cutting off the inseams that were part of the original jeans makes it easier to sew.
• Use a denim needle size 16 (100). Blue jeans are dense and can cause a smaller needle to break.