How to Make a Bag Out of a Pair of Denim Jeans

Tote bags are expensive if you buy one from a boutique shop. Even shopping for tote bags online can be an expensive undertaking. If you have basic sewing skills and an old pair of blue jeans that you no longer wear, you have almost everything you need to make your own unique tote bag.

Embellish your bag with buttons or ribbon when you are finished sewing and you will have a one-of-a-kind bag that will be the envy of everyone you meet.

Things You'll Need

• Old pair of blue jeans Sewing machine Sewing notions (needle, thread, scissors and pins) Tape measure Fabric pen Iron Embellishments (buttons and ribbons)

Instructions

1. Cut two 14-inch-by-16-inch rectangles from an old pair of blue jeans.

2. Lay the rectangles out on a work surface with wrong sides facing up. Fold the rectangles into three equal parts lengthwise. Mark along the two fold lines with a fabric pen.

3. Match the two rectangles together with right sides facing each other. Stitch along both long edges and one short edge with a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

4. 

   Sew a gusset on the bottom of the bag. With the bag inside out, line up the side seam and the bottom seam at a corner to make a triangle. Pin to secure and sew along the red dotted line (see image) 1.5 inches below the point of the triangle. Repeat with the other bottom corner in the same way. Keep the bag inside out.

5. Turn under the raw edge along the top of the bag 1/4 inch. Press well. Turn in again 1/2 inch and press again. Stitch along the top of the bag 1/4 away from the folded edge. Stitch again 1/4 inch away from the first stitching line. Turn the bag right side out.

6. Cut two 2-inch-wide pieces of denim from the blue jeans that are 24 inches long.

7. Fold one piece of denim in half with right side facing in. Press the fold. Stitch along the long edge to make a long tube. Turn the tube to the right side and press again. Top stitch along both long edges of the pressed tube 1/4 inch from each edge.

   Repeat with the other piece of denim to make two bag handles.

8. Fold the ends of the bag handles under to conceal the raw edges. Position the handles on the outside of the bag at the marks made in step 2. The handles should be positioned 2 inches from the top edge of the bag. Pin to secure.

9. Sew the handles securely to the bag to finish the bag .