How to Make a Bag With Old Jeans

You can make a simple bag with old jeans. These bags are great for stuffing blankets, snacks and other essentials for outdoor festivals, or for packing a survival kit for bad weather. The inside of the bag, made with old jeans, never seems to get full. It is easy to make and, because you are recycling, it is very inexpensive. Fold the bag and pack it away in your car so that it is readily available on market days or junking trips.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 to 4 pairs of jeans
• 1 yard of lining fabric
• 4 inches of 1/2-inch wide Velcro
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Hand sewing needle and thread

1. Cut the legs off the jeans and open along one seam. Sew the pieces together and cut two body pieces 27 inches wide by 22 inches long. Cut two more pieces for the handles 4 inches wide by 28 inches long. Cut eight pieces for the closure tabs 2 1/2 inches wide by 3 1/2 inches long. Lastly, cut two pieces for the body lining 27 inches wide by 22 inches long.

2. Place the two jean body pieces right sides together and pin the 22-inch sides and a 27-inch bottom. Sew a 1/2-inch seam allowance along the pinned edge. Match a side seam with the bottom seam on one side of the bag to create a point. Measure across the span of the point at a measurement of 7 1/2 inches and pin. Stitch across the span to create a 7 1/2-inch wide box bottom on the bag. Repeat for the other side. Cut the excess points from the bag. Place the two lining body pieces together the same way as the jean body of the bag. Leave a 4-inch opening in the bottom of the lining for turning. Turn the jean body bag right side out and place it inside the lining bag. Match the top edges and pin. Sew around the top of the bag using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Turn the bag right side out through the 4-inch opening in the bottom of the lining. Hand sew the opening closed. Iron the top edge of the back.

3. Fold a handle piece in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together. Match the edges and iron. Pin the edges together and top stitch 1/4 inch from the edge on all four sides. Repeat for the other handle. Note: The handles will not be turned inside out. Place the blue jean bag on your work surface. Find the center of one side of the bag and measure 6 inches on either side. Overlap the handles on the outside of the bag 3 inches and pin. Top stitch the 3-inch overlaps of the handle ends to the bag. Turn the bag over and repeat for the other handle.

4. Place two closure tabs wrong sides together and pin. Top stitch 1/4 inch from the edge on all four sides. Repeat for the remaining closure tabs for a total of four closure tabs. Turn the blue jean bag wrong side out and place the bag on your work surface. Find the center of one side of the bag. Overlap a tab on the inside of the bag 1 inch and pin. Top stitch the 1-inch overlap of the closure tab to the bag. Repeat for the opposite side of the bag and for each side seam of the bag. Turn the bag right side out.

5. Place the back tab underneath the front tab of the blue jean bag. Cut a 2-inch length of 1/2-inch wide Velcro and place between the back tab and front tab. Sew one half of Velcro to one tab and the other half to the other tab. Place the tab at one side seam underneath the tab on the other side seam. Place a 2-inch length of 1/2-inch wide Velcro between the tabs. Sew one half of the Velcro to one tab and the other half to the other tab.