How to Make a Purse From Blue Jeans

Finished purse.

You can make an interesting and inexpensive purse by recycling an old pair of blue jeans. Obviously the size of the purse will be dictated by the size of the jeans. For a larger tote, use an old pair of men's jeans. For a petite purse, a pair of child-sized jeans works perfectly. This purse goes together very quickly and can be completed in 30 to 45 minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Pair of old blue jeans
• Ruler
• Marker
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Square adhesive Velcro closure

Instructions

Cutting pieces

1. 

   Lay the jeans flat on a table with the zipper up. Use a ruler and marker to create a level cutting line at the crotch.

2. 

   Cut through the jeans using the marker line as a guide. When cut, the piece should look like an extremely short blue jeans skirt.

3. 

   Cut the purse strap from one of the cut-away legs. Lay the leg flat on the table and cut up the longest side of the leg 1 1/2 inches in, cutting through both layers of fabric. This will yield a strip of fabric that is 3 inches wide. The length of the strip will depend on the length of the jean leg. Cut the strip widthwise according to your desired strap size. The average length of a shoulder strap for a purse is around 14 to 18 inches.

Sewing The Purse

1. 

   Turn the body of the purse inside out, and machine stitch along the bottom of the cut jeans, leaving the waist area of the jeans open. Turn it right-side out.

2. 

   Fold the strap piece in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together and with the original jeans seam forming an edge along one side of the strap. Machine stitch the on top of the right side of the fabric, leaving a 3/8-inch seam allowance along the cut edge. The finished strap will have a raw edge along one lengthwise side, with the original jeans seam along the opposite edge.

3. 

   Attach the strap by machine stitching each end of the strap to the inside of the jeans waist at opposite sides, attaching at the original side seams.

4. 

   Add square adhesive Velcro closures inside the jeans waist, placing one piece of closure in the center back of the waist and the corresponding piece inside the waist under the front jeans snap.

5. 

   Trim all loose threads.

Tips & Warnings

• You can attach patches, trims and embellishments to the purse for added individuality.

• For added strength, double stitch all seams.

References

• Life Hackery

Resources

• Recycled purses