How to Make a Purse Out of Children's Jeans

Children's jeans make durable purses.

Denim, whether soft and worn or dark and crisp, is easy to work with and durable enough for an everyday purse. Start with a pair of children's jeans to make a shoulder bag. The smaller jeans make the project more manageable than if you use a pair of adult-sized pants.

Things You'll Need

• 1 pair child-sized jeans
• Pins
• Scissors
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Fabric for lining
• Seam ripper

Instructions

1. Lay the jeans flat on a table. Cut across under the zipper and above the crotch, removing the legs from the body of the jeans and leaving the bottom completely open.

2. Open the crotch seam just under the zipper using the seam ripper. Overlap that fabric and sew in place, making the front of the jeans flat. Smooth the jeans out and trim the back bottom to match the front if necessary, due to the excess fabric in the seat of the pants.

3. Fold the lining fabric, right sides facing, and lay the top of the jeans over it. Cut through the lining fabric around the jeans, adding a 1/2-inch seam allowance on the sides and bottom. Pin the sides and bottom of the lining fabric and sew around these three sides. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4 inch. Measure up 2 inches from each corner and press the fabric flat along the diagonal. Sew along the fold, boxing the bottom of the lining. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4 inch.

4. Turn the jean bottom inside out. Sew the bottom straight across with a 1/4-inch seam. Measure up 2 inches from each corner and press the fabric flat along the diagonal, as you did with the lining. Sew along the fold, boxing the purse bottom. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4 inch.

5. Slip the lining into the purse and fold the top of it down so that it is even with the bottom of the jean's waistband. Pin in place.

6. Cut a 4-inch strip of fabric the length of one of the pant legs. Do not include a side seam. Trim the bottom hem off. Fold this strip in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together and press. Open and fold each side in toward the pressed crease and press each side. Fold back in half and press again. Sew along the open side. This is your purse strap. Pin the strap to the side seams, between the purse and the lining.

7. Sew around the whole purse under the jean waist line, attaching the lining to the purse and catching the straps as you go. Sew another line at the straps for durability.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a long scarf or men's tie for a strap instead of making one of denim. Just tie through the side belt loops.

References

• Thread Banger: Old Jeans to New Purse