Instructions for Blue Jean Purses

Blue jean purses have been popular since the 1960s, and will probably never go totally out of style. Casual and simple to make, these bags are a quick gift to make for a friend, or a simple accessory that you can put together in an afternoon.

Basic jeans bag

Cut the legs off a pair of jeans, right below the crotch. Turn the jeans inside out, and sew along a line even with the crotch seam, closing the entire bottom of the pants piece. Cut two pieces of pants leg, each 36" long, or as long as your pants leg pieces are, and about 2" wide. Thread one piece of pants leg through the belt loops in the front half of the pants body, and one through the back belt loops. Tie the end of the pants leg pieces together and you have a drawstring strap for your jeans purse. This bag goes great with all sorts of casual gear.

Overall Bag

Sacrifice an old pair of your overalls, or find a pair at the thrift store. Cut off the legs just even with the crotch level. Turn the overall body inside out and sew a double seam along the bottom, closing the entire body bottom. Turn right side out, sewing on the overall strap ends next to the bottom of the bib as tote bag straps. The bib part of the pants become a flap to close the purse. These bags are great as reusable shopping totes.

Wallet

Remove the back pocket patches from a pair of jeans. Holding both patches wrong sides together, whip stitch or blanket stitch the pocket pieces together along all sides except the top. Sew in a large snap or velcro set in the center of the top opening. This denim wallet is great for when you don't want to carry a bag, and it's just big enough for a cell phone and some cash and ID.