DIY Infinity Tote Bag: Upcycle Old Jeans | Miarti 🧵, by Miarti - Reuse on YouTube. 2 min 13 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 13 s
- Time to do it
- 2 to 3 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Unpick the back pocket from the jeans with a seam ripper and set it aside. Cut the jeans open at the inseam so the fabric lies flat.
Cut the front pant leg away from the rest of the jeans. Press the denim flat with a hot iron so it is easy to trace and cut.
Lay your paper pattern on the flat denim, trace around it and cut two main pieces. Cut two matching pieces from the cotton lining.
Cut shapes from the lining fabric, pin them onto the denim and machine stitch around each shape with a short stitch length.
Trim the top denim layer close to the stitching so the colored lining shows through as an applique.
Fuse interfacing to the wrong side of the denim pieces. Topstitch the patch pocket onto the front piece.
Sew the darts on the denim and lining pieces and press them flat. Pin the denim and lining right sides together.
Stitch the top edges of the straps and the top edge of the bag. Fold the bag right sides together, align denim and lining, and pin.
Sew the side and bottom seams, leaving a small opening in the lining. Turn the bag through the opening and stitch the gap closed.
Tips and common mistakes
Press every seam as you go so the denim stays flat and the finished bag sits square.
Use a denim needle and a slightly longer stitch on thick seams to avoid skipped stitches.
Trim the applique slowly and keep the scissors flat so you do not cut through the stitching.
Questions
Can I make this bag without a paper pattern?
Yes. Draw a rectangle about 63 x 29 cm on paper and round the bottom corners slightly. The video uses that size for two main pieces.
What fabric works for the lining?
A medium weight cotton or cotton blend is best. It holds the darts well and gives a clean contrast color for the applique.
How big is the finished tote?
About 26 x 25 x 9 cm (10 1/4 x 9 7/8 x 3 1/2 in). It fits a book, a water bottle and small shopping.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
