✅20 Minutes! ✂️ From Old Jeans To A Stylish Bag 👖DIY old jeans/Sewing quickly with smart sewing, by Oui Sewing on YouTube. 15 min 48 s.
- Video length
- 15 min 48 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Wash and dry the jeans, then cut off both legs just below the crotch. Keep the back pockets if you want them on the bag.
Cut the leg fabric open along the inner seam so each leg lies flat. You now have two flat denim panels to work with.
Measure and cut two matching rectangles for the bag body, about 35 cm wide and 40 cm tall. Cut a lining pair the same size.
Place the two denim rectangles right sides together and pin the side and bottom edges. Sew them with a straight stitch and a 1 cm seam allowance.
Sew the lining pieces the same way, but leave a 10 cm gap in the bottom seam. Clip the corners so they turn sharply.
Turn the denim bag right side out and press the seams flat with an iron. Leave the lining inside out.
Cut two denim strips about 8 cm wide and 60 cm long for the handles. Fold each in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew along the long edge.
Turn the handle tubes right side out and press them flat. Pin one handle end to the front top edge and the other to the back, about 8 cm in from each side.
Slip the denim bag inside the lining, right sides together, and pin the top edges. Sew all the way around the top with a 1 cm seam.
Pull the bag through the gap in the lining, sew the gap closed, then topstitch around the top edge. Press and your bag is ready.
Tips and common mistakes
Use a denim needle and go slowly over thick seams so the machine does not jam.
Backstitch at the start and end of every seam and at the handle joins, since a bag carries weight.
Reinforce the handle attachments with a square and an X stitch for extra strength.
Keep your fingers clear of the needle and unplug the machine before changing the needle.
Questions
Do I need a zipper for this bag?
No. This style is an open tote with no zipper, so it is simpler to sew. You can add a magnetic snap later if you want it to close.
Can I sew this by hand?
Yes, but use a strong backstitch and heavy thread. A machine is much faster and gives stronger seams for a bag that holds weight.
What if my jeans are too small for two 35 by 40 cm panels?
Piece panels together from smaller scraps and sew the joins first. Press the seams flat so the bag looks neat.
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.
