Your favorite pair of blue jeans has seen a better day but you just cannot bear to part with them, what do you do? Think “green” and recycle! Dig out the sewing machine and make yourself a new handbag or purse. Add some character to the outside with an old belt, brooches or paint. Allow one hour to complete the project.
Things You’ll Need:
Old jeans
Scissors
Straight pins
Ruler
Sewing machine
Thread
Pencil
Instructions:
Step 1 – Place the jeans on a flat work surface. Cut the legs off the jeans approximately 1-inch below the fly.
Step 2 – Turn the cut-off jeans inside out. Pin across the cut line with straight pins. Sew a ½-inch seam along the edge. Remove the straight pins.
Step 3 – Measure and cut a strip of denim from the jean leg approximately 3-inches wide and the length of the leg.
Step 4 – Place the cut strip on a flat work surface so the right side or front side of the jeans is facing up. Match the two long edges and pin together.
Step 5 – Sew a straight seam approximately ¼-inch from the long edge. Stop when you get approximately ¼-inch from the corner. Turn and sew a ¼-inch seam along one short edge of the strap.
Step 6 – Open the seam on the short edge. Insert the eraser end of a pencil between the seam. Push the pencil toward the inside of the tube. Work the length of the strap over the pencil to turn the strap so the seam is on the inside.
Step 7 – Turn the raw edge, or unsewn edge, of the strap under ½-inch. Sew a straight seam along the edge to close.
Step 8 – Pin the strap to the inside of the denim handbag in the desired locations. Position the ends of the strap so they are at least ¾-inches below the top edge of handbag. Sew a straight seam approximately ¼-inch and just above the bottom edge of the strap to hold in place.
Step 9 – Turn the purse so the seams are on the inside. Decorate the outside of the purse. Ideas include placing a belt through the belt loops, painting designs on the fabric and pinning old brooches to the pockets.
Tips:
Add a clasp to the denim jean handbag by cutting a 3-inch wide by 6-inch long piece of denim from one of the legs. Repeat Steps 4 through 7 to create the tab. Make a buttonhole in the center of the tab. Sew the tab to the handbag in the desired location using the same process as in Step 8. Sew a button to the front of the purse or secure it to the button on the front of the jeans.