Denim Tote Bag Tutorial
Here is my completed recycled denim tote bag with tutorial. I recycled an old pair of my son’s jeans to create this tote bag pattern. I used just one pant leg for the body of the bag and the other pant leg to make the straps. I lined the bag with some thrift store material that I bought for only a dollar. I want to remind readers here that I have stated in the past that I am not a seamstress so if my tutorial isn’t quite right, please be gentle. First and far most I am a recycler who tries to crochet and sew green, eco-friendly products. So with that being said, here’s my step-by-step instructions on how you too can sew a recycled denim tote bag.
First get a pant leg as shown.
All pictures are clickable
To view complete tutorial click on the read more link here >
Cut off bottom hem as shown.
Open up and fold with side seams matching.
Trim panel to approx. 14″ wide by 28-1/2″ long for tote bag as shown.
Folded back to show bag body.
Denim edge pinned on inside as shown. Sew down folded hem.
Top edge sewn and ready for side seams. Make sure you use a heavy-duty denim sewing machine needle.
Inside seams before sewn.
Sewn down side seams on outside edge. Outside seams sown after sewn.
Finish the top edges of jean pocket as shown.
All pictures are clickable
Finished jean pocket.
Here are the strap strips which are 4-1/2″ wide by 29″ long each before sewing.
Here are the straps sewn and turned right side out. I then top-stitched along the both edges on the straps.
Inside corner prep which creates a flat bottom so the bag stands up.
Corner sewn on inside 2 inches deep on both sides of the denim shell.
Here is the finished corners from the outside.
Lining with 14″ zipper. Remember the right side of fabric will be on the inside so you can insert it into the finished denim bag shell.
Pin zipper to lining as shown. My zipper was a bit long but don’t worry, you can just hide the long end inside the bag once it’s sewn inside the denim shell.
Stitch along the edges of zipper and lining as shown.
Turn lining right side in once zipper is sewn in.
Finished lining shown.
Corner of lining sewn just like on denim corner to create flat bottom.
I wanted to have an inside pocket on my tote so I added this little pocket shown here pinned to the right side of fabric.
Finished measurement on pocket is 5-1/2″ wide by 6″ long.
Now you turned the lining (right side of fabric) to the inside.
Outside pocket that I stitched in place on the denim bag shell. I machine sewed this in place over the existing top-stitching on pocket.
Next I pinned the straps in place about 2-1/2″ from either side. I overlapped the ends of strap just a bit as shown here on the inside.
Stitch the handles in place by over-stitching carefully the prior stitches on the top outside edge.
Insert the finished lining inside the denim bag shell. Pin and hand sew the lining inside as shown.
Here is a view from inside the bag as you sew the lining in. I hand-stitched the lining to the bag edge.
Inside the bag with lining complete and sewn to denim shell.
Finished bag measurements taken flat are 12-1/2″ wide by 13-1/2″ long.
Standing up bag measures 12″ by 11-1/2″.
Straps finished measurements are 1-3/4″ wide by 28-1/2″ long.
Filed under: Denim Crafts on November 1st, 2007
This is so great and I am no seamstress either! I’d like to add you to my link round up that I do when I have a bunch of links saved up.
Oh, that is pure genius! Well done!!
I have no talent or patience for sewing,
so I won’t be making one of these. But
I must say that I like it- Your son’s old
jeans made a very cute tote bag! I like
the pocket a lot, too. Well done.
You are so creative. It’s a bright idea. And doesn’t take a long time to complete the project.
If you want to see the purses I have made, come to my blog. I used more than 2000 beads and took about 3 days to complete each.
Thanks for sharing. I may make one for myself one of these days. Haha! But I need to own a sewing machine first.
I want someone to make one of these but the truth is that I can’t even manage to sew a small hole closed in my favorite jeans… I’m just useless at this stuff!
Excellent sewing tutorial for a non-seamstress - zipper and all! Lovely : )
Can I ask why you hand sew the lining to the bag, instead of machine stitching? Just wondering.
Thanks everyone for the nice comments.
Silvia:
I had already machine-stitched down the edge on the denim shell and I didn’t trust myself to stitch around again without it showing to sew in the lining. By hand-stitching my lining in, I was able to carefully work around the top edge of the denim shell and lining to make it lay down smoothly. For anyone who is more skilled, I’m sure that machine sewing in the lining would work but for me the hand stitched method worked better. lol
[...] A tutorial for making a denim tote bag. Did I mention I’m crazy about this bag making thing? And have so many worn out pairs of jeans available. May have to try it soon. [...]
I love the lining fabric. Very pretty!
[...] Summer M. When I was looking at all the awesome recycled purses from my post earlier the cutest denim tote bag stuck out at me. I’m generally not a demin purse person myself. I just do not get into the [...]
Wow, your bags are great. We sell products at a farmers market and would like to work out a deal with you if possible to buy wholesale and we will sale them retail. Let me know if your interested.
Thanks
John,
Thanks for your interest in my bags. Unfortunately I make only a few crocheted bags for sale which are at my products link at the top. I have no way to mass produce my bags or sell them wholesale. This denim bag actually was made for me and I using it right now.
nice tutorial cindy. i think i might actually be able to do this. lol.
i want a sewing machine bad, so i can make a bunch of stuff i have floating in my head. all from recycled clothing i have that either doesnt fit or is abit too worn. i hate to throw them out, so i keep them in a drawer.
nice bag!
Missy:
Good luck with your clothes recycling. I hope you can make this bag. I’m enjoying it every day as I use it. This is one that I truly made for me!
Wow… a great bag.. I am taking it to office…great recycling…
Fantastic. I have seen them in specialty shops and the prices are really quite high. You have done a wonderful job. Thanks for sharing.
This is a precious REMAKE of the 60’s Denim bags I used to carry!!!
Suggestion: Place denim side pockets INSIDE, TOO, as well as a zippered pocket inside. Since these bags are deep and dark, it would also be GREAT to somehow sew a DIVIDER-POCKET ACROSS THE MIDDLE END-TO-END ! I’ve filed your site under my “favorites> GREAT CRAFTS folder. Thanks so much for the memories! Keep those ideas flowing. God bless you. : )
P.S. Do you have a pattern for the denim brimmed “dome cap” that was worn with that bag? I had a black velvet one as well, and now Targets is selling that style but someone has taken my hat from my home, shame on them ! It was authentic 60’s, still in great shape and a winter favorite of mine, even when not particularly in style, because it was so becoming and comfortable. Even long hair could be fitted into it and it not show.
(Sigh !)…for those days of comfy ATTRACTIVE clothes and accessories…..You know the reason America’s been both dumbed down and down-dressed? It’s so the fashion designers can make the Hollywood stars look so stunning with all their long gowns we dream of owning again, now that we are frimpy, wimpy, round and frowned. They seem more concerned about the outside rather than the heart of people.
O.K., all you “stars” reading this….Go home an brighten your teeth again,
then pretend you were born with them that way ! lol When the economy bottoms out, your sparkle will be a shadowy twinkle. (I’m just jealous that I can’t afford to whiten my teeth in any way. and lost my best and favorite winter cap!) : (
Lynda:
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I don’t have a dome cap pattern. I looked around on the Internet too and couldn’t find one either. Hope you find one.
Your list had several items I planned for my students to make this month. Especially wonderful- your user-friendly directions for the denim tote– thanks!! Marylee
[...] Source [My Recycled Bags] bags, Clothing, Eco Friendly, Fashion and Beauty, jeans, proud owner, recyclebags, Clothing, Eco Friendly, Fashion and Beauty, jeans, proud owner, recycle var dc_AdLinkColor = ‘orange’ ; var dc_UnitID = 14 ; var dc_PublisherID = 25942; var dc_adprod = ‘ADL’ ; TrackBack | Suggest A Site | View blog reactions [...]
I love the look of this bag–I have been wanting to try zippers in the lining–but really couldn’t figure out how–after viewing your very nice easy to understand tutorial–I think I can do it!!
Thanks ever so much.
JUst looked at your tutorial on jean bag. It looks more updated than the jeans bag that came out years ago. I actually like this version better, and have botched up a lot of jeans w/ the other style jean bag. I just made a cute jean bag (small) and the straps are going to be on the outside of this cute little bag. Problem is that the bag is made from a pant leg as well, and the seams of the jean leg are more toward the front of the bag, giving it a different look of interest, therefore, if I were to line the straps up with the seams, (as I said were more toward the front) the straps would and did come out lopsided (top heavy) shen I pinned them. Could you help me to figure out how I am to balance these straps out? The straps are not long, but of proportion to the cute jean bag, which is about the size of a long piece of computer paer cut in half. If you have a good formula for this strap placement, please let me know, for my purse has no actual side seams ( seams closer to front of bag. Thank you, Samantha
@Samantha - I just sent you a PM. Let me know what straps you are doing and how you want to attach them. I want to help…
This is great. I have made various tote bags from a large variety of bag patterns. I’ve never tried making a bag from a pair of jeans before. I think it’d be cool to be able to try this out. I’d do the lining the way I learned from the pattern companies to do. (One side seam with a 6″ to 8″ hole in it, then right sides together with lining outside of bag, then sewn together at top. The hole in one side of the lining is to pull the bag through once you’ve sewn the top together. Then hand stitch just the hole in the side of the lining. (it’d be a lot shorter than trying to stitch all around the top of the bag, I think. But then, my hand sewing stinks)
I have made one of these. I did manage to get it done. The idea of a side seam turning-hole was alright. I had to redo the zipper 3 times (To get it zipping from the right to the left when the bag is facing front. It’s a quirk of mine.) But it’s a terrifically roomy bag and I’ve garnered a lot of compliments on it. Thank you so much for the tutorial.
@Abby:
So glad it worked out for you and you’re enjoying your bag. Thanks so much for letting me know. Best wishes!