Kids Makes

Jean genie

Make a denim bag from an old pair of jeans. It’s quick, easy and a great way to be environmentally friendly – and you get a new handbag into the bargain! Wendy Gardiner provides the simple step-by-step instructions.

MATERIALS
Jeans
Jeans needle
Optional: Belt and corsage

To make up

1. Lay jeans on flat surface and pin front and back legs together to hold in place.

2. Draw a cutting line straight across the legs just above the crotch seam and then cut through all layers.

3. Taking one of the cut-off legs, draw a rectangle for the strap, 14 cm wide x 56 cm long (5 ½ x 22”). Cut out from both front and back of leg to get two pieces.

4. Machine stitch short ends of strap pieces together at one end to get one long strip. Press seam open.

5. Turn under and press 13 mm (1/2”) on one long edge of strap.

6. Fold un-neatened long edge of strap to centre and then fold neatened edge in too, overlapping the raw edge of other side at centre.

7. Make sure you use a jeans needle (which is stronger) and then use a straight or decorative stitch and machine stitch down the centre of the strap, to sew the overlapped edges in place. Sew again 13 mm (1/2”) either side to further strengthen the strap.

8. Neaten the raw edges of strap ends with zigzag stitching close to edge a couple of times.

9. Turn bag piece inside out and then pin straps over the side seams so that approximately 4 cm (1 ½”) of the ends are inside. Stitch in place, working slowly over the bulky side seams (you may need to turn the balance wheel on side of machine by hand to stitch over the seam area). Stitch in a square with cross inside for added strength. (Stitch across strap, down to within 13 mm (1/2”) of neatened end, across strap and up to start of stitching. Then stitch diagonally from corner to corner.

10. Still with bag inside out, pin lower edges together and machine stitch seam. Neaten raw edges with two rows of zigzag stitch. Press.

11. Finish by threading a belt through the belt loops and pinning on a corsage – which of course can be changed to match your outfit as many times as you want.

Smart ideas

• Use another piece of the cut off legs to make a pocket inside the bag. Cut a piece 15 cm (6”) square, Turn 13 mm in on all sides and press. Stitch to hold seam allowance in place. Pin pocket to inside of bag just below waistband. Stitch sides and bottom edge – before sewing bottom seam of bag.
• Make the bag bigger or roomier by adding a bottom gusset. Cut two pieces of fabric slightly wider than bag bottom measurement from side to side edge and 5 cm (2”) deep. With right sides together, stitch long edge of one piece to bottom edge of bag front. Repeat for other gusset piece on bag back. Still with bag inside out, stitch side seams of gusset section and then with bottom edges of gusset matching, stitch the bag bottom seam. Again neaten as step 10 above.
• Add fringing to the bag. Pin fringing to the wrong side of the bag front edge, with straight edge of fringed trim matching raw edge of bag so fringing is towards centre of bag. Stitch in place. Pin back of bag over the fringing, sandwiching fringing between the front and back and stitch bag bottom seam as step 10 above. When turned through to right side the fringing will hang down.