Ready to turn those worn-out jeans into your next favorite everyday bag? This charming denim tote features a handy exterior pocket (straight from your old jeans!) and a stylish gathered top with a drawstring closure. It's spacious, sturdy, and a fantastic way to give new life to old denim – plus, it's surprisingly simple to sew!
Let's transform that denim into a functional and fashionable tote!
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate (basic sewing machine skills needed)
Materials You'll Need:
1 pair of adult-sized jeans (straight leg or relaxed fit works best for fabric yield)
Coordinating all-purpose thread (or denim-specific thread for topstitching)
Sewing machine with a denim needle (essential for piercing thick denim!)
Fabric scissors
Pins or fabric clips
Measuring tape or ruler
Fabric marker or chalk
Iron and ironing board
For the Drawstring Handles:
Approximately 2 yards (1.8 meters) of strong cotton webbing, rope, or twill tape (1/2 inch to 1 inch wide, 1.25 cm to 2.5 cm)
(Alternatively, you can make denim ties from jean scraps).
Finished Bag Dimensions (Approximate): Height (excluding handles): 11-12 inches (28-30 cm) Width: 14-16 inches (35-40 cm) Depth (bottom): 4-5 inches (10-12.5 cm)
Preparation: Deconstructing Your Jeans
Wash and Dry: Wash and dry your jeans. This preshrinks the fabric and ensures it's clean before you start.
Cut Off Legs: Lay the jeans flat and smooth. Cut off both legs of the jeans, straight across, about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) below the crotch seam. Set the top portion (waistband, fly, and pockets) aside – we'll use a back pocket!
Open Leg Seams: Cut along the inner seam of both jean legs, opening them up into flat pieces of fabric. Press them flat with an iron.
Harvest Pockets: Carefully unpick one of the back pockets from the top portion of the jeans. Try to keep it intact as much as possible. This will be your exterior pocket on the bag.
Cutting Your Bag Pieces:
All seam allowances are 3/8 inch (1 cm) unless otherwise stated.
From the flat denim leg pieces, cut the following:
Main Body (2 pieces): Cut two rectangles measuring 18 inches (45 cm) high x 17 inches (43 cm) wide.
Bottom Panel (1 piece): Cut one rectangle measuring 15 inches (38 cm) long x 5 inches (12.5 cm) wide.
Drawstring Casing (2 pieces): Cut two rectangles measuring 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) high x 17 inches (43 cm) wide.
Lining Fabric (Optional, but highly recommended for a neat finish and durability):
Main Body Lining (2 pieces): Same as Main Body: 18 inches (45 cm) high x 17 inches (43 cm) wide.
Bottom Panel Lining (1 piece): Same as Bottom Panel: 15 inches (38 cm) long x 5 inches (12.5 cm) wide.
Sewing Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare the Main Body Panels
Take one of your Main Body denim pieces. Decide which side will be the exterior front of your bag.
Center your harvested back pocket onto the front panel, about 5-6 inches (12.5-15 cm) up from the bottom edge and centered horizontally. Pin in place.
Topstitch carefully around the three sides of the pocket (leaving the top open) to secure it to the main body panel. Use a denim needle and a slightly longer stitch length for a professional look.
Step 2: Assemble the Outer Bag
Take your two Main Body denim pieces. Place them right sides together.
Sew down both side seams and across the bottom seam. Press seams open.
Box the Corners: This creates the depth of your bag.
At each bottom corner, flatten the seam so the side seam and bottom seam meet and form a triangle.
Measure 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) from the point of the triangle and draw a line across.
Sew along this line. Trim excess fabric, leaving a 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) seam allowance.
Repeat for the other bottom corner.
Attach the Bottom Panel: This step is optional if you've already boxed the corners. If you want a perfectly flat, sturdy bottom as seen in some professional bags, follow these steps instead of boxing:
With the Main Body seams pressed open, take your denim Bottom Panel.
Pin the Bottom Panel right sides together with the bottom opening of your Main Body. This requires easing and clipping around the corners.
Sew all around, attaching the bottom panel to create the bag's base. This can be tricky with denim, go slow!
(Note: The boxed corner method (Step 3 above) is often easier for beginners with denim if you prefer to skip the separate bottom panel.)
Step 3: Assemble the Bag Lining (If Using)
Repeat Step 2 entirely (including boxing corners OR attaching the bottom panel) using your Lining Fabric pieces.
Do NOT turn the lining right side out yet. Leave it wrong side out.
Step 4: Prepare the Drawstring Casings
Take one Drawstring Casing piece. Press one long edge under by 1/4 inch (0.6 cm), then again by 1/2 inch (1.25 cm). Stitch this hem in place. This will be the top edge of your casing.
Repeat for the second Drawstring Casing piece.
Step 5: Attach Casings to Outer Bag
With the outer denim bag still right side out, find the top raw edge.
Align one raw edge of a Drawstring Casing piece (the unhemmed edge) with the top raw edge of one side of the bag (either front or back). The right side of the casing should be facing the wrong side of the bag. Pin in place.
Sew with a 3/8 inch (1 cm) seam allowance. Press the seam towards the casing.
Flip the casing up and over to the right side of the bag. The hemmed edge should now be at the top of the casing. Pin in place.
Topstitch along the bottom edge of the casing, securing it to the bag. You've now formed the channel for your drawstring.
Repeat for the second Drawstring Casing piece on the other side of the bag.
Step 6: Insert Lining (If Using)
Insert the lining bag (wrong side out) into the denim outer bag (right side out). The right sides of the lining and outer bag should be facing each other.
Align the top raw edges of the bag and lining. The Drawstring Casings will be folded down inside.
Pin all around the top opening. Sew all around the top raw edge with a 3/8 inch (1 cm) seam, leaving a 4-5 inch (10-12.5 cm) opening at one point for turning.
Pull the entire bag right side out through the turning hole. Push out all corners and edges. Press the top edge neatly.
Stitch the turning hole closed by hand using a ladder stitch, or by machine with a topstitch very close to the edge.
Step 7: Thread the Drawstring Handles
Cut your webbing/rope/twill tape into two equal pieces, each about 36-40 inches (90-100 cm) long.
Using a large safety pin, thread one piece of the handle material through one drawstring casing, then continue threading it through the other casing. The ends should emerge from the same side of the bag.
Tie the two ends together securely in a knot. This forms one handle loop that will cinch both sides of the bag.
Repeat for the second piece of handle material, starting from the opposite side of the bag. The ends should emerge from the opposite side, and again, tie them together.
Step 8: Final Touches
Give your entire bag a final press.
Test the drawstring action – pull the knots to cinch the bag closed!
You're Done!
You've just created a fabulous, eco-friendly, and very practical upcycled denim drawstring tote bag! It's perfect for shopping, carrying books, or as an everyday purse. Enjoy showing off your sustainable style!
Share your denim drawstring tote creations with me on social media using #DenimDrawstringTote – I'd love to see your unique touches! Happy sewing!
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