Give new life to old jeans by transforming them into a stylish and functional tote bag! This detailed tutorial will guide you through creating a unique bag with a structured shape, plenty of pockets, and charming decorative patches. The beauty of this project is that you can customize every detail, from the color of your denim to the pattern on the heart-shaped patches. It's the perfect project for intermediate sewers looking to upcycle materials and create a one-of-a-kind accessory.
Materials You'll Need
This project uses a variety of fabric scraps and notions. Don't be afraid to mix and match different shades of denim and patterned fabrics to create your own unique look.
For the Bag Body:
Two pieces of denim, each 30cm x 31cm
Two pieces of fusible batting, each 28cm x 29cm
For the Heart Patches:
11 pieces of fabric (denim and patterned), each 7cm x 7cm
Fusible web or double-sided interfacing
For the Handles:
Four pieces of denim, each 52cm x 6cm
For the Side Panels:
Two pieces of denim, each 14cm x 24.5cm
Two pieces of lining fabric, each 14cm x 19.5cm
Two pieces of denim (for the top), each 14cm x 7cm
For the D-Ring Straps:
Two pieces of denim, each 4cm x 8cm
Two 20mm D-rings
For the Pockets:
One piece of fabric for the internal pocket, 34cm x 17cm
One piece of lining fabric for the internal zippered pocket, 26cm x 34cm
One 20cm zipper
For the Finishing:
Multiple strips of denim for bias binding, each 5cm wide
Tools:
Sewing machine
Iron and ironing board
Fabric scissors or rotary cutter
Pins or clips
Yarn needle for weaving in ends
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps to construct your unique repurposed denim tote bag.
1. Create the Decorative Heart Patches First, cut your 7cm x 7cm fabric squares. Trace a heart shape onto a piece of fusible web and iron it onto the back of your patterned fabric squares. Cut out the heart shapes and remove the paper backing. Arrange the hearts on the front of your main denim bag body pieces and iron them in place. This will secure them temporarily. Use a decorative stitch on your sewing machine to sew around the edges of each heart, adding a personal touch and securing them permanently.
2. Prepare the Bag Body Adhere the fusible batting to the wrong side of your two main denim bag body pieces. This will give your bag structure and a professional feel.
3. Assemble the Handles Take one of your 52cm x 6cm denim strips. Fold the long edges in towards the center and press. Fold the entire piece in half lengthwise, enclosing the raw edges, and press again. Sew a topstitch along both long edges to create a finished handle. Repeat for the other handle.
4. Create the Internal Pockets
Open Pocket: Take your 34cm x 17cm fabric piece. Fold it in half and sew the sides, leaving an opening to turn. Turn right side out, press, and topstitch the open edge. Pin this pocket to the lining of the bag and sew it into place.
Zippered Pocket: For the zippered pocket, follow a standard zipper pocket tutorial. You will sew the zipper into the lining fabric, and then sew the pocket fabric to the lining fabric to create a functional zippered compartment.
5. Assemble the Side Panels Take the two 14cm x 24.5cm denim pieces for the side panels. Sew the two 14cm x 7cm denim pieces to the top of these panels. This will create a finished top edge. For the D-ring straps, fold your 4cm x 8cm pieces in half and sew along the long side. Turn right side out, insert the D-ring, and sew the raw edges to the top of the side panels.
6. Put It All Together With the handles, patches, and pockets all prepared, it's time for assembly. This is the most complex part of the project, so be sure to pin everything carefully.
Sew the main bag body pieces to the side panels. This will create the boxy shape of the bag.
Using your 5cm wide denim strips, create a bias binding to finish all the raw seams on the inside of the bag. This will hide all the raw edges and give your bag a professional, durable finish.
7. Final Touches Weave in all your loose yarn ends. Give the entire bag a final press with an iron to smooth out any wrinkles and set the seams. Your unique, handmade denim tote bag is now ready to use! Enjoy your new accessory and the satisfaction of having created it yourself from repurposed materials.
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