Create a Fantastic Retro Blue Jean Backpack for Your Child

Blue jeans are one of those recycled items that have hundreds of possibilities. Once they have surpassed their usefulness as actual pants, they become a fantastic crafts supply. If you have a closet full of old mom jeans, men's outdated ties and retro-suspenders, then you have the basic materials for creating a cute backpack for your child.

Supplies you will need:

Old pair of mom jeans (approximate 30 inch waist)

Man's necktie

Suspenders

Sewing machine

Scissors

Matching thread

Pins

Measuring tape

Seam ripper

Embellishments

1. Measure the legs of the old blue jeans 2 inches below the crotch. Cut across the legs. Open the crotch using the seam ripper.

2. Turn the old blue jeans wrong side out. Match the bottom cut edge of the jeans and pin.

3. Sew across the pinned edge using a half inch seam allowance. Ease across the crotch seam. Do not worry if there is a slight dip at the crotch. The seam does not need to be sewn straight across. Repeat the sewn seam again to reinforce it.

4. To prevent the raw edges of the blue jean seams from fraying, sew a zig zag stitch on the edge of the seam. Turn the blue jean bag right side out.

5. Clip the back of the suspenders to the back waistband of the blue jeans, approximately 2 inches from both sides of the center jeans seam. Clip the front of the suspenders to the front waistband of the blue jeans, approximately 2 inches from both sides of the zipper.

6. Loop the straps of the suspenders over your child's shoulders. Adjust the straps so that the top of the backpack is just under the shoulder blades.

7. Thread the man's necktie through the belt loops on the backpack. Cinch the necktie to create a slight gathering around the waist. Tie the necktie ends in a knot.

8. Further embellishing of the blue jean backpack can be achieved by embroidery and flowers, stitching on retro appliqués, attaching small satin flowers or pinning on old vintage brooches.

If you are preparing the backpack to give as a gift, add pencils to one back pocket and a small notebook for the other. Purchase inexpensive school supplies, such as a spiral notebooks, ruler, an eraser and pencil bag and fill the backpack. The front pockets are perfect for lunch money and lip gloss.

This backpack is a wonderful beginner project. Collect all the supplies for your daughters next sleepover party. Plan a couple of hours to supervise all the guests in creating their own bag.