Recycle Your Clothes: How to Turn Jeans into a Bag

It's a little bit heartbreaking when you get a hole in your favourite pair of jeans, it's never on the seam is it? But don't throw them out just yet, you can still make a cute purse with them that can be used by you or even given as a gift! It's really easy and it only takes a few minutes! The beauty of this is denim is a heavyweight fabric, so it doesn't really need a lining (although you can put one in if you want)

Step 1.

Lay the jeans out flat on a table or work surface, cut the legs off close to the crotch. Do not throw the legs away, you will need these for straps.

Step 2. Turn the remainder of the jeans inside out, sew along the bottom open seams. It is best to sew them at least twice to prevent them from coming apart.

Step 3. To create the straps for your bag, you can either use pieces from the legs of the jeans or the hems, this will depend on how long you want the straps to be, if you want an over the shoulder bag, then you will need to use longer pieces from the legs.

Cut 2 pieces of denim about 3 inches thick, fold them in half and sew along the open edge.

For this you can have the right sides together, but getting them the right way round again can be a nightmare. It's easier to put the wrong sides together and use a cross stitch or alternatively, you can disguise the stitches and raw edge by sewing ribbon onto the strap.

Step 4. Attach the straps by stitching them wherever you want them on the bag, make sure you sew them on very securely, you don't want them coming off!

You can attach a zip or button as a closure on the bag, but these are optional.