Recycle DIY: Denim jeans purse

BushcraftZ 2014

I love to recycle and re-purpose anything, especially when I can use features that were created by wear and tear of the original to create a unique, new once-off item. When I made the saddle bag in a previous blog the front panel with two pockets of the jeans I used for that project did not fit into my pattern at the time.  I saved this part of the denim jeans for another project at sometime in the future.  I found the leftover piece the other day and decided to make a purse featuring the well worn front pockets. I happened to have a purse frame on hand that was exactly the same colour as the studs and button of the jeans.

Materials:

• Old well worn denim jeans
• Cotton fabric for the inner lining
• Purse frame
• Matching embroidery cotton
• Paper, pencil, scissors and general sewing equipment

Method:

To make a pattern to fit your purse frame, place the purse frame on a piece of paper and trace the frame. Remove the frame and draw in the shape of the purse. Add a 1 cm seam allowance along the edge of the purse that does not come in contact with the frame. Refer to the sketch below as a guide.

BushcraftZ 2014

1. Place the pattern on the denim fabric so that the features of the denim pockets and be shown off on the purse. Take care to note the position of any studs and place the pattern such that there are no studs in the way of the sewing line. Cut out two pattern pieces from the denim fabric. Cut out another two pattern pieces from the cotton fabric for the lining.
2. Place right sides together and sew the two denim pieces together, repeat for the cotton lining. Turn the denim purse right side out. Leave the lining right side facing in.
3. Insert the lining into the jeans purse pocket and align the edges. Carefully baste the edges together.
4. Insert the basted edge of the purse into the purse frame taking care to align it properly. Use embroidery cotton to carefully sew the purse onto the purse frame.

   

   BushcraftZ 2014

   

   BushcraftZ 2014

5. End off the remaining open edges of the purse that are positioned just below the hinges of the frame by folding the fabric inwards and sewing the edges together with a few invisible stitches. Make sure that there is enough space so that the hinges can open and close easily.

   

   BushcraftZ 2014