Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Tutorial: World's Easiest Recycled Jean Bag


What this little bag lacks in visual excitement, it makes up for in ease of sewing. It's a 10 minute job and it utilizes a material that everyone has sooner or later: worn out jeans.

How-to:
Cut off the bottom 12" (30cm) of one leg of the jeans.
Turn inside out. Sew a seam to close up the cut edge. 
Fold over the top of the bag. Find a pleasing proportion.
Mark the desired location of the button loop and the button.
Sew on button and button loop.
Done!

 

14 comments:

  1. Absolutely brilliant

    And could be made more eleaborate with handle, embroidery etc if one wanted.

    But I love this simplicity

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  2. Thats really cool! You know what you could also do? Add some simple straps to the back, and it could be a childrens backpack!

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  3. Really cute idea! Sometimes things are so easy yet we don't think about it.

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  4. I love simplicity and this is such a simple and useful recycle. Thanks.

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  5. The backpack is a great idea and adding handles would make it more versatile.

    I'm sure I must have seen something like this somewhere before, although it "came to me" (came back to me seems more likely while I was cutting up a pair of jeans to make something else.

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  6. Don't pant legs make the best folding clutches? I've made two so far, one from denim http://www.flickr.com/photos/gone-away/4691247790/ and one from a stretchy fabric. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gone-away/4954356184/

    Recycled denim is absolutely most favourite material to work with.

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  7. Melissa: That pants one is so cute! Thanks for the links.

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  8. Than you for this cheap, recycling, easy and brilliant idea!

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  9. I am going to have to do this. I have quite a few old pairs of jeans that I am always looking for fun stuff to make out of.

    I have this idea of making a dress but I was wondering how easy you find the fabric to sew?

    Thanks for sharing!

    @EddieDuckling

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  10. I think denim sews pretty easily. The only hard part may be sewing across existing seams.

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  11. Hi Elizabeth,

    this is a very natty little idea and I hope you wont mind if I use a little of it?

    Recently I was asked to create 50 Comfort Bags for the local Childrens Hospital, using recycled garments.

    Denim is one of my favourtie fabrics to REinvent with & I've started creating the bags using jeans & the like however I was finding it difficult to come up with a concept for a flap &/or closure - you, I think, have solved my dilemma!

    Thankyou,
    Jody Pearl

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  12. Jody:

    I'm glad you found this idea so useful. What a lovely cause!

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  13. Hello Elizabeth :) Thank you so mutch for sharing this ideia. I've just post on my blog http://coelhinhoseternuras.blogspot.com/ the one I've done inspired by yours.
    See you soon...
    SóniAS - Portugal

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