Everything old is new again when you use an old pair of jeans to sew a new Denim Purse!
Use every part of the denim jeans; the waistband becomes a purse strap, belt loops become penholders, and the back pockets are used on the inside and the outside of the purse. The faded color of the jeans looks great with other shades of denim. And, you can choose any design to customize your purse!
Recycled and roomy, this durable denim purse is perfect for holding all of your essentials!
The completed purse is 13 inches wide x 10 1/2 inches high. The length of the strap varies by waist band size.
Supplies & Materials:
 Old pair of jeans (men's or women's)
- 1/2 yard of brown denim
- 1/2 yard of dark denim
- 1/2 yard of quilted cotton (for lining)
- Cut-away stabilizer
- Snaps and snap tool (optional)
- Temporary spray adhesive
- Seam ripper
- Air-erase pen
- Masking tape
- Needle and thread for hand sewing
The designs used in this tutorial include:
Suzanne perfected this purse pattern years ago. In fact, this purse was featured in the Stitchers Showcase , and many fellow embroiderers wrote in asking for instructions. We just had to ask her for pattern and Suzanne was more than happy to help.
Kenny was able to recreate Suzanne's project for every one to use.
Suzanne used the Dragonfly (Crystal) designs on the pretty purse pictured in the Showcase. She also loves the look of colorful roses and western designs embroidered on denim. Some of her purses have been embroidered with names, too!
Thanks again for sharing your ideas and instructions, Suzanne!
Click the link above to open a .PDF file of the purse patterns. Print all three pages..
Cut out the shapes.
Tape the two sections of the pattern for the body of the purse together following the instructions on the pattern pieces.
The waistband of the jeans will be used as the strap of the purse. Remove the waistband of the jeans using a seam ripper. Once the first few stitches are removed, the stitching should come loose pretty easily. Remove the belt loops from the waistband as well.
If your jeans have a back label, carefully remove the stitching from the bottom of the label and leave it attached to the waistband.
Remove the back pockets by cutting around them about 1 inch from the pocket edge.
Creating the Purse Flap
Split open one of the legs of the jeans by cutting along the other seam (keeping the thicker seam intact). Lay the leg flat and align the flat side of the flap pattern in the center of the seam. Trace the top, curved side, and bottom of the pattern (do not trace the flat side).
Flip the pattern over and align the corners of the pattern with the lines that you just traced.
Cut out the shape. Cut the flap lining from the quilted cotton by repeating the tracing and cutting process using the flap pattern.
Use the body pattern to cut piece for the body of the purse. Repeat the tracing cutting process as you did for the flap. Cut two pieces from the dark denim for the outer shell and two pieces form the quilted cotton for the lining.
Embroidering the Flap
Create a paper template of the designs by printing them at full size with embroidery software. Cut around the templates for easier positioning. Place the template on the right side of the flap with the center about 2 1/2 inches from the center seam and about 4 inches from the bottom edge. With an air-erase pen, poke a hole in the center of the template and mark the fabric. Also, mark the vertical and horizontal axis points.
Remove the template and draw lines connecting the horizontal and vertical axis points. These lines will be used for hooping.
Spray cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on the fabric. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.
Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Align the needle right over the center point on the fabric and embroider the design.
Embroidering the Body of the Purse
Lay one of the body fabric pieces right side up and position the template about 3 1/4 inches from the left edge of the fabric about 4 inches from the bottom edge. Since we are marking on dark fabric, we are using strips of masking tape instead of an air-erase pen. Lay strips of tape under the axis lines on the template and mark the center point and the axis lines as you did before.
Remove the template and draw lines connecting the axis points. Hoop the fabric with cutaway stabilizer. Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Align the needle over the center point on the tape, remove the tape, and embroider the design.
After the designs have been embroidered, unhoop the fabric and carefully trim away the excess stabilizer.
Assembling the Flap
Cut a strip of denim (we used brown denim) to 3 inches wide by 35 inches long. Fold the fabric with the long sides together and press the fold. Also, fold the ends in 1/4 inch. Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the ends and along the open long side (not the folded side).
Lay the embroidered flap piece right side up. Lay the trim along the edge of the flap with the raw sides together (the folded edge of the trim facing inside). Fold and pleat the trim 6 inches from the top and in two places every two inches from the first pleat. Pin in place as you go.
Sew the trim to the flap piece with a 1/4 inch seam.
Remove the pins but leave the trim laying flat. Align the quilted cotton flap lining piece on top of the front flat and trim with the right sides together. Pin in place. Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the sides and bottom, leaving the top edge open.
Turn the flap right side out and press the seams. Top stitch around the sides and bottom of the flap 1/2 inch in from the seam.
Adding the Outer Pocket
Trim the fabric from the back pockets by cutting around the shape.
Pin on of the pockets to the embroidered front body piece. Keep the edge of the pocket at least 1 inch from the edge of the fabric. Pin in place and sew the packet in place by sewing around the sides and the bottom. Then hold the top of the pocket back and sew the inside top in place. Tack the corners in place by hand sewing a few stitches or with a few drops of fabric glue.
Pin the other pocket in the center of the back body piece and sew it in place.
Making the Handle
Sew a seam to close to the open edge of the waistband. Fold the back label over and sew it in place as well.
Creating Penholders
Lay one of the quilted cotton lining pieces flat. Pin a belt loop 3 1/4 inches from the top edge and about 1 1/2 inches from the outer edge, pin in place. Align another loop 3 inches underneath the first loop and pin in place.
Sew a few stitches in the center of the belt loops. Then push the ends in slightly and stitch the ends in place.
Assembling the Purse
Lay the back body piece with the right side up. Align the top edge of the flap with the top edge of the back body piece, right sides together. Pin in place and sew a 1/4 inch seam along the top edge only.
Lay the assembled piece with the flap and back body piece facing up. Align the embroidered front body piece with the back body piece. Also, tuck the ends of the strap in between the top corners of the body pieces and pin everything in place.
Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the sides and bottom of the body pieces.
Align the lining pieces right sides together (pen holder loops facing inside). Pin in place and sew a 1/2 inch seam along the sides again leaving about 6 inches open along the bottom. Leave the top edge open as well.
Insert the outer shell portion inside the lining portion with all right sides together. Tuck the flap and the strap in between the right sides of the portions. Align the raw top edges of the portions together in place. Sew a 1/2 inch seam around the entire top edge. Pull the outer shell portion through the opening in the bottom of the lining. Top stitch a 1/8 inch seam around the top edge of the opening and along the back around where the flap connects to the back of the purse.
Optional:
Add a snap to the bottom of the trim and 1 1/2 inches from the bottom edge of the purse.
Finish the purse by first hand sewing the opening of the lining closed and then the opening of the outer shell.
Delightful denim, recycled and ready to go!
