DENIM BAG BY OWN HANDS

Welcome! This is an amazing project that results in a truly one-of-a-kind bag. By weaving strips of old denim, you create a unique, textured fabric that is incredibly durable and stylish. This pattern is designed for an intermediate to advanced sewer, as it requires patience and precision, but the final result is a beautiful and sustainable tote bag.

Materials

Denim Fabric: 3-4 pairs of old jeans in varying shades of blue. The variety of colors will create the checkerboard pattern seen in the image.
Lining Fabric: A sturdy cotton or canvas fabric (about 1 yard).
Top Band/Handle Fabric: A strip of faux leather, vinyl, or other durable material (about 1 yard long and 5 inches wide).
Thread: All-purpose thread that matches your denim and another that matches your top band fabric.
Basic sewing supplies: Sewing machine with a denim needle, scissors, pins or clips, a fabric pen or pencil, and a rotary cutter and mat (highly recommended for cutting even strips).

Key Concepts: Weaving and Construction

The main effort in this project goes into preparing and weaving the denim strips.

Strip Preparation: You need to create long, even strips of denim. Using a rotary cutter and a large cutting mat will save you a lot of time.
Weaving: You will create two large woven panels, one for the front and one for the back of the bag. A simple plain weave (over-under) is the easiest and most effective method.

Sewing Instructions

Note: Use a 1/2-inch seam allowance throughout the pattern unless otherwise noted.

Step 1: Prepare the Denim Strips

Start by deconstructing your jeans. Cut off the legs and use a seam ripper to open the inseams. Lay the fabric flat.
Trim off any thick seams. Using a rotary cutter and a ruler, cut the denim into long strips, each 1.5 inches wide. Cut as many as you can from each pair of jeans, separating them into piles by shade. You will need a lot of strips, so it’s better to have too many than too few.

Step 2: Weave the Fabric Panels

Clear a large, flat surface. Lay out a piece of old newspaper or fabric to protect your table.
Lay a series of denim strips vertically, side by side. For a bag that is 14 inches wide, you’ll need about 10-12 vertical strips.
Now, begin weaving. Take a horizontal strip and weave it over and under the vertical strips. Push the strip up tightly against the one above it.
Continue this process, alternating the over/under pattern, until you have a woven panel that measures approximately 16″ wide x 16″ tall.
Repeat this process to create a second woven panel for the back of the bag.

Step 3: Stabilize the Woven Fabric

This is a crucial step to prevent the weaving from unraveling. Once your woven panel is complete, take it to your sewing machine.
Sew a zigzag stitch or a straight stitch around the entire perimeter of the woven panel, staying about 1/4 inch from the raw edges. This will hold all the strips in place.
For extra security, you can also sew a line of stitches down the center of the panel, following one of the woven strips.

Step 4: Cut the Bag Pieces

Place one of your stabilized woven panels on a flat surface. Using a ruler and fabric pen, mark out a rectangle that measures 14″ wide x 14″ tall. Cut out this piece. Repeat for the second panel.
Cut your lining fabric into two rectangles that measure 14″ wide x 14″ tall.
Cut your faux leather or vinyl into two long strips, each 2″ wide and 20″ long, for the handles.
Cut two pieces of your top band fabric, each 28″ long and 5″ tall.

Step 5: Construct the Bag

Take your two woven denim pieces. Place them right sides together and pin the side and bottom edges. Sew along the sides and bottom to form a bag.
Repeat for the lining pieces, but leave a 4-inch opening at the bottom of one of the side seams.
To create a flat bottom, box the corners of both the outer bag and the lining bag.

Step 6: Attach the Top Band and Handles

Take your two handle pieces. Place them on top of one of your top band pieces, about 5 inches in from each side. Sew them securely in place using a box-and-X pattern.
Pin the other top band piece on top, right sides together, and sew along the top and side seams.
Turn the top band right side out and press it flat.

Step 7: Final Assembly

Turn the main bag body right side out. Place the lining inside the main bag, with the wrong sides facing.
Pin the top band to the top of the bag, aligning the seams. Sew the band to the bag.
Reach into the opening you left in the lining, pull the bag through, and hand-sew the opening closed. Give the bag a final press with an iron.