Old jeans have a weathered look which is perfect for making pouches. If you have an old jeans with the hem looking weathered but not too damaged or dirty, there is a way to use it as it is in your DIY pouch. This project turns old jean legs into a useful zippered pouch and it uses the existing hem as the zipper opening edge. The lining is sewn first so the inside has no raw or frayed denim edges.
Check out this video tutorial to sew a zippered pouch with the hem of the jeans used as it is, forming a design element for the pouch. You can find the shippo tsunagi sashiko design on it, in this page.
You can make this by cutting out the leg part of the jeans. I cut about 12″ inches up from the hem. how much you cut depends on the length you need for your pouch. The hem will become the zipper edge. Cut 2 lining pieces the same size as the jeans pieces.
How I stitched this pouch is a little different from how I stitched this regular zippered pouch.
Place lining and denim right sides together. Align all edges.
Sew along the side edges and bottom edge, with the top edge of the lining folded to the inside. Turn it rightside out. Now top stitch the top edge with the top edge of the lining folded.
Now you have one side of the pouch ready. FInish the other side similarly.
Now finish the edges of the zipper. I sew the hem of another jeans on both edges of the zipper. Easy.
Now sew this zipper panel between the two panels of the pouch. As the hem of the jeans is already finished, you can simply keep them on top of the zipper and sew in place. (The above video makes it clearer)
Cut off the edge of the zipper that will come on the side seam line.
Sew the two sides (rightsides to the inside) together. Turn the pouch rightisde out.
2nd Jeans Pouch
If you’re looking for a fun, sustainable way to repurpose your old jeans, this DIY gathered pouch is the perfect project. Not only does it tick the eco-friendly box, but it’s also practical and roomy. Ideal for organising a lot of things floating around inside my handbag. Best of all, it’s easy to make. And the natural beauty of the denim fabric adds to the charm of making the pouch.
Choose and Cut the Fabric
Cut the material from the leg of the jeans. If you want a tall and large pouch, use the thigh area of your jeans.
Cut open one edge of the jeans and then use the closed seam as the bottom edge of the pouch. (This way you avoid sewing one extra edge of jeans on your sewing machine. f you have a rickety one, sewing thick denim seams is a pain)
Check out this post for more ideas on making bags out of jeans
The size of the material you take from the jeans determines the size of your pouch. For example, a 15″ x 9″ rectangle worked well for a medium-sized pouch for me.
Cut out the lining
Cut a piece of fabric the same size as your denim rectangle.
Watch the video tutorial to make this denim bag:
Cut out the belt and loop
The belt is for binding the top edge of your pouch and the loop is for the button you will be adding as a closure. I cut 2 pieces measuring 8 inch by 2 inch for the belt and for the belt loop cut a denim scrap measuring 1.5 inch by 4 inch.
Fold and Sew
Fold the material in its wedge shape, with the right sides facing each other Sew along the sides (and bottom if you have a cut edge there)
Sew the lining at the same time as the denim outer bag.
Keep the outer bag and the lining together
Turn the pouch right side out. Push out the corner. Keep the lining bag wrong side out.
Insert the lining bag inside the outer denim bag.
Sew the belt fabric into a tube
Sew the side edges of the belt fabric together. You may want to interface the material for a stiff edge. But if you have a delicate sewing machine, do not interface. You will have a tube now.
Pleat the top edge of the pouch
You have to gather the top edge of your pouch material (outer bag and the lining treated as one) into pleats to fit the belt you have.
Make loose hand basting stitches and leave thread tails to adjust as needed.
Binding the top edge
Bind the top edge of the pouch with the band. Keep the band wrong side out. Place it over your pouch. Place the loop on the back of the pouch in between the band and the pouch.
Sew the edges of all of these together. Remember to press the seams open to avoid bulk. Go slow. Move the wheel by hand if needed in places of thick fabric layers.
Turn the band to the inside and hand sew in place. You can machine stitch as well. Attach a button in the center of the front of your denim pouch.
Decorate with beads, embroidery, lace, or iron-on patches if you want to. Use it well.
Related posts : Making fabric zippered pouches ; Make boxy pouch from old jeans; Other jeans recycle ideas
