Shopper Bag from Old Jeans - Tutorial

Bag made of 6 squares. Transform old jeans into a shopping bag tutorial. Sew a Shopper Bag from Old Jeans.

Material information: 


0.60 m SUL ULTRA STABLE (roll width 90 cm) 
1 spool of SUL COTTON 30 in light brown color number 1056 
Remains of various old jeans in light blue, medium blue and dark blue 
Detached labels, 2 back pockets, 4 belt loops 
0.70 m blue and white checked fabric for the lining 
0.10 m Thermolam as an insert for the handles 
1 metal button 1.7 cm diameter

Product information:

Stabilizers:
SUL ULTRA STABLE: a solid fleece for permanent ironing. It gives the material lasting stability and shape.
Yarns:
SUL COTTON 30: a machine embroidery and quilting thread made from 100% cotton. This model uses Cotton 30 for topstitching.

Size: 31x62cm

Seam allowance: 0.75 cm 
The seam allowance is already included in the cutting dimensions

Crop:

4 Quadrate 24 x 24 cm

2 Quadrate 25 x 25 cm

 

 

Special technology: padded bag handles

Additionally crop:

Bottom and side panels
Ultra stable     1 - 12 x 34 cm 
                       2 - 12 x 24 cm

Bag handles
Jeans              2 - 12 x 35 cm
Thermolam    2 - 2.5x 35 cm 

 

 Prepare: 

 

Place the 4 smaller ULTRA STABLE squares on the wrong side of the light blue denim. 

Place the two larger ULTRA STABLE squares on a dark blue and a medium blue denim fabric. 

Place the ULTRA STABLE cuts for the bottom and side panels on dark blue denim. 

To permanently fix it, press firmly on each spot for 12 - 15 seconds with the iron (3 point setting). 

Cut the fabric flush around the ironed-on fleece squares. Halve the two larger squares diagonally.

Sewing: 

For the two outside sides of the bag, sew 2 full and 2 halved squares together as shown in the diagram.

Use the two outer parts, bottom and side parts of the bag as a pattern for the lining and cut them to the same size as the jeans parts.

Stitch the separated back pockets onto one of the two outer parts using COTTON 30 in light brown. Stitch the labels onto the other outer part.

Sew the bottom and side pieces to an outer piece. Only sew up to the corner of the seam and secure the seam with a few back stitches

Sew on the other outer part in the same way. Close the two seams on the short edges between the bottom and side panels. 

 Sew the cuts for the lining together according to the bag, leaving approx. 20 cm of the seam open at one bottom seam for turning.

 
Half-iron the strips for the bag handles, left sides together.
Unfold the strips, fold both long edges inwards halfway and iron. Fold the strips together and iron again. Unfold and insert a strip of Thermolam into each handle.
Fold them together and stitch close to the edges on both long sides.

For the fastening bar of a pair of dark jeans, remove 15 cm from the cuff and re-stitch the unraveled seam with COTTON 30.

Pin the handles to the top edge of the bag, the distance between the attachment points is 11 cm. Insert the bar between them.

Place the outside and lining fabric together, right sides together.
Sew together along the upper edge, foot-width apart, including the handle and bar.
Turn the bag over and topstitch along the top edge. Close the turning opening in the lining.
Sew on the belt loops and the button.

Stitch close to the edges along the bottom, this gives the bag more stability.

Tip: For a maritime look variant, use blue-green fabrics and sew on fish-shaped buttons and beads.