Upcycled Denim Tote

Upcycled Denim Tote

Upcycled Denim Tote We were so inspired by Suzanne's fabulous Denim Grocery Bag, featured in the Stitchers Showcase, Showcase, we had to make one of our own! Working without a pattern, Suzanne created an absolutely adorable denim tote. We wanted everyone to be able to make one like it, so we asked Kenny to stitch one and share the instructions. Not only fashionable, this sweet bag is also green, as it upcycles an old pair of jeans just sitting in your closet, transforming them into something reusable and useful. Bravo, Suzanne! Read on for instructions to make one of your own!

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Upcycled Denim Tote

Supplies Needed: **Two pairs of old jeans (for front border pieces, back, and handles) **13" by 13" piece of denim fabric (for embroidered panel) **1/3 yard cotton fabric -- 45" wide (for belt) **1/2 yard fabric (for inner lining; I used linen) **Medium weight cutaway stabilizer **Temporary spray adhesive **Air-erase pen **Tape measure

Designs used: I used the medium size of the America the Beautiful Lighthouse Medley. The Statue of Liberty Medley and the Pledge of Allegiance Eagle Medley would also be beautiful on the tote. Special project notes: In the instructions below, I will be making the large size tote -- great for groceries and taking to the beach. If you would like a smaller tote (book bag size) see below for dimensions of the fabric pieces and simply follow the instructions just as you would for the larger tote. You can probably get enough fabric from one pair of jeans (for either size of the tote), but, I used two pairs so there were more shades of denim to incorporate into the tote.

Finished size: Large tote: 16 1/2" wide by 21" high by 6" deep Small tote: 12" wide by 15 1/4" high by 4 1/4" deep Use these dimensions when cutting pieces for the small tote: Center square -- 8" by 8" (cut one)

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Upcycled Denim Tote

Side border pieces (on front) -- 1 3/4" wide by 8" high (cut four) Top and bottom border pieces -- 12 3/4" wide by 2 1/4" high (cut four) Back panel -- 13 1/8: wide by 13 7/8" high (cut one) Bottom panel -- 13 1/8" wide by 5 1/8" high (cut one) Side panels -- 5 1/8" wide by 13 7/8" high (cut two) Straps -- 5" wide by 32" long (cut two) Inner lining -Front/back panels --12 3/4" wide by 15 3/4" high (cut two) Bottom panel -- 13 1/8" wide by 5 1/8" high (cut one) Side panels -- 5 1/8" high by 15 3/4" high (cut two) Belt -- 32 3/4" long by 5" high (cut two)

First, using an air-erase pen, draw an 11" by 11" square on the denim fabric leaving a couple inches of excess fabric around the shape. Measure and mark the center of each side of the shape by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines connecting the marks; where the lines meet is the exact center of the shape.

Create a paper template of the design by printing it at full size using embroidery software. Then, poke a hole in the center of the template and align it with the center point on the fabric. Make sure the design fits well within the shape. There should be at least one inch space between the outer edges of the design and the edges of the shape.


Upcycled Denim Tote

Spray a piece of medium weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive. Smooth the fabric on top and 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. Move the hoop so that the needle is aligned with the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design.

When the designs have finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.


Upcycled Denim Tote

To prepare the side borders, cut the legs off the jeans. Cut up one of the seams and lay the fabric flat. Next, cut four pieces of the jean fabric to 2 1/2" wide by 11" high. Pair up the pieces and align together, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along one of the long sides. Press the seams open with an iron.

Align the assembled side border pieces on top of the embroidered center square along the left and right sides. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned edges only. Press the seams.


Upcycled Denim Tote

To prepare the top and bottom borders, cut four pieces of the jean fabric to 17 1/2" wide by 3" high. Pair up the pieces, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along one of the long sides. Press the seams.

Align the border pieces along the top and bottom edges of the center square/side border piece, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned edges only. Press the seams.


Upcycled Denim Tote

Next, to prepare the back panel, I pieced together some of the jean fabric; specifically I used pieces with the original seams. Simply piece the fabric together using 1/2" seams, press the seams, and then cut the shape to 18" wide by 19" high.

To prepare the bottom panel, cut one piece of fabric to 18" wide by 7" high. Align the bottom piece along the bottom edge of the front panel, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the bottom edge only.


Upcycled Denim Tote

Align the bottom edge of the back piece with the open edge of the bottom piece, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the bottom edge only.

Next, lay the fabric flat. To prepare the side panels, cut two pieces of fabric to 7" wide by 19" high. Align the side panels with the left and right edges of the front panel, right sides together, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the outer edges starting at the top edges and stopping 1/2" from the bottom edge.


Upcycled Denim Tote

Align the bottom edges of the side panels with the short ends of the bottom panel, right sides together, pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam starting at the side seam and stopping 1/2" from the opposite side.

Align the remaining raw edges of the side panels with the side edges of the back panel, right sides together, pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned edges.


Upcycled Denim Tote

Measure around the entire top edge of the outer shell of the bag (mine measured 46" in circumference). Cut the waist band off the jeans just under the belt loops.

Measure the length of the waistband. If the waist band is longer than the circumference of the top edge of the outer shell, cut it down at the back removing as much as you need. Zigzag stitch the waistband back together. If the waistband is shorter than the circumference of the top edge of the outer shell, button the waistband at the front, tack it in place just under the button with a few zigzag stitches, and cut through the waistband at the back center. Then, to extend the waistband, take the amount you are short plus two inches -this will be the width of the "extender" fabric (mine is 9 1/2" short, so 9 1/2" plus one inch equals 11 1/2"). Measure the height of the waistband, multiply it by two, and then add one inch. This will be the height of the "extender" file:///F|/Source/ELProjects/html/PR1760.html (10 of 14) [7/5/2012 2:25:01 PM]

Upcycled Denim Tote

fabric (mine measures 3" high, so 3" multiplied by 2 equals 6", plus one inch equals 7"). So, I cut a piece of fabric to 11 1/2" wide by 7" high. Next, fold the short ends in 1/2" to the wrong side and press. Fold the fabric together, right sides together, align the long edges, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the long raw edges only. Turn the fabric right sides out and insert the raw ends of the waistband 1/2" inside the openings, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along folded edges of the fabric.

Turn the waistband inside out and align it with the top edge of the outer shell, right sides together. Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the entire top edge. Press the seam.

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Upcycled Denim Tote

To prepare the straps, cut two pieces of fabric to 5" wide by 32" long. Then, fold the long edges in 1/2" to the wrong sides and press. Fold the fabric with the long folded edges aligned, wrong sides together. Pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along the long edges.

To prepare the inner lining, cut the following pieces: a. Front and back panels: 17 1/2" wide by 21 1/2" high b. Bottom panel: 18" wide by 7" high c. Side panels: 7" wide by 21 1/2" high Assemble the inner lining just as you did the outer shell. Fold the top edge of the inner lining 1/2" to the wrong side and press. Insert the inner lining inside the outer shell, wrong sides together. Then, insert the ends of the straps about 3/4" in between the layers with the straps about 2 1/2" from the corners of the tote and pin in place. Align the top edge of the inner lining with the top edge of the outer shell, pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along the entire top edge sewing back and forth over the ends of the straps to secure


Upcycled Denim Tote

them in place.

To prepare the belt, cut two pieces of cotton fabric to 45" long by 5" high. Align the pieces together, right sides together, and sew a 1/2" seam along one of the short ends. Press the seams. Fold the short ends in 1/2" to the wrong side and press. Also, fold the long edges in 1/2" and press. Fold the fabric again with the long folded edges together, wrong sides together, press, and sew a 1/4" seam along the entire outer edges of the fabric. Insert the belt through the loops and tie a bow at the front.


Upcycled Denim Tote

Make your own upcycled denim tote, and you'll have a fashionable and functional bag for the grocery store, the beach, the library, and anywhere else you go! And check out other upcycled projects: the No-Sweat Tote and the T-shirt Tote, for other ways to turn old things into new things!

Click here for a printable version of these project instructions.


Upcycled Denim Tote

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