Remember earlier this summer when I made those DIY American Flag Shorts for myself and friends out of thrifted jeans from Goodwill? Well I saved all the cut offs, knowing that I would figure out something to do with them!
I thought how neat it would be to make a wine tote or wine bag with them. A couple weeks ago I came across this Design Sponge DIY tutorial on making wine totes with denim cut-offs! Great minds think alike! The words and pictures that follow are my take on the idea, so grab the bottom half of your denim cut-offs and follow along! (hopefully you saved them, if you didn’t go thrift a pair and make the top half next summer!)
Here’s what you need:
- jean leg bottom
- sturdy fabric of choice (for lining)
- scissors
- measuring tape
- pins
- thread
- sewing machine
take note: Make sure both your denim and liner fabric have been washed before you start sewing so the fabrics don’t shrink unevenly. I also ironed my lining because it was a little wrinkled.
Step 1: Cut open jean on the inside leg seam, If you look closely, you can see the seam unraveling a little bit from where you cut off the top half to make shorts. Cut along the seam so that you have an even, straight edge and so you keep as much fabric as possible (especially important the thinner or “skinnier” your pant legs are!)
Step 2: Cut a 14.5″ (width) x13″(heighth) rectangle of jean fabric, measuring the 13″ centered on the remaining vertical seam (this way when it is finished the seams on the tote will be even.
Step 3: Iron your liner fabric if necessary, then cut a 14.5″ (width) x15″ (height) rectangle of your liner fabric.
Step 4: This step is all about making some creases in the lining, so grab your iron! With the wrong side of the fabric facing up, fold the lining down about 1/4″ and iron to hold in place/create a crease.
Now fold the lining over again, this time at 1 1/2″, and iron it down to create the crease.
Step 5: Place jean fabric on top of the lining fabric, so that the wrong sides of both fabrics are now together and so that the seam where the leghole was is next to the 1 1/2″ crease. (look at picture if you are confused ;P ).
Step 6: Fold lining over denim and stitch down. I am using a Denim Heavy Duty Thread by Coats & Clark, but you can use a fun color if you want! Also, any stitch is fine, I’m going to do a zig-zag stitch because I think they are fun!
Step 7: Fold rectangle in half with lining on the inside. Finish side first, and then the bottom using a French seam. Read how HERE!
Step 8: Cut a 2.5″x 15″ piece of fabric. Fold in each side of the fabric strip 1/4″, and iron to form a crease.
(If your fabric is not very sturdy, then I would suggest wrapping it around a 1/2″ strip of excess denim. That’s what I did. )
Now fold to where the sides overlap in the middle, then sew down that middle with a zig zag or straight stitch.
Step 9: Sew handle to the bag in to places: First to the stitch line when you sewed the lining to the denim, and secondly to the top edge of the bag.This way it will be very sturdy.
Step 10: Enjoy, and maybe even make some for your friends…these make great gifts!
xo,