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    Home » DIY Projects

    DIY Crossbody Bag from Jeans

    February 3, 2021 by Patti Estep 8 Comments

    Jump to How-to Card
    Denim crossbody bag with leather strap
    Mannequin with pink dress and denim crossbody bag.

    Follow this easy DIY crossbody bag tutorial for a great way to upcycle an old pair of jeans into a fun and useful purse. This project uses the back pockets of your jeans making it easier to have an extra compartment for your phone or other things you want to carry.

    Crossbody bag made from jeans on a mannequin.

    Sometimes you just want to carry the bare minimum like your phone and a credit card, a bit of cash, and lip balm. I particularly like this kind of bag when going to home or garden tours or hiking. Places when lugging around the bag you normally carry is unnecessary and cumbersome. A little crossover denim bag, sometimes called hipster bags are the perfect option.

    I wear blue jeans every day. I know many people prefer leggings but there are no pockets in most, and I like the look and feel of denim. After a while, they become too worn to donate so they end up in my fabric stash. So I'm always looking for a way to recycle them.

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    A while back I made a nice weekender jean bag from old jeans and a fun denim placemat set. Why not make a crossbody bag from the back pockets of jeans?

    Pockets on back side of jeans.

    How to Make a Crossbody Bag from Jeans

    Supplies

    • Pair of old jeans
    • 2 D rings .5 inch
    • Strap
    • Snap fastener
    Marked area on back side of blue jeans around a pocket.

    Start by marking around one of the pockets and cut out the area out.

    Top of pocket fabric sewn for a finished edge.

    Turn over the top and sew to give it a finished edge.

    Jean pocket draped over another jean pocket.

    Cut out the other pocket, It will become the flap. Trim the top to the length you want.

    Jean pocket and denim fabric sewn together at top.

    Next cut out some denim from the jeans to match the size of the original rectangular piece with the pocket. Then pin the second pocket on top with right sides facing (see above) and sew it together at the top edge.

    Two pocket pieces sewn together to make jean bag.

    Lay the original pocket on top of the second pocket with backing as shown above.

    Sides and bottom of bag sewn and bottom corners trimmed.

    Sew the sides and bottom together leaving the top open. Then clip the bottom corners.

    Hipster jean bag finished without strap.

    Turn right side out.

    Two D-rings and 2 inch squares of denim fabric.

    Attached D-rings to the side to clip on a strap. Do this by cutting a 1-inch square of denim.

    D-ring attached to crossbody bag at top side with strip of denim.

    Fold over the denim square. Slide the 1/2 inch D-ring over the fabric and sew it to the side of the bag at the top. Repeat on the other side.

    Clip the strap onto the D-rings.

    Blue jean bag with snap.

    Finally attach a snap in the middle of the folded flap for a nice closure.

    Top of mini jean bag showing inside pockets with a phone and box.

    Now you have two handy compartments to stash your phone and few other necessities.

    Blue jean crossover bag

    A handy dandy cute DIY crossbody bag with plenty of room for all the essentials.

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    Blue jean handmade crossbody bag with leather strap and snap opening.
    Blue jean mini bag on mannequin.
    Print
    4.63 from 8 votes

    DIY Jean Crossbody Bag

    Follow this easy DIY crossbody bag tutorial for a great way to upcycle an old pair of jeans into a fun and useful little purse.
    Active Time1 hr
    Total Time1 hr
    Course: Sewing
    Yield: 1
    Author: Patti Estep
    Cost: $20

    Equipment

    • sewing machine
    • scissors
    • Fabric marker

    Materials

    • Pair of old jeans
    • 2 D rings .5 inch
    • Strap
    • Snap fastener

    Instructions

    • Mark a rectangular area around one of the jean pockets and cut it out.
    • Turn over the top and sew to give it a finished edge.
    • Cut out the other jean back pocket close to the edge to use as a flap. Trim the top to the length you want.
    • Cut out a piece of denim from the jeans to match the size of the first pocket cut out.
    • Pin the second cut out pocket on top with right sides facing and sew it together along the top edge.
    • Next, lay the original pocket on top of the second pocket with backing with right sides together.
    • Sew the sides and bottom together and clip the bottom corners.
    • Turn right side out.
    • Add D-rings to each side by cutting two 1 inch squares of denim. (That's where you will clip on the leather strap.)
    • Fold the denim over and slide a D-ring over top.
    • Then sew both edges to each side of the bag.
    • Add a snap on the bottom center of the flap for closure.

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beth FM

      January 06, 2022 at 6:06 pm

      Just made this perfect bag, giving it padding and a lining to add structure. I also folded up the bottom corners inside the bag to create a flat base (and it now can stand upright on a table. The most fun was taking the coin pocket, leather waistband tab, belt loops, and branded Lucky labels from the pants and incorporating them into the s design. Sewed rings into both side tabs to hang keys and a tiny card wallet. Photos can be viewed here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/CRaX9Sppz8QVaZvL7

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        January 07, 2022 at 7:25 am

        What a great job Beth. Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
    2. Loretta

      June 22, 2021 at 8:46 am

      Has anybody made this and lined it...curious how i could put a lining in it.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        June 22, 2021 at 9:43 am

        Loretta. You could make a little pocket of lining material the same size as the bag. Cut out two pieces. With wrong sides together turn down the top edge and top-stitch. Then sew the sides and bottoms. Turn it out and set it inside the bag. Then handstitch to the top edge to the denim. You could also try using some stitch witchery to bond the lining into the bag. 

        Reply
    3. [email protected]

      February 07, 2021 at 2:20 pm

      Hi Patti -

      I LOVE this crossover bag!!!! It is just my style. I am going to be making a few, one for me and a few more to give as gifts. I linked to your post today in my Style Scouting post. 🙂

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        February 07, 2021 at 2:30 pm

        Thanks Diane. I know your friends will love this gift and how sweet of you to make them. 

        Reply
    4. Deb

      February 07, 2021 at 6:45 am

      How cute is that! I have gone to a clutch purse with a wrist strap that I can wipe down in these pandemic times but this crossbody would be so much easier to manage. Thanks for your post.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        February 07, 2021 at 8:11 am

        Deb, I'm so glad you like it. You could probably switch it to a clutch with a smaller strap and skip one of the D-rings. Hopefully, the pandemic will be over soon and you won't have to worry.

        Reply

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