Upcycle old jeans into a cute lunch bag

Pack your lunch

Use your old denims to make this cute lunch bag. It is very easy and you can make two from one pair of jeans!

project DALA WAT TS

YOU WILL NEED ♥ denim jeans (wide straight leg is best) ♥ fabric pen ♥ machine thread ♥ dressmakerʼs pins ♥ embroidery thread ♥ embroidery needle

TO MAKE 1 Lay the denim jeans down flat and measure 40cm from the bottom upwards, or the height you want your bag. Cut off this section of the leg using sewing scissors (itʼs about knee height). 2 Use your sewing machine or overlocker to neaten the cut edge with zig-zag stitching or by overlocking it. This will prevent the fabric from fraying. This edge will be at the bottom of your bag and the original hem of the leg will form the top edge of the bag. 3 Turn the denim so it is inside out. Pin the two cut edges of the leg together and stitch them closed with a 1cm seam allowance. 4 Now fold your denim leg lengthwise in half and press down flat, so the side seams are now in the centre. Fold the bottom section to form a triangle (see diagram below). Press the fabric flat. Mark 3cm vertically along the sharp corners and draw a line using the fabric pen. Pin with dressmakerʼs pins then stitch with your sewing machine along the lines. Cut off the corners and zig-zag or overlock the cut edges to neaten. This section will now be the ʻboxʼ of your bag. 5 Turn your bag through again and iron the seams flat. 6 For the top edge you can use Velcro to close the bag, but we have made tie bands from the leftover denim for closing the bag. 7 On what is left of the leg you cut, mark 4 strips of 5cm width each and cut out. 8 Turn the strips over so the inside is facing upwards. Now fold both long sides to the inside so that the two edges meet, pin down with pins and iron flat. Remove pins, fold the fabric strip again so that your band is now about 1cm wide, pin down with pins and stitch along the edges of the strip on both sides, so that your tie bands are neatly finished. Neaten the ends with zig-zag stitching or overlock them and sew away the threads neatly with a needle. 9 Measure the positions of your tie bands ‒ 2 on the front and 2 on the back; we worked on about 14cm from the top and 10cm from the sides. 10 Pin the tie bands in place so they are facing in a downward position, sew down securely by hand, fold upwards and sew a small stitch by hand on both sides to hold it in the upwards position. 11 You can now embroider a word on the bag or use the bag as is. Put your sandwich, fruit and water for lunch in your bag, roll down the top section and tie the bands to close it.

Denims from MRP at R99, or use an old pair of jeans from your cupboard. Water bottle from MRP Home.