today I am doing a tutorial and a giveaway! a couple of my readers had questions about how to construct the jean pocket bag. Took a couple of days to get it together I finally came up with a tutorial. to see larege details click on the pictures. Bare in mind I am not a professional blogger so my instructions maybe clear as mud. Any questions you can email me at Erzebatbat@aol.com , please put 'Q on jean pocket purse' so I wont delete ya (dingbatgrin)!
get a pair of old jeans. I prefer using men's jeans. the material is thicker and wears evenly. I find that thrift stores are the bestest place to go because of the economical value and availability. this is a pair of Levis.
this is what you should have when you are done. 2 back pockets, 2 belt loops, one zipper and one inseam welt. save the rest of the jeans for later projects. oh yeah, cut out the watch pocket too! put it to the side, once you get 2 of them you can make cute little coin purse the same way you are making this pocket purse.
I highly recommend using a heavy duty sewing machine needle size 16 or 18. these are larger bore needles with a slightly larger eye. since you are going through thicker than normal fabric the needle will glide thru the fabric much easier. normal tension on the bobbin is fine, loosen the tension on the top dial just a tad. a zipper foot is real handy but not necessary.
trim the top of the pocket to 3/4 inch and flip the little red tab over to the pocket and pin down. I like having the little red tab as part of the overall purse design. insert the zipper like you would on any garment or bag. you can top stitch along the top of purse if you like but I don't. another option is to zigzag the edge of the zipper to the each of the pocket from the inside which I don't either (grin).
time to attach the belt loops. these are the 'carriers' of the cross body straps. please pay attention to the position of the loops in the pictures. this helps reduce the thickness of the layers. using a 3/8 in seam allowance, stitch loops to one of the pockets.
open up the zipper 1/2 way and fold the pockets, right sides together, and match up the corners. start with the top of pockets on one side. then repeat to other top corner. work your way to the lower corner, pin in place, then pin in between top and bottom. about 3 pins. repeat on other side and the bottom point.
stitch a 1/4 inch seam around the pocket. I used my zipper foot but you can use the edge of your reg foot and get the same result.
time to trim the fat (sort to speak). take a clear ruler, lay it on top of the pocket at the seam you just stitched on the quarter inch mark. trim excess off all sides. leaving a 1/4 inch edge.
time to switch out feet. I now have put my reg foot back on the machine and zigzagged along the edge to give it s slightly polished edge.
carefully turn pocket inside out, poking out corners and flatten out edges. you might want to loop a piece of ribbon thru the zipper tab. may make it easier to open and close the bag. hand tack both ends of the zipper. this will prevent the zipper from separating from heavy use.
trim the top of the pocket to 3/4 inch and flip the little red tab over to the pocket and pin down. I like having the little red tab as part of the overall purse design. insert the zipper like you would on any garment or bag. you can top stitch along the top of purse if you like but I don't. another option is to zigzag the edge of the zipper to the each of the pocket from the inside which I don't either (grin).
time to attach the belt loops. these are the 'carriers' of the cross body straps. please pay attention to the position of the loops in the pictures. this helps reduce the thickness of the layers. using a 3/8 in seam allowance, stitch loops to one of the pockets.
open up the zipper 1/2 way and fold the pockets, right sides together, and match up the corners. start with the top of pockets on one side. then repeat to other top corner. work your way to the lower corner, pin in place, then pin in between top and bottom. about 3 pins. repeat on other side and the bottom point.
stitch a 1/4 inch seam around the pocket. I used my zipper foot but you can use the edge of your reg foot and get the same result.
time to trim the fat (sort to speak). take a clear ruler, lay it on top of the pocket at the seam you just stitched on the quarter inch mark. trim excess off all sides. leaving a 1/4 inch edge.
time to switch out feet. I now have put my reg foot back on the machine and zigzagged along the edge to give it s slightly polished edge.
carefully turn pocket inside out, poking out corners and flatten out edges. you might want to loop a piece of ribbon thru the zipper tab. may make it easier to open and close the bag. hand tack both ends of the zipper. this will prevent the zipper from separating from heavy use.
take one end of the inseam welt and push through one of the loops. tie a knot in the end. this will prevent the cross body strap from slipping out. repeat for other side. tada!!!! you now have made a 3 pocket side pouch purse. its a handy dandy size for when you want to take just a few things with you. will hold a cell phone quite nicely regardless of size. zipper pocket for security. machine washable but I don't recommend it if you have embellished it heavily.
you can embellish your pocket purse any which way you want. my 'signature' embellishment (which anyone and everyone can use) is the fusing of scrap fabric leaves in a circle. I use heat bond heavy duty. follow the manufacturer's instructions. hand sew a large button in the center. I gave these as gifts and sold them. they are a hit! later blog enters will show you what to do with the left over jeans. if you go back thru the blog you will see where I used jean legs to make aprons and purses.
now for the giveaway!!!!! I am giving away this 3 pocket purse that I made for this tutorial! minus the embellishment. I want YOU to do that. there maybe some surprises in the pockets if'n ya be the winner!
gonna keep it simple. comment on this post and share with your friends. that's it. wont make ya jump thru hoops. I will pick a winner on April 15th (tax day, snicker-snort-snort) so you will have plenty of time to spread the word.
thanks for your patience with this rather long post!
Keep ON Stitch'n On!
(mauh) Liz
39 comments:
Completely adorable, and a great tutorial. I may just give it a try.
Adorable says Arlene. Great tutorial. Love the embellishing. That really jazzs the purse up. And you make it look easy.
Very cool! I've been making denim quilts, but not using the pockets or seams or belt loops - the very parts you are using. This is perfect for me! Gonna share this link on my next blog post (hopefully later today).
This is the neatest jean pocket purse I have seen!!! I hope I win.
lourdesfay at gmail dot com
Cute Cute Cute!!!
That purse is really cute. I know my DGD would LOVE it!
The purse is adorable! It looks pretty easy to do, too. Your tute was good! Thanks for the chance to win.
dezertsuz at gmail
I agree with everyone else. That purse is just too cute. Gotta find some beat up jeans so I can rip off the pockets.
Doro in TX
I now know what to do with the leftovers. thanks for the great tute! It is so cute.
Thank you! This will be great for the older teen girls in the family for those hard to please types that I want to sew for and can't! You did a great job on the writing of the tutorial as well! I know how difficult it can be writing directions for someone when it is something you just "know" how to do and the process is so difficult to spot a step missed when your mind just mechanically fills in the step! You did GREAT and I encourage you to keep at it!
The pocket purse is just tooo cute and great for the teens. My granddaughter would love one of these. Your directions are great also.161
How clever you are! Your jean pocket purse is awesome! Thank you for a great tutorial and photos as well. Great tip to use men's jeans as I'm sure their "pocket" is probably bigger than in women's jeans. This lovely purse is great for so many age groups.
Thank you for a neat giveaway and a chance to win.
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
How in the world did I miss this?? What a great purse. I think I will do this today. And thanks for the giveaway.
Patty AKA carrotcake55@sbcglobal.net
Very nice!
Wonderfully do-able and a good tutorial. Thanks for this opportunity to win such a great bag. Judy C in NC
Clever girl! This is such a great idea! I have to go thrifting soon to get some men's jeans. You know I've got beads to embellish these! Thanks for the well written tute!
neenajack@sbcglobal.net
Love the purse. Cute!!!!! neena
what a great idea
That little purse is so danged cute!!! I can't wait to make a few, I'm sure I can't stop at one.
really cute! some peoiple are just too clever!!
I learned how to make 2 kinds of roses and a pansy with ribbons and fabric at guild today. I am ready to embellish something.
What a good idea, this is one I have to try.
Donna
What a cool way to use up jeans! Great for gifts for my grand girls! Thanks for the tute...
Love this! I have a friend who collects jean pockets! Going to check out hubby's jeans next time I do laundry!
Donna in NJ
How cute! My granddaughters would love these! Thanks for the great instructions!
That is so cute....
I have seen bigger purses from jeans, but this is adorable. Thank you for sharing the how-to's!
:-}pokey
Great purse! Great tutorial! You done good girl! Thanks for the chance to win.
Janet
Too cute and such a great tutorial, my daughter would love it and even the pink flower I would put on it. Thanks for the chance to win.
Super Cute and gee I just happen to have a growing boy with lots of jeans that are too short!!! Hope you are doing well!
cute purse...I wanna win it!
like your tute
I have 2 dresser drawers full of old jeans that I save for projects. I'm definitely trying this. I love your website too!
I already commented last week, but wanted to let you know I shared a link to your tutorial on my blog today at http://vesuviusmama.blogspot.com/2013/04/bullet-points.html. I haven't made mine yet, but soon, very soon!
Love the little pouch. I have several people to gift with this.
Also, thanks for the opportunity to win.
Sue. Quilts at Verizon dot net
Thanks for your easy to follow tutorial. I have been saving old jeans waiting for a good pattern for making a purse. Since I am a fan of small purses, I will be making a few of these.
Linda in Southern Illinois
I have bookmarked the bag - super cute!
I hope to try this idea one day. Looks great!
I'll send you some pockets to make me some cute little purse's. Those are super adorable!
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