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Okay, here we go (finally)!

This part is cutting out the pieces. So, go find a pair of worn out jeans. You should only need the back side of one leg to complete this project. Cut out the back pocket area, from seam to seam and about an inch or two below the pocket. T size of the finished bag is up to you. The nice thing is that since the edges will fray, winging it doesn't really matter.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=428866

Next, you want to shape the area around the pocket. I placed the piece on my cutting mat lining up the corners and the bottom point of the pocket. I cut the piece so that there is an inch above and below the pocket. I also tapered the sides by an inch from top to bottom. You'll need to determine how your bag will be shaped based on the size of jeans your using.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=428867

Use that piece as a template to cut out the back piece of the bag.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=428868

Next, you need to make the sides and bottom of your bag. I cut these to be 4" wide by the length of the sides and of the bottom. This I just eyeballed by lining them up with the edges (kind of how the picture shows them.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=428869

Decide how long you want your straps to be. I made mine about 13" x 1 1/2". Cut 4 of these.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=428870

Next, use your denim as pattern pieces to cut out your lining (all but the straps).

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=428871


Post here when you are ready for part 2 - assembly. I'll get that done ASAP.

I'm ready for the next step !!!!!

I'm ready too!!

:waving: ready!!!! even though it took me 30minutes to figure out what I wanted to use for the lining! LOL

Ready :D

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Okay, so you've cut out all your pieces and you are ready to put this bag together!

First, the denim. You'll be using a 1/4" seam allowance and sewing all pieces WRONG sides together, so that the seams will fray. Start by sewing the straps. Take 2 of your strips and sew them together down the long edges. Do the same for the other 2 strips.

Next, sew the side pieces to the front piece of the bag. Start sewing 1/4" from the edge, and stop 1/4" from the edge. This is because you want the seam allowances to be open, not tacked down.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=431115

Then sew on the back of the bag in the same way. Sewing the bottom piece is a bit tricky as you'll have to deal with the corners of the bag. Fold the seam allowance of the piece to which you are sewing the bottom out of the way.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=431117

Sorry for the fuzzy pic, my camera doesn't do well with closeups.

Now you should have a strapless bag, like this.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=431121

The last thing is to attach the straps. Line the straps up where you want them and pin (or not, lol!). I had the outside edge of the strap lined up with the rivit on the pocket. Also, make sure the straps will be an even height when the bag is being carried, so you may have to adjust how much of the strap is attached to the bag (did that make sense?). Again, with a 1/4" seam allowance, sew along the top edge of the bag. Run over the strap and stop 1/4" from its edge. Then pivot and sew a box down the length of the strap, across the strap, back up the length, and back across the strap, following your previous line.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=431122

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=431124

Continue to the end of the piece and stop 1/4" from the end. Sew along the remaining piece, attatching the straps in back to match the front.

Now you should have an unlined bag.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=431125

Go throw that in the wash, and now you can assemble the lining.

The lining you will sew normally, with RIGHT sides together, still using a 1/4" seam allowance.


http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=431126

Post here when you are ready for part 3, installing the lining

I'm ready for part 3! This is great Heather, thanks so much for doing this! (((((

Ready !!!

Me Too!!!

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Sorry for the delay!

Okay, so you've washed and dryed your bag, and it should look something like this:

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=436236

Now you need to trim it up a bit. I like to pull on some of the 'hairs' to get the bag to fray more, then I snip them off. You can groom your bag, or leave it a little hairy. Mine cleaned up to look like this.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=436237

I trimmed every seam and the handles. Remember, the bag will fray more when washed again, but shouldn't be as messy as the first time.

Oh! I almost forgot the wallet. Let's do that next. Cut a strip of denim for the wallet. Mine was 4"x 15", but yours can be shorter, thinner etc. This will be a sort of three-fold wallet, so keep that in mind when cutting. Now, use the denim to cut a lining piece of the same size.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=436240

Take the lining piece and fold under 1/4" (folding under to the wrong side. I pinned, which is easier than dragging out my iron, lol! Center it on your denim strip. You should have a border of about 1/4" of denim. Sorry about this crappy pic!

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=436241

Now, sew the lining to the denim at one end, this will be the inside edge of the wallet. You need to decide how long your flap will be. Fold up the bottom (sewn) end to that point. You have a decision to make here about thread. I had my machine threaded with a top thread to match the lining and a bottom thread to mtch the denim. If you are feeling lazy (like me) you can just sew around the edge of the wallet (except the folded edge) about 1/4" in, making sure to catch the lining. Or, you could just sew around the top flap where the lining is exposed. Then change threads and do the sides of the wallet. That's how I did the first set I made. I just forgot to do that here. I might go fix it later.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=436242

Now you can attatch a snap to the flap and the inside of the wallet and go throw it in the wash to fray.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=436243

Okay, back to the bag! Take the lining and stuff it inside the bag, so the wrong sides are together. Turn under about 1/4" of the lining (so no raw edge will show) and pin.

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=436238

Sew close to the edge of the lining, mich in the same way you assembled the bag. You don't want to run over the frayed edges, so stop and start very close to the corners. Your finished set might look something like this:

http://www.amitymama.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=436245

Now, I realize that there is more than one way to do this. Attaching the lining after you fray the bag results in 2 stitch lines on the outside. However, the first line is so close to the fray that you don't really see it. Also, matching thread helps.

You might instead want to attach the lining and then wash the whole thing to fray. This won't leave you with a nice crisp lining though, so you decide!

Hope you all found this helpful!

LOL, would you believe that my bag has been sitting on my cutting table with the lining pinned EXACTLY like that since yesterday morning!

I love the wallet, I was going to make one with a zipper but I love your way more! Thank you Heather, this was sooooo much fun! (((((

Thanks Lorraine!

It's a fun project. I like that you can sort of wing it, and it will still be cute! I think I'm going to try and sell that set on the Market Board.



Oh yes, don't forget to show how your set turned out!!

Just bumping up so anyone who finished their bag might be inspired to SHARE! ;)

Thanks for doing this Heather! I just discovered this but I was looking for instructions to make this sort of bag the otehr day and I never saw these posts!! Duh!!! ;)