Woven denim purse **now with TUTORIAL**

[christephi]

Inspired by those seatbelt purses that are so popular, but far less expensive.  I made it from some jeans that tore out at the knees.



I lined it with a scrap of sunny yellow calico I had left over from some forgotten project of long ago.



It's the perfect size for my dayplanner. I think it needs a snap in the middle though.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions?

I'd love your input!  


****TUTORIAL****

-- Find a box or a book the size you want the purse to be. I used a Harry Potter book for my first one, but the MIL wanted hers bigger, so I used Yahtzee for this one.
-- Measure the width of the box and calculate how many strips you need and how wide you want the strips to be. Mine is four 2.5 inch strips wide and three 2.5 inch strips high. So I cut strips of denim from 3 pairs of old jeans 6 inches wide by as long as I could get them.
-- Sew the pieces together so they're one long strip... (Mine was 8 yards long by 6 inches wide).


-- Measure around the box and cut as many strips as you need. (I used 3 strips, 26 inches long each).
-- Measure the front, back, and bottom of the box and cut as many as you need of those. (I used 4 strips, 20 inches long each).
-- Measure one more strip for the sides, bottom, and strap.


-- Sew all the strips into tubes with right sides facing, turn right side out, press with seam down the middle of one side.


-- Sew ends of each horizontal tube to form a circle. When you weave the rest, you'll cover up this seam, so it doesn't have to look too finished.

-- Place strap tube along bottom and sides of box, and slip horizontal tubes over both the box and the strap. You can see where some of my strips were pieced together.
-- Weave the vertical tubes through on both sides. Don't forget to weave the straps on the ends too! Once you have everything nice and neat, adjust the tension, and pin in place.


-- Create your lining. Don't forget to add whatever pockets you want!
-- Attach the lining to the top whatever way seems most prudent to you. I still haven't decided if I like my way or not! (My way is to slip the lining over the purse, right sides together; sew, leaving an opening, and turn, then top stitch).

I made several pockets and a key fob.



-- Take pictures of your creation and proudly share with the rest of us!



I made my strips bigger this time, but if I make another one in the future, I think I'll make strips somewhere between this and the first. Maybe 1.5 or 2 inches (finished).

Don't forget to post yours so I can see what you come up with!

[cutek94]

omgaw it's so pretty
when i saw it on the front page i hurried & clicked on it 
very very cool

[devotedplanet]

That is really, really cool.

[judethelost]

This is very cool. I'm very interested in learning how to make these. I think you did a great job. I agree that it may need a snap closure, but is it just going to hold your day planner? If that's all it's going to hold, the snap may be optional. In the end, it looks great and is completely up to you.

[christephi]

This is very cool. I'm very interested in learning how to make these. I think you did a great job. I agree that it may need a snap closure, but is it just going to hold your day planner? If that's all it's going to hold, the snap may be optional. In the end, it looks great and is completely up to you.

Thanks for your kind comments.  It wasn't much fun turning all those denim tubes right-side-out.  Next time I'll make the strips wider.  Other than that, it was pretty easy. I constructed it around a hardback book (for stability), but you could use just about anything in the shape/size you want to weave.  A foam block would work great 'cause you could pin right to the foam while you're going.

My MIL just saw it and said she wants one too. 

[RecycleCindy]

Your woven denim purse looks wonderful. I'd haven't seen a recycled denim purse like that before. Did you sew the edges at all on the denim? Or is it just folded over and woven? I'd love to have a tute.

[susankg53]

love your bag, and I bet it was a nightmare trying to turn the tubes. You did a good job.

[christephi]

Since my MIL wants one, and she wants it bigger than this one (maybe somewhere between this and messenger bag size), any ideas or suggestions I should consider before I embark on another?  I'll take lots of pics along the way and post 'em up as a tutorial when I'm done.

[DancinInTheDark]

I've seen those purses before! Only the ones I've seen look like they are made out of ribbon instead. Haha. Yours is awesome. :]

[JLMS]

This is great. Thanks.