How to Turn Old Jeans into a Bag
✂️ DIY Tutorial: How to Turn Old Jeans into a Bag (The Project That Started It All)
By Lisa Carroll – Founder, The Upcycled Soap Company
One of my very first upcycling projects was a bag made from a pair of maroon corduroy jeans I couldn’t fit into.
I was a teenager with a pile of clothes I didn’t want to throw away and a curious streak that couldn’t sit still. Instead of tossing them, I cut those pants up and turned them into a shoulder bag—with absolutely no clue what I was doing, but loving every second of it.
It wasn’t fancy, but it was mine.
And looking back, that moment taught me something powerful: with a little imagination, what seems useless can become something beautiful.
That’s the spirit that lives on in everything we do here at The Upcycled Soap Company.
♻️ Why Make a Jean Bag?
- Denim and corduroy are durable—perfect for bags.
- It keeps clothing out of landfill (Australia throws away over 200,000 tonnes of textiles every year).
- It's sustainable, low-cost, and deeply satisfying.
🧵 What You’ll Need:
- 1 pair of old jeans (corduroy or denim)
- Fabric scissors
- Needle & thread (or a sewing machine)
- Pins or clips
- Optional: Fabric lining, button, zipper, or velcro
- A little creative chaos
🪡 Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Pick your pants: Choose a pair with strong seams and a vibe you love.
- Cut off the legs: Measure 25–30cm from the waistband and cut straight across.
- Sew the bottom shut: Flip inside out and stitch the bottom closed.
- Make and attach a strap: Use a pant leg to create a handle and sew to each side of the waistband.
- Customize: Add patches, lining, buttons, or embroidery to make it your own!
🪴 Eco-Friendly Tips:
- Use thrifted or scrap fabric for the lining
- Add a pocket using an old shirt
- Decorate with embroidery or iron-ons
- Recycle your leftover fabric scraps
📥 Download the Printable Tutorial (PDF)
Want to keep this tutorial for later or bring it to your next craft session?
💚 Why This Matters
Upcycling isn’t just a craft—it’s a quiet revolution. It’s a way of saying no to fast fashion and landfill culture, and yes to creativity, sustainability, and second chances.
Whether it’s your first DIY or your fiftieth soap bar, thank you for being part of the circle.
With love and recycled corduroy,
Lisa Carroll
Founder, The Upcycled Soap Company