How to Make a Denim Pocket Purse

Little girls love to carry handbags!

Do you have old jeans or shorts that you are going to throw out?  STOP!  Repurpose the jeans into a cute, small pocket handbag. The bag is the perfect size for your little fashionista to carry some money, lip gloss, tissues, and other small items. 

Or make one for yourself.  If you don't want to carry a large handbag, it's just the right size for carrying your essentials like phone, keys, money, and credit cards when attending a craft show or festival, traveling or for a quick everyday shopping trip.

You can also make the jeans pocket into a small pouch or change purse by just leaving off the shoulder strap. 

This pocket handbag only requires simple sewing skills so beginners and kids can sew this project. If you are looking for more sewing projects for kids, we have tutorials on how to make a fabric bookmark, pencil case, doll clothes and accessories, sock cell phone case and much more on our Kid's Corner Free Sewing and Quilting Project page.

Do you want other craft ideas for recycling denim jeans?  Our Denim Jeans & Skirts Recycling page has interesting projects including aprons,  jean skirts, potholders, tote bags,  and lots of other practical items.

Watch this video and read on for a photo tutorial with step-by-step instructions on how to make an adorable denim jeans pocket handbag.

Don't have old jeans or don't have time to make a denim pocket purse but would like one, Etsy crafters have original pocket purses for sale.

denim pocket handbag tutorial

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Old Jeans or Old Clothes with Pocket
• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Sewing Machine
• Basic Sewing Supplies

Jeans pocket purse INSTRUCTIONS :

STEP 1: CUTTING JEANS

To remove the back pocket from the jeans, first cut all the way up the jeans close to the leg seam. By cutting close to the leg seam, the leg fabric will be used to make the pocket handbag backing and can also be used to make the handbag strap, if wished. 

STEP 2: REMOVE BACK POCKET

To remove the denim pocket, cut the back pocket out of the jeans leaving about 1/2" of fabric all the way around it.

STEP 3: POCKET BACKING

Using the pocket piece as a template, cut out the pocket handbag backing by placing the pocket piece on a portion of the leg denim fabric with pretty sides together (right sides together).  Pin the pieces in a few spots to hold them in place.  Cut out the backing piece by cutting around the pocket.  

You now have two pieces, the pocket piece and the backing piece.

STEP 4: STRAP

Get creative with the strap.  The strap can be made out of fabric, denim, ribbon, belt cording or spool knitted cord.  Whatever you have on hand can be used.

Pin the strap along the top raw edge of the pocket making sure not to twist it. Then, gather the strap together and pin in the middle of the pocket.  You are pinning it so as you sew the pieces together, the strap doesn't get caught in the seam.

HOW TO MAKE A FABRIC STRAP

If you want to make the strap from the denim leg fabric or another piece of fabric, cut a strip 2" wide and as long as possible or as long as you want the strap.  Fold the strip in half lengthwise and iron a crease in the center.  Open the fabric and fold the two raw edges to the center middle crease and press. 

Once you have the two outside edges folded and ironed,  fold the piece together along the first middle crease and iron.  Now, all you have to do is use a straight stitch and edgestitch along both edges. Our edgestitch tutorial may be helpful.

STEP 5: PINNING BACK AND FRONT TOGETHER

Place the backing fabric on your work surface with the right side facing up.  Put the pocket section on top of the backing fabric with the wrong side facing up.  This means that the pocket and backing have the pretty sides together or the right-sides together. Use pins to hold the two pieces in place.

STEP 6: SEWING

At the sewing machine, position the piece with the pocket stitching facing up.  Using a straight stitch, stitch around the outside of the pocket close to the pocket stitching leaving a 3 to 4 inch opening at the bottom.  This opening will be used to turn the pocket right side out.

Don't forget to backstitch where the opening begins and ends.

STEP 7: TURNING

Turn the pocket right side out through the opening. 

STEP 8: CLOSE OPENING

You will have to sew the opening closed.  To do that tuck the raw edges inside the opening.  You want the raw edges folded so they match the seam allowance on both sides of the opening.  Use a few pins to hold the opening shut.  With the straight stitch of the sewing machine, stitch the opening closed.  Be sure to remove the pins when sewing. 

The mini handbag is complete. The pocket handbag can also be embellished if you wish.

This fun, easy project is a great item to make for bazaars or craft shows.  It can be used as a gift card bag or as party favors.

We hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make a denim pocket handbag and decide to make it.  Our staff at Needlepointers.com is always excited to show you projects on how to recycle, reuse and repurpose everyday items.  If you are, you may want to check out our Pinterest Recycled Craft Projects board.

Happy Crafting!

Here are a few more ideas for repurposing denim jeans

• Denim Fabric Basket - This basket is a cute storage container that can be used in bedrooms, craft rooms, bathrooms and throughout the house.
• Denim Doll Skirt - Use a denim pants leg to make a cute no-sew skirt for an 18-inch doll.
• Wine Bottle Cover Pattern made from Recycled Denim Jeans