Vintage Style DIY Denim Tote From Old Jeans

Create your own vintage style denim tote bag in minutes from a pair of old wide leg jeans.

Here's the simple step by step DIY. So easy!


A little over a month ago, the upcycling craft bug bit me. It happens every few months.

While, I love decorating and feathering my nest, every now and then, I need a hands-on creative fix.

Sewing, painting, decoupage...but I especially enjoy the challenge of turning something old into something new.

Those trash to treasure, before and afters are my all time favorite.

Of course, over the last year, I hadn't been to any thrift stores or yard sales. So I decided to dig into my craft closet to see what was hiding inside.

I found tons of treasures I'd been saving for a rainy day and over the past month or two, I've been having fun.

I whipped up a cookie canister, some Easter printables, monogrammed coasters and cleaned up some old milk bottles to use as vases.

That wasn't the end of the makeovers though. That cabinet might be small, but there's a lot of stuff in there.

So what do I have to share today? Well, this one is a bit different.

It's not home decor...it's a fashion DIY.

Yup. Fashion...deconstructed, upcycled fashion, but fashion nevertheless.

Stuffed in the back of the closet, I found two legs from a pair of old jeans that had been cut into shorts last summer.


These aren't the jeans I used for the bag, but very similar in style, so you can get the idea.

I kept the legs because I thought I could turn them into pillows.

However, once I really thought about it, I decided that a denim pillow wasn't really my thing, so I started brainstorming and decided to make a tote bag instead.

It was easy enough and done in a very few minutes.

Here's where I started.

How To Make A Denim Tote Bag From Old Jeans

Step 1: Cut and Fold

I started with the cut pant legs. If you'r cutting your own pant legs, you want to make sure you have at least 12-18" of fabric.


Any cut made at the knee of the pants or above will be more than sufficient.

To create a finished edge at the top, I just folded the top opening over twice.

I didn't stitch that. I wanted a floppy feel since I was going for a boho look.

Step 2: Stitch

I did however need to stitch up the bottom edge of the pants to create the bag.


That's all it took. One stitch to make a tote bag. Super simple.

I did it on the machine, since it's a bag, I wanted to make sure it had the strength to support whatever I would eventually put inside.

I often say that if you're not handy with a needle and thread you can use iron on tape or fabric glue. However, when I make a bag, I always recommend sewing it up.


I ran the machine a little above the existing hem stitch on the right side of the jeans since I wanted that old hemline to be a part of the design.

Step 3: Add A Handle

Next Up, it was time to add a handle or a strap. I went for a strap, since I like long crossover or shoulder bags.

There's no trick here to the method, just choose a ribbon or trim that you like, cut it to a length that works for you and stitch it into the side of the tote.

I was lucky enough to have some really pretty trim leftover from a Christmas apron project and it was perfect. 

Again, I don't recommend using glue for straps, for the same strength reasons. It's worth the time to sew it.

That's it, that's all it took to turn an old denim pant let into a functional and fun tote bag.


And my story could end here, but it doesn't. I really liked my new bag, but I felt like it needed a little more.

I considered adding a bit of embroidery to it, like my daughter did on her denim ring, but then I found some old t-shirt transfer paper in my stash and decided on an iron on instead.

These are the transfers I used. 

The directions on the package were very clear, so I followed them. 

Step 1: Print

First, I chose a picture and printed it out on the transfer. Of course the design I chose was red.

Step 2: Cut and Iron

Then, I cut out the design and placed it on my jeans and started ironing. It was really that simple.

Step 3: Peel

When I was sure the transfer was on and cooled, I peeled it away to reveal the pretty pattern on my old jeans.


The bag was much better now, much more finished looking.

The colors of the wreath pattern were muted on the denim, giving it a bit of a worn, vintage look. 

It was exactly what I was going for...like I could've picked it up in thrift store.

Perfect for a day spent strolling through the farmer's market this summer...stuffed with flowers and fresh bread. Or not.

Since someone else thought it'd be perfect for a day at the beach, or the mall, or the studio.

So we've decided to share.

She's going to use it first.

And then I'll get it back when she's done.

Hmmm.

I'll let you know when it's my turn.

But let's just say, I'm glad those pants had two legs.