Upcycled jeans to gift bag in My Creative Space

Each year I try to handmake gifts for my daughters' friends birthdays. Partly because I like handmade, but also so that the kids receive something different.

Now I know kids enjoy unwrapping their presents, but in an attempt to avoid all that wasted paper, I often try to make gift bags instead of using wrapping paper.  The kids never seem to mind, and the bag becomes as much of a gift as the present!

For a party this weekend, I'd made a Pyramid Pouch , and  a Personalised Rag Tag.  For both of these I used material from a pair of old jeans, and some fabric scraps.

Not wanting to give an empty pouch as a gift - I got a bag of jelly snakes to go inside!

So - on to the Gift Bag.

They are really simple to make - and you can decorate them how you like. 

Here's how.

First your materials:

A pair of old jeans, fabric scraps, and a rectangle of material for the main bag  

(I used a piece of calico 30 x 56cm (12 x 22"), but you could use any material, any size - depending on the size of your gift and the colour and style you want the bag to be!)

Once you've cut your main rectangle for the bag, cut one back pocket off the jeans, and also the hem from the bottom of both legs (these will be the straps)

Next cut strips of your scrap fabric just longer than each side of the jeans pocket and around 5cm (2") wide:

Pin then stitch these strips right sides facing down along the edge of the pocket piece.  Stitch 2 opposite sides first, then fold those back and pin and stitch the last 2 opposite sides:

Then place your pocket with scrap border centrally on the top half of your main bag rectangle.  Fold the 4 raw edges under and pin:

Stitch this into place.

Now the decoration is done, it's time to make the bag!

I use a French Seam here - which is really simple, and hides the raw edge for a neater look!

Fold the rectangle in half right sides facing out so it looks like a bag:

Pin and stitch along both sides:

Next trim your seam very close to the stitching.

Turn the bag inside out..

And stitch down the side seams again, so enclosing completely the raw edges of the seam:

This is what your seam will now look like inside the bag. Nice and neat!

Now all you need to do is finish off the top of the bag and attach the straps!

For the top - simply turn the top edge over twice to completely hide the raw edge. Pin and then stitch.

Then take those two bottom hems of the jeans, and pin into place around the top of the bag:

Then stitch each strap end into place with a box and cross:

And there you have one finished, upcycled and reusable Gift Bag:

Complete with a nifty pocket in the front for a small card:

So here is the complete gift for the birthday girl this weekend:

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial click here.

How do you wrap your birthday gifts?  Do you ever make gift bags? Or are you happy to use wrapping paper - which the kids can enjoy rrrripping off the present!!

Is the wrapping as important as the present...

If you enjoyed this tutorial, there are many more on 

My Tutorials page 

- including a whole series of projects to sew in 5 steps and 15 minutes that anyone can try!

And if you want more ideas for jeans or any other clothes upcycling projects - check out the 

Clothes Upcycling linky page 

which has over 600 ideas linked up.

Personalised Swimming Bags - a tutorial

Last week I made these swimming bags for my 2 daughters - and here is the promised tutorial - how to make them !

I chose to add the mesh in the bottom to allow the wet swimming gear to dry a little - and avoid smells!  

Materials needed:

Waterproof fabric - I used Ripstop Nylon for one, and an old shower curtain for the other!

2 pieces for main bag 48 x 42cm (19 x 16.5")

1 piece for drawstring strap 90 x 10cm (35.5 x 4")

1piece different colour waterproof fabric for name, and fusible webbing: 

30 x 10cm (12 x 4")

Mesh Fabric netting for base of bag.

 (I used an old mesh laundry bag)

42 x 20cm (16.5 x 8") 

NB I forgot to include my drawstring strap piece of fabric in this photo!

First you need to cut the name letters out of the second coloured piece of waterproof fabric.

Now I would highly recommend using fusible webbing to attach these letters to the main bag. Iron one side of the webbing to the back of the fabric - then you can write the letters on the paper backing and cut them out.

I was lazy and just drew the letters direct onto the fabric, cut them out and pinned in place.

Unfortunately this means the letters slip around a lot when trying to stitch them into place!

If you use the fusible webbing - you peel off the paper backing and iron them onto the main bag using a damp cloth over the letters.  This holds them in place and makes it much easer to stitch around the edges in either a tight zig zag stitch or the applique setting on your machine!

Now you're ready to put your bag together!

Pin the long side of the mesh/net fabric to the front main bag base - right sides together and stitch:

Repeat this with the other long side of the mesh/net fabric and the other main part of the bag:

If you have an overlocker (serger), it's a good idea to finish off the seam edges to prevent fraying.  If you don't have an overlocker (serger) you can use a zig zag stitch and trim the raw edge outside that.

You should now have a large rectangle with the mesh part in the centre.

It is a good idea to finish all four edges of this rectangle to prevent fraying.  Again if you have an overlocker (serger) use this around all edges. Otherwise you could turn the edges under twice and stitch with a regular machine to hide the raw edges.

Now you need to form the casing at the top of the bag for the drawstring.

Fold down both top edges - wrong sides together about 5cm (2").Pin and stitch along the edges.

Now fold the rectangle in half - right sides together to form your bag (inside out) Pin down the sides.

When you stitch the sides of the bag together - only stitch up as far as the casing. At the top, run some stitches sideways too and backwards and forwards a few times for extra strength:

Turn your bag out.

Now it's time to make the drawstring strap.

Take your long strip of waterproof fabric.

Fold both long edges in towards the centre, then both sides in again to completely enclose the raw edges. Then stitch down the edges to hold in place.  At either short end, fold the end under too to hide that raw edge.

Now all that's left is to add the drawstring to the bag!

Use a large safety pin or a nappy pin to push the strap through your casing Then tie the ends together:

And there you have one personalised swimming bag:

All ready to fill up with swimming gear:

And take to the pool..

Then you'll have to make one for sisters, brothers..friends...

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

I hope you liked this tutorial.  

There are many over 100 more on my tutorials page if you'd like to take a look!

Pyramid pouch in my creative space

Each year I try to hand make gifts for my daughters' friends.  Every year I choose something and everyone gets a variation on this.

With the girls back at school now, the parties are starting again, so I had to get thinking about what to make this year. Here's what I chose...

I've been wanting to make one of these pyramid pouches for a while - and followed the fabulous tutorial on 

Ricochet and Away. (thanks Rikka!)

I added to the pouch, one of the personalised keychain tags I've been making (tutorial here), and then I think we'll fill it with some sweeties or chocolates!

What do you think?  An ok gift for 7-10 year old girls?

Don't know yet what the boys will get...they're always trickier!!  Do you think boys would like these too - but in boy fabric of course!

What gifts to you hand make for kids?

 Jill