A Dream Purse

Sometimes you imagine a project and then when you make it your dreams come true. Years ago I found a youtube video on making a denim purse. The video is not in English but I could figure out what she was doing. I saved pairs of jeans from my DD as she outgrew them. I cut the legs into strips and ironed them into weaving strips.

Well then the project sat for a year or more. I decided I wanted to try the technique using the Ethel bag pattern from Swoon as a base. I have made this bag at least 4 times. There was so much other new sewing ideas/plans in the project I knew I would need to use a tried and true pattern.

I decided not to make both sides of the bag using the woven strips. I was worried it might be a bag my domestic machine would not be able to sew with all that denim layered together. I cut out a square piece of excess cotton fabric I had semi close to the measurements of the front piece. On the back of the fabric I traced the dimensions of the front piece. I laid out my rows of denim strips and began the weaving. Once I started the weaving actually went very quickly. Before I knew it I was done.

I was concerned the weaving would fall apart once I began cutting. I simply basted inside the tracing I had made. The moment of truth arrived and I began to cut out the front piece. Everything held together - huge sigh of relief.

One of the things I love about the Ethel is the deep pockets both inside and outside of the bag. I abhor searching for my keys, phone and sunglasses which are always found at the bottom of any purse unless they are stuck inside a pocket. I made the outside pocket a weaving project also.

I discovered I am unable to neatly sew in a circle. I tried with the first One of A Kind round label, it looked like a drunken sailor on shore leave had sewn it onto the bag. I picked that off and tried again. It looked only slightly better, more like a drunken sailor trying to appear sober for their commanding officer. I realized I would need to hand sew the round label onto the bag. Well..I only bought 2 of that particular label. When I went to the website where it was purchased the labels were all sold out. Back to the drawing board - luckily I had other labels in my collection. I hand sewed this label onto the front.

Then the lining was attached. I could not sew down the lining around the top of the bag. My trusty machine took one look at all that denim squashed together and told me no that is not happening. I was able to sew the lining around the top on the non woven side. It will work.

I am so tickled with my new bag. It is truly one of a kind. My DH told me I could sell these bags for sure, especially if I had customers send me their kids old jeans. I will pass on that opportunity, they can’t afford me!