How to make a reusable grocery bag
What if your old jeans came back to life as a unique bag? A creative, eco-friendly, and accessible project that combines strength, style, and simplicity.

Gather your denim scraps, download the pattern, follow the steps, and create a bag you’ll be proud of. Don’t worry: the instructions are clear, and I’ll guide you step by step throughout the project.

Shall we sew your first bag together?
GO!

Download the pattern

Sewing Materials Needed

Tote bag pattern

Downloadable pattern with detailed, illustrated instructions, bilingual French/English
Bonus sheet for beginners – Sewing Terms 101
One size

👉 Download pattern

Fabric

2 pairs of old jeans (men’s jeans in thick 100% cotton denim are ideal)

Trims

1.5 cm (½’’) cotton webbing – 2 straps of 126 cm (50’’) each for handles

👉 Get the webbing (Amazon link)

2 cm (¾’’) cotton twill tape for finishing

👉 Twill tape (Amazon link)

💡 Pro tip: : To save money or for a unique look, you can also upcycle the waistband of your jeans for the straps instead of webbing.

Needle & Thread for Sewing Denim

A 90/14 needle is usually ideal: strong but fine enough to slide through multiple layers.

👉 Jeans needles (Amazon link)

My favorite thread: Perform-X Cotton wrapped polycore thread from Wawak.

👉 Multi-purpose jeans thread

👉 Topstitch thread

Essential Sewing Tools

I’ve prepared a kit with a list and clickable links to all the sewing tools I use and consider essential.
👉 Check out the list here

Pro tip: Use a rubber mallet to flatten thick seams before sewing.
👉 Rubber mallet hammer (Amazon link)

Must Read

BAG DESIGN by Fashionary

A true bible for bag design!
👉 Bag design ( Amazon link )

💡 Beginner’s Tip : If you’re new to sewing and want to understand the common terms used, read this article.

Read the article

YouTube denim apron sewing video tutorial

Cutting Instructions

When cutting your upcycled denim apron, you can get creative with how you position the pattern to highlight certain details of your jeans without necessarily unpicking them (side seams, pockets, knee fades, hem, etc.). Have fun and explore different possibilities.

The important thing is to respect the grainline.

Prepare your jeans for your sewing project

Cut off the legs to turn the jeans into shorts.

Simple Method

Just place the patterns on your denim scraps and cut with an X-Acto knife.

Denim upcycler Method

Cut open the side seam of the jeans (the one without topstitching)
Unpick the hem and press with an iron
Unpick the back pockets

Cut the Bag Pieces

4 × Bag center (A)
4 × Bag sides (B)
1 × Bag bottom (C)

2 × Handles

💡 Sewing Tip 101 : Take the time to press your jeans before cutting for a cleaner, more professional result.

Bag Sewing Steps

👉Téléchargez le patron pour accéder aux explications détaillées et aux photos étape par étape.

Step 1: Sew the Bag Center

Step 2 : Sew the Bag Sides

Step 3 : Sew the Pocket

Step 4: Sew the Side Seams

Step 5 –Sew the Top Hem

Step 6 : Sew the handles

Step 7 : Sew the Bag Bottom

Download pattern

And there you go — your first bag!
Practical, durable, and unique. Personally, I’d rather have a few original, handmade bags than a pile of cheap, soulless ones. Sewing your own tote bag is more than just a DIY... it’s a step toward a creative, intentional, and sustainable lifestyle.

For more ideas and inspiration, check out my article:

👉5 Trending Bag Details in Our Denim Upcyclers Community.

And above all, don’t hesitate to ask your questions in the comments or share your creations in our Facebook group: we can’t wait to see your creations!

XOXO, talk soon!
Ariane 💙