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How to Turn Old Jeans into a Funky Backpack
It's amazing how fast children grow, and how fast those jeasn wear out in the knees. Rather than toss them or patch them again, make them into something useful and cool! Turn those old jeans into a funky backpack.
Step 1. Measure and mark.
Turn the jeans inside out. Using a fabric tape measure, measture from the waist band down to 5 centimetres below the crotch. Make a mark with a pen (not a Sharpie because it might bleed through).
Step 2. Cut the jeans at that mark.
You'll have what now looks like an inside out pair of cut-offs.
Step 3. Cut the straps.
Using the remaining legs, cut two long straps from them. Make them twice as wide as you'd like the backpack straps to be i.e. if you want the straps to be 3 centimetres wide, cut them 6 centimetres wide.
Step 4. Fold and sew the straps.
Fold the straps in half width wise and sew along the edge.
Step 5. Pin one end of each strap to the top inside edge of the part of the waistband that will be against your back when you're wearing it and sew them on.
Step 6. Turn the jeans inside out.
Pin the other end of the straps to the legs on the same side the top straps are sewn on. Put the backpack on and adjust the straps as necessary so the backpack hangs where you want it to be. Stitch the straps in place.
Step 7. Close the bottom of the backpack.
Turn the shorts inside out again and cut through the crotch. Sew one long seam, about 1 centimetre in, to close the bottom of the bag.
Step 8. Closing the top of the bag.
Turning the shorts right side out, you now have a backpack you can wear. If you want to close the top of the bag, which is the waist of the jeans, you can grab a bandana, a belt or even a piece of string or twine or rope and thread it through the belt loops and tie off to keep the contents stored safely inside.
You can decorate the backpack with sequins, buttons, beads, patches, pins and/or fabric paint.
Step 1. Measure and mark.
Turn the jeans inside out. Using a fabric tape measure, measture from the waist band down to 5 centimetres below the crotch. Make a mark with a pen (not a Sharpie because it might bleed through).
Step 2. Cut the jeans at that mark.
You'll have what now looks like an inside out pair of cut-offs.
Step 3. Cut the straps.
Using the remaining legs, cut two long straps from them. Make them twice as wide as you'd like the backpack straps to be i.e. if you want the straps to be 3 centimetres wide, cut them 6 centimetres wide.
Step 4. Fold and sew the straps.
Fold the straps in half width wise and sew along the edge.
Step 5. Pin one end of each strap to the top inside edge of the part of the waistband that will be against your back when you're wearing it and sew them on.
Step 6. Turn the jeans inside out.
Pin the other end of the straps to the legs on the same side the top straps are sewn on. Put the backpack on and adjust the straps as necessary so the backpack hangs where you want it to be. Stitch the straps in place.
Step 7. Close the bottom of the backpack.
Turn the shorts inside out again and cut through the crotch. Sew one long seam, about 1 centimetre in, to close the bottom of the bag.
Step 8. Closing the top of the bag.
Turning the shorts right side out, you now have a backpack you can wear. If you want to close the top of the bag, which is the waist of the jeans, you can grab a bandana, a belt or even a piece of string or twine or rope and thread it through the belt loops and tie off to keep the contents stored safely inside.
You can decorate the backpack with sequins, buttons, beads, patches, pins and/or fabric paint.