Sew simple pencil bag

Transform old jeans into something stylish and practical with this DIY upcycled denim pencil bag! 👜 Use Bostik Sew Simple adhesive to bond the fabric—no sewing needed—then insert a zip and add any final personal touches for a custom look. It’s a smart and eco-conscious craft that every school kit needs. Creative, functional, and sustainable: this project is a fun way to give old clothes new life. ♻️

What you will need

Bostik Sew Simple
A pair of old jeans that you want to recycle
1 x Zip
Fabric scissors
Fabric marker
Measuring tape and ruler

Difficulty

Average time

60 MINS (Drying time 24 hours)

Cost

Print version!

Instructions

STEP 1: Measure & Cut

Position the jeans with the back pocket facing up. Using your fabric marker, mark a line on either side of the pocket, 1.5cm wider than the actual pocket. Mark the length 3cm above the pocket and 36cm down from the top of the pocket. Cut the pencil bag out.

STEP 2.1: Glue

Turn the fabric over. Make a glue line 2cm wide on the top end, wait approx. 7 min, fold end over 1cm wide and glue together. Repeat on the bottom end.

STEP 2.2: Glue

Apply another glue line on the top & bottom end, 1cm thick and to the zip on either side of the teeth. Wait +-7 mins and glue the ends onto the zip across from each other. Leave to dry overnight.

STEP 2.3: Glue

Turn the pencil bag inside out. Apply a glue line on the end of one open side (1cm thick), wait +-7 mins and glue in place to form a seam. Repeat with the other side.

STEP 3: Dry & Fold

Leave to dry for at least 2 hours before turning the pencil bag inside in. You will have to work the seams a bit to shape the bag. Leave to dry for at least a day before filling the pencil bag with your favourite stationery items.