DIY Upcycled Denim Makeup Bag (Free Sewing Pattern)

Welcome friend! In today’s post, I will share a free sewing pattern for a compact Upcycled Denim Makeup Bag! 

This tutorial is perfect for using any old jeans, even small leftover denim scraps from other projects. 

I made this makeup bag a tad smaller than your old regular makeup bags, especially made in this size to fit in your smaller purses.

Also, you can customize this bag with any trims and findings you want to make it truly unique.

NOTE: This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase using one of the links in this article, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you (To know more about this, click here.)

About this project

I’m so excited to share my latest DIY project with you—a super cute upcycled denim bag that’s become my new go-to for nights out! 

As many of you know, crumb quilting is one of my favorite techniques, and I just couldn’t resist using it for this project. I gathered up all those fabric scraps from old jeans (because why let those perfectly good bits go to waste?) and decided to turn them into something new and fabulous. 

I’ve been on the hunt for a small makeup bag that fits into my little clutches and crossbody bags, but all the patterns I found online were either too big or just not quite right. 

So, I figured—why not make my own? And, of course, I’m here to share the process and the pattern with you because if you’ve ever faced the same dilemma, this one’s for you!

The final measurements of this bag are 9” by 4”, making it perfect for any small purse!

I also added some green trim on the sides, but you can skip this step if you don’t like it.You can customize this bag by adding ribbon, trim, and other decorations. Just let your creativity flow.

DIY Upcycled Denim Makeup Bag Step-by-step Tutorial

Tools & Materials.

• ¼ Yard of Denim Fabric or denim scraps
• ¼ Yard of Lining Fabric
• ¼ Yard of Lightweight Fusible Interfacing
• 1 Nylon Zipper 5” long
• Pre-made Bias Tape (or make your own)
• Matching Thread
• Sewing Machine
• Zipper Presser Foot (learn how to use it here)
• Free Mini Makeup Bag Pattern (download at the end)

1. Cut your fabrics

First things first, let’s get that outer canvas ready! We’ll use my all-time favorite crumb quilting technique to do this. If you’re new to this or need a refresher, you can check out my crumb quilting tutorial here. You’ll want to start by forming a rectangle that measures 7 inches by 13 inches. 

This will be the base of our bag, so take your time arranging those denim scraps into a layout you love. Once your crumb quilted rectangle is all set, grab the sewing pattern I’ve made for you (you can download it at the end of this post). 

Using our free pattern, cut one piece from your denim fabric and one from your chosen lining fabric. Then press lightweight fusible interfacing on the wrong side of the denim fabric.

These will be your bag’s outer and inner layers, setting the stage for what’s to come!

2. Sewing the zipper

Now that we’ve got our outer canvas ready, it’s time to add the zipper! Start by measuring 1/2 inch from the outer edges along the top of your bag. Mark these spots with a pin or any marking tool you like.

For a polished look, I like to fold the ends of my zipper before attaching it. Simply fold the tails toward the wrong side of the zipper and secure them with a stay stitch—this little trick really gives the zipper a neat finish.

Next, place the bottom edge of the zipper on one of the marks you made, with the zipper facing down. As you reach the other mark, fold the other end of the zipper into an “L” shape, then pin it in place. This keeps everything secure and perfectly aligned.

Now, take your lining fabric and place it on top of the denim piece, making sure the right sides of both fabrics are together. Pin along the top edge where the zipper is. Finally, using your zipper foot, sew the zipper in place with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. 

Repeat this on the other side of the zipper. Cut off the excess of the zipper.

3. Sew the sides

With the zipper in place, let’s move on to sewing the sides of your makeup bag. First, align the sides of both the main fabric and the lining fabric, making sure that the right sides of the fabrics are facing each other. This is where it all starts coming together!

Now, here’s a little extra touch I love to add—bias tape strips for a bit of flair. I made these by folding bias tape in half and stitching the ends together. Each strip measures 3 1/4 inches long.

Place these strips between the two layers of the denim part, right at the sides where you’ll be sewing. It’s a small detail that adds a lot of character to the finished bag.

Once everything is aligned, sew the sides together with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Be sure to leave a 3-inch opening on one side of the lining—this will be important for turning the bag right side out later. And just like that, your bag is really starting to take shape!

4. Sew the corners

With the sides all sewn up, it’s time to give your bag some shape by boxing the corners. To do this, take each corner of the bag, open it up, and pinch the fabric together so that the seams line up and the corner forms a triangle. This step is what gives your bag that lovely boxy shape, making it more spacious inside.

Once you’ve got the corners pinched together, sew a straight line across each corner using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

5. Finishing the bag

Now comes the exciting part—turning your bag right side out! Use the opening you left in the lining to gently pull the fabric through until the entire bag is on the right side. Take a moment to push out the corners with your fingers or a blunt tool, making sure they’re nice and sharp.

With your bag now taking its final shape, it’s time to close up that opening in the lining. You’ve got two options here: for a super neat finish, you can use an invisible stitch to close the gap by hand. But if you’re in a hurry, a simple straight stitch on your sewing machine will do the trick just as well. Since this seam will be on the inside of the bag, no one will ever notice. 

To give it more character, I decided to add this cute little faux leather tag.

And just like that, your adorable upcycled denim makeup bag is complete and ready to be filled with all your essentials!

Please let me know how you do in the comment box below and if you want any other free sewing patterns.

Also, share your final piece on social media by tagging us as @mygoldenthimble 

Upcycled Denim Makeup Bag PDF Pattern Download

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