Jean Pocket Wristlet

I would definitely consider myself to be a girly girl. I love ruffles, glitter, clothes, nail polish and purses -just to name a few. Ever since I had my son, Jacob, about 10 months ago, carrying a purse around in the grocery store can be more of a nuisance than helpful. It's hard enough trying to keep the little man happy, keeping his chubby hands off the shelves and making sure I get every bag off the checkout counter, to then have to worry if I have my keys ( there are some bad stories involving me and lost keys) if I have Jakey's diaper bag and "Oh, Yeah" my purse. I decided I needed to destress my shopping experience----whaalaa--- I made a Jean Pocket Wristlet!! The best part was the joy of cutting up some pre-pregnancy jeans. It was fun to use something that other wise would make me sad, because they don't fit and turn them into something so cute! I guess I can now have a love hate relationship with those jeans :)

MATERIALS:

Jean Pocket

(off of an old pair of jeans)

Velcro. 

My jean pocket was about 6 1/2 inches wide, so to be sure stuff wouldn't fall out I cut a piece of velcro about 5 inches long...sizes will vary depending on the size of your pocket)
Decorative Fabric

Lining Fabric

Batting

( you could even use a piece of felt for your batting )

Find a pair of jeans you aren't using anymore.
The back pockets can have either a button or zipper. Both would work great!

Cut your pocket out and leave about 1/2 inch around all 4 sides. This is for seam allowance.
It also made it easier to sew through one layer of denim, rather than if I cut right around the pocket.
I would have been sewing through multiple layers.

Using your jean pocket as a guide, cut out 2 lining pieces, 1 decorative fabric for the back, a strip of fabric for your handle and one piece of batting ( you don't need a piece for the jean side since that is already stiff) I cut my handle 3 in. wide x 14 in. long.

 

Fold your handle strip in half and press with a hot iron. When you open your fabric you will see a crease.

Take one side of your handle and fold it to the crease. Do the same thing to the other side.

Fold in half and stitch down the side that is open. Stitch as close to the edge as possible.

Placing your fabric at the end of your presser foot and moving your needle as far over as you can will make it easier.

Place the two ends of your handle together and pin it to the front of the jean pocket. Stitch in place.

Place your decorative fabric and jean pocket right sides together.
Lay your batting on top of your decorative fabric and sew down both of the sides and the bottom.

Clip your corners.

Turn your bag right side out.

Place your velcro about an inch down from the top of your lining and sew around.
Do this to both pieces.

Sew around both sides of your lining. When you get to the bottom sew in a few inches, stop, and backstitch leaving a hole in the middle of the bag. DON'T SEW THE TOP OF YOUR BAG CLOSED.

 

Put your jean pocket into your lining ( Right sides together).  Make sure you match up your side seams.

Sorry this picture is a little blurry :(

Sew around the top of your bag.

Pull your jean pocket through the opening at the bottom of your lining.

Stitch the opening in your lining closed.

Put your lining into your bag and top stitch around your wristlet.

This wristlet is going to work perfectly!  My cell phone will fit nice and snug in the jean pocket and my wallet/money can go in the pouch part :) It's even small enough to fit in Jakey's diaper bag if needed.

 Enjoy cutting up some old jeans and making yourself something cute!