Denim carry bag for fire logs
If you have a lot of jeans pockets accumulated, try making this denim carry bag for firewood. Easy to sew and lot’s fun designing. Wood carrier makes a great home accessory and a useful gift for anyone with a fireplace or a BBQ. Check out more DIY denim gift ideas here >>>.
Jeans legs for this denim carry bag do not have to be thick and strong. On the contrary, medium or slightly thinner jeans will work even better, because the sides will have to be folded over twice and stitched. And don’t worry about the strength of this bag – the webbing and the pockets make it super strong! I have tested mine for over a year now 😉
As a quick note, if you don’t have a lot of pockets to add and maybe wish to make a plain denim fire-log carry, you can still use this free sewing tutorial. In this case choose medium or thick non-stretchy denim and in case it becomes difficult fold over the edges twice, fold them once 😉
This sewing project is also good to use up some jeans legs that are not very good for other projects, for instance ones that have un-washable stains or unattractive lines, ones that are generally not so pretty in colour or finish.
There is another denim carry bag that I have free instructions for here >>> It is made from denim scraps, as a crazy patchwork and has a lining. You may wish to check it out too.
What you’ll need to make denim carry bag
To make this denim carry bag with jeans pockets we will need: 6 or 7 pieces of jeans legs 50cm (19″) long, lots of pockets for decoration and minimum of 264cm (2,88yards) of webbing 3cm (1 1/4″) wide.
The given measurements may vary, you may decide to make it a different size. The finished size of the fire log carry bag I am making here is 90x40cm (35,5″x16″) and the handle length is 40cm (16″). I’d say the width is perfect for fire logs, but the length can be more, anything from 90cm to 1mtr (35″ to 39″). The seam allowances for the hems around all of the sides are 2,5cm (1″) and they are not included in the measurements above – remember to add them if you make your own size.
Cutting old jeans
To make the body we will need 6 or 7 pieces of jeans legs. Cut them lengthwise minimum 50cm (20″). For now I prefer to have them larger than needed and trim them later. Iron the strips.
Trim the long sides of each piece to make the long edges straight and parallel. Preferably follow the grain lines on the denim.
The width of the pieces will be different and it’s ok, we will sew them together to get the desired size. As for the length of each piece, you may prefer to cut the strips to the exact size now. For a 40cm wide wood carrier it will be 45cm width including seam allowances. But I prefer to keep it longer for now and trim later. This is because denim stretches a bit while sewing.
Sewing the strips
This denim wood carry does not have a lining so the inner side is visible. Choose such thread colour for your lower thread that it’s not much seen on denim, like grey or dusty blue. Topstitching now and sewing pockets later – there will be not much seen on the inner of the carry bag if the colour of the thread is right 😉
Sew together all the strips by putting them wrong sides together, so that the seam allowances are on the right side. Go twice at each seam for strength. Open flat and topstitch each seam.
Sew them all like a ladder into a large rectangle. To trim this large rectangle to the exact size, fold it in half lengthwise. Measure and mark from the middle fold to the edge 25,5cm (9″). Cut along. This is to make the long sides of the carrier straight.
Now that you have trimmed the width, measure the length of the rectangle and trim to desired size including hem allowances. Mine is 90+2,5+2,5=95cm (35,5″+1″+1″=37,5″). Now we have the rectangle ready 45x95cm (18″x37,5″):
Hemming the edges
You don’t have to, but this denim carry bag looks better with “diagonal” corners. To do this measure and mark 9cm (3,5″) from every outer corner to its both sides. Cut diagonally.
Start folding over the fabric – first at the diagonal cut.
And then roll up all other sides. If you feel that it is difficult to hold in place, sew along these corners first and only then fold over and sew the sides. Also, if you feel that your denim is too tough for your machine to go over this hem, fold it once and keep the raw edge as a décor element 😉
Stitch to hold it in place. Try your best not to stretch it. It might get tough at some places, don’t rush here, rotate machine wheel by hand.
Adding the pockets
You can cut off the pockets from jeans different ways, more details about it here >>>. For this denim carry bag I use “the fastest way” (also described there) – simply cut around as near to sides of a pocket as possible and cut out the inner. Preferably don’t use pockets with studs, but if it’s all you have, check out how to deal with metal studs here >>>.
When laying the pockets, plan it thoughtfully. Try not to overlap tough places of the pockets, such as corners and studs. Also avoid bulk at the two lines where the strap is going to be (appx 9-11cm (3,5-4,5″) from the long sides). Just think how to make a layout which will be easy to sew over.
Use thread color matching to the backing of the denim, so there is not much seen after.
When you start sewing the pockets on, you can roll up some of the canvas – this trick makes it easier to handle a large piece:
In tough places, sewing machine might get stuck and not want to go further. Don’t pull the fabric. Lift the machine foot, walk one step helping fabric forward and rotating the wheel by hand. Then put the foot down again and try to proceed.
Adding the straps
Start somewhere in the middle of the body, find a spot with minimum bulk, because the ends will be overlapped adding more layers. Lay the strap along the long side at appx 9cm (3,5″) from the edge.
For the handles I leave 40cm (16″), I find this length comfortable. If the webbing that you are using is lightweight and you feel like it’s not right for a handle, you can double it at the handles. Simply measure and mark where each handle starts and finishes, stitch another piece of webbing (slightly longer than a handle) to it underneath. You could even use a different colour, that would be fun!
Pin the webbing onto the denim body and as you come back to the beginning leave an overlap of about 4cm (1,5″). Cut excess off. If your webbing is too short, make shorter handles 😉
Stitch the straps onto the body, reinforcing the start of the handles.
For the overlap in the middle, simply fold one side over and continue sewing. Then add a small seam across to make it flatter.
This is it! Well done!!!
I hope you have enjoyed sewing with me and this DIY denim carry bag for fire wood will serve you well in the chilly days. Check out more denim projects which you can sew >>>
