Upcycled Denim Chalk Bag Progress

Kalin Myers
Post 3 - 2025 : Upcycle Progress
4 Comments

Overall Project

Following a vintage americana aesthetic, I will be making a chalk bag out of thrifted denim and thrifted ties. The ties will contain red, white, and/or blue in order to follow the aesthetic.

Necessary Materials

In order to sew a handmade, denim chalk bag I need the following items:

  • Pattern (handmade)
  • Thrifted Levi’s Jeans
  • Thrifted material for the inner lining
  • Drawstring
  • Sewing machine
  • Thread
  • Fabric for the attachment piece
  • Item to secure drawstring
  • Scissors
  • Pins

Current Material Progress

In 2018, my mom bought me a sewing machine and a lot of material along with it to make my own clothes. So, I have the machine, scissors, and pins. Today, I went to TRU Thrift Store in Boulder in order to find the Levi’s and inner lining fabric.

Fig 2. Tru Thrift Store Storefront (Bing Images, N.D.)

After walking around the store, I found three options of Levi’s. Ultimately, I went with the cheapest option.

Fig 3. Levi’s Jean Selection

When looking for fabric for the inner lining, I was originally going to get a flannel. However, I found a tie with a detailed design that I figured would provide a more creative approach. This tie still has red, white, and blue which fits the vintage americana aesthetic of my project.

Fig 4. Ties for inner lining

After finding my fabric pieces for the chalk bag, I just need a few more things to complete this project.

 

The Plan

Now that I have my fabric, the only things I need now are a drawstring. I already own the rest of the supplies; however, I am thinking of using an old shoelace as the draw string to add more upcycled pieces. This is my current plan:

January 5th: Buy all materials

January 7th: Find a shoelace for the drawstring

January 8th: Start sewing the chalk bag

January 10th: Have product finished

 

References

(N.D). Bing Images. TRU Thrift Shop thrift stores – Search.

4 Comments. Leave new

  • Cort Sommer
    February 9, 2025 10:47 pm

    Really good idea! I love denim in general and seeing someone implementing this particular material into a chalk bag is something. One question I have is how would the chalk interact with the denim, would it stain it and not mark it all?

    • Kalin Myers
      February 14, 2025 1:10 pm

      Since I have used a denim chalk bag, I notice small white marks from the chalk from time to time. However, it usually comes off and it does not look stained. Thanks for the input!

  • Max Williams
    February 9, 2025 1:03 pm

    This is such a cool idea for a project, I especially like how you decided to make something using a method that you’re familiar with and already have the sewing machine for. I am curious about how you plan to turn the jeans you found into the chalk bag, you mention needing a handmade pattern, more details on the process of making that specific element would be really interesting.

    • Kalin Myers
      February 14, 2025 1:11 pm

      Thanks Max! For the pattern I plan on using scrap paper I find around my house. All I need to do is cut out a circle (6-7″ in diameter) and then cut out another rectangular piece that will be the walls of the chalk bag. Once these pieces of paper are dimensioned and cut out, I will put them against my fabric as a guide for the cuts:)

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