20+ Crafty Things To Make With Old Jeans
Jeans usually outlast our use for them since styles and sizes change before they have a chance to wear out but they still have a lot of life left in them. Here are plenty of crafty and clever ways you can re-use the material and make them into something useful (all free tutorials and patterns). Enjoy!
craftingagreenworld.com
Wine Bag: Lovely bag made with a jean leg bottom and lined with sturdy fabric. Also see this wine bag made from old jeans.
designspongeonline.com
guardian.co.uk
Easy Tote: Features pretty floral brooches made with strips of denim. Also see this eyelet totebag and this book bag project.
marthastewart.com
untilwednesdaycalls.blogspot.com
Laptop Bag: Make a sturdy bag for your laptop that’s lined with pretty fabric and batting. You’ll find more laptop bag tutorials here.
abit-of-art.blogspot.com
diynetwork.com
Bibs: So lovely and so easy to wash!
thimblythings.com
untilwednesdaycalls.blogspot.com
Fray Edge Quilt: Also see this blue jeans quilt tutorial. You’ll find more quilt patterns here.
hgtv.com
allfreecrafts.com
Christmas Trees: Made with scraps of denim, colorful buttons and bits of decorative ribbon.
melissagoodsell.typepad.com
myrecycledbags.com
Jeans Apron: Made with a pant leg from an old pair of jeans, bias tape binding and twill tape. You’ll find lots of apron patterns here.
mybyrdhouse.blogspot.com
moonarts.com
Reusable Lunch Bags: Super easy project, also see Apple Printed Lunch Sack and more lunch bag patterns here.
makeandtakes.com
tearosehome.blogspot.com
Booty Bag Tutorial: Made with the “seat” of an old pair of jeans (potential for lots of room depending on the size of the pants!).
thelongestyear.typepad.com
instructables.com
Wall Hanging: The back pockets make a cute place to stash crafty stuff.
fiskarscraft.typepad.com
craftzine.com
Coasters: The thick hems and seams are cut from old jeans then rolled tightly and glued together.
mousechirpy-polkadotpineapple.blogspot.com
joann.com
Denim Pouf: Tough, sturdy and nice! Made with assorted scraps of denim in different shades and packed with pillow stuffing.
michelemademe.com
You can make a Microwaveable Heat Bag with denim pieces in any size you like. Also check out the Scrap Happy List, plenty of projects in there that would be great made up in scraps of denim.
Props to WiseBread’s post 25 Things To Do With Old Jeans that inspired this article as a feature way back in the summer of 2008.
I make braided rugs with old bluejean strips. I make the strips about 1″ wide, then sort the colors-light, medium, dark-then with each pile I sew the strips together similar to the way one does border corners on a quilt. Once sewn I roll them into a ball. With one end of each ball I sew them together side by side, each strip folded with raw edges in and clamp to plant hanger hook and start braiding. Once its all braided then I lay it on the floor and, using carpet thread I sew to form an oval or circular rug.
I am fascinated by your use of denim to make a rug. My grandmother made lovely rag rugs when I was a child. Unfortunately, I didn’t gain any inside into her skill. I have a couple of questions for you and if you could answer them I would be very appreciative. Do you braid the strips together like braiding hair and could you explain more about using the carpet thread to shape the rug? Thanks so much for your help. Janice
i have lots of old jeans but i cant sew cause i dont have a machine so what can i make that doesnt have to dowith sewing
Honestly there’s so much you CAN do with blue jeans and a sewing machine it’s really worth looking for one (used) if having money to spend on it is an issue. Most areas have a freecycle group that you can post to-I’ve gotten craft materials that way. Some thrift stores are worth checking too
corrie.. you can make a million diffrent things, as i am finding out from my textiles corsework in recycled denim. you can make hair acccesories.. + a million other things
x