Blue Jeans – Part 2
• Cut them into shapes and sew them together either patchwork or crazy quilt style and use for pillows, cushion covers, window valances, very heavy bed covers
• Sew just above the crotch, put a belt/scarf/rope through the belt loops, add web or denim handles, and use as a tote* (I’ve done this for my pre-K’er and Kindergartner – they need large, open tote-style book bags – they wash well and last a long time!)
• Sew on a belt loop and wear it on your belt for change; tack (glue, staple, pin) it onto a bulletin board to hold pens, pencils – whatever; glue it onto a binder (plain or fabric covered) for a pencil pouch*
• Cut off a leg, hem the cut end, stuff with a pillow or fiberfill, tie ends – large neck roll*
• I plan to make valances and throw pillows for my boys bedroom (it will be a sort of western style room). (All of these ideas were sent in by Kim M.)
• My favorite use of old blue jeans is the one I did a few years ago. I sewed a Bible cover out of the still strong parts, complete with a pocket from the jeans on the front for note cards and pens. I cut a piece of an old bandana and sewed it above the pocket to make it look like it was stuffed in the pocket. Ellen
• Use the top portion as an apron – cut off the legs, leaving enough material to cover a person’s thighs. Separate the front from the back part of the jeans to form a mini apron. Finish the raw edges & decorate. (Again, you could use fabric paints, sewing novelties, patches, etc.) Use some of the blue jean material from the legs to make your apron strings – sew strings on and you’re ready to cook!
• Use the legs that are left over from the above project, using about 18" or so of material. Sew the bottom of one leg closed. Use jean material or rope & make a drawstring at the top hole. Decorate if you wish. These bags can be used to hold your plastic grocery bags – you’d be surprised how many of those things will fit in here! You can also use these as a general carry all for whatever you need! Melissa
• If the knees are worn out, I cut the jeans off at the knees. I sew up the bottom hem (like a paper bag bottom) to make a flat bottom on it. I then sew a casing in the top and thread a draw string through. I sew on a strap (I used straps I had cut off of old diaper bags or backpacks) and viola’ – a water bottle holder – save a 1 liter bottle from a soda or juice – and use for water bottles. This REALLY saves money on drinks when going places like the zoo, amusement parks, etc. Once again, fabric paint is the decoration of choice. Lorraine
• Clothespin holder : Take an old pair of blue jeans and cut off the legs. Sew the legs completely shut and any holes, leaving the waist alone. Cut a canvas belt or other long object into two strips. Now, sew them like suspenders to the jeans. Hang this on a coat hanger and you have a bag to hang on your clothesline to put the pins in. You may want to sew the top of all the strapping together under the hanger to keep it from falling off. Dawn
• I have two ideas for old blue jeans:
1) When I was in college, I took a number of pairs of old jeans (different shades of blue and even a striped pair), and cut them up into approximately 5" squares. I "zigzag" stitched around the edges of each to help prevent too much fraying, then sewed a bunch of them together (alternating dark navy w/ light blue or striped fabric) to form one side of a laundry sack (it was too big to call a mere "bag"!). For the other side of the sack, I sewed rectangular patches together of one type of denim with the wrong side showing for a different look (sew wrong sides together). On that side I sewed on some pockets, appliques, etc. for a decorative touch. I sewed belt loops around the top of the sack, and put a rope through them for a drawstring. I then took some other denim to make nice, wide, sturdy carrying handles. It was great to be able to fit all of my laundry in the sack at once, since I had a few flights of stairs to go up/down to get to the dorm’s laundry room. I got so many compliments on my laundry sack, and it lasted all 4 years nicely, even with all the trips between home and college!! In fact, I still have it 5 years later!!
2) Use it as a "boppy" pillow (I think that’s what they are called) to help support a baby while he or she works on learning how to sit up on his/her own. The boppy’s in stores cost over $20 and are basically a horseshoe shaped pillow. Take a pair of jeans, cut the legs off to the desired length, sew across the bottom, stuff with batting or old pantyhose (if you have a huge stash of old ones!), then sew across the top. The baby can sit in the crotch area to have just that little bit of extra support while learning to balance, and then will have some cushion if he/ she tips over! Rebecca
Comments
• Thanks for the great blue jeans recycle ideas. A thrift store (in a mountain-resort-town N of us) gives away bags of free clothes. I got several bags recently & went through them. They contained baby clothes (to wash & give to a new Mom) other clothes & lots of great blue jeans. Some of the jeans had beautiful designer pockets. I can’t wait to do some of your great blue jeans projects. Annjette