Denim Bathroom Accessories from Recycled Blue Jeans
by Jane Lake
A reader kindly sent me these photos of the denim bathroom accessories that she had made from old blue jeans. Guests to Crimilda's home enjoy the look, and the fact that she used recycled materials to make them.
Although there are no exact patterns to follow, I found her ideas very appealing; I thought some of you might too. If you have some basic sewing experience, the following details should enable you to sew your own versions of Crimilida's denim bathroom accessories:
Window Valance:
Cut strips of denim to the same length, then sew together, alternating dark and light shades of denim, until the valance is the required length. Add lace flower trim to the bottom, if desired, and sew torn strips of denim as equally spaced loops along the top.
Denim Toilet Bowl Lid Cover
Place a piece of paper under the toilet lid and trace around it. Add two inches all around and cut out from a single piece of dark colored denim (bell-bottom jeans were used for lid cover shown here).
You can leave the lid cover plain, or embellish as shown: create a stripe from one or more pieces of light colored denim, or piece several pieces together to go across the center of the cover. Apply with hemming bond and, if desired, sew on trim.
Fold and sew a casing all around the cover and thread with elastic to fit.
Denim Toilet Paper Holder
Need a handy place for those extra toilet paper rolls? Make a toilet paper holder by sewing denim pieces together to create an open loop of fabric that is two inches wider than the rolls and long enough to enclose two or three of them. Store the rolls inside the loop then hang it within easy reach of the toilet for convenient roll replacements.
Denim Toilet Tank Lid Cover
You can make a toilet tank lid cover quite easily by measuring the length and width of the lid and adding a couple of inches. Attach elastic from one corner to the opposite diagonal corner; repeat with the remaining corners, so that you have a criss-cross of elastic on the wrong side of the denim. Fit the cover on the lid, tuck in the sides and replace the lid.
Denim Bathroom Rug
To make a bathroom rug similar to Crimilida's, tear one inch strips of denim and sew them onto a backing piece of denim, overlapping strips as you go. Leave the ends slightly uneven, or straighten them, according to the look you prefer. Wash and dry the rug, then remove any extra threads.
The Denim Rug shown at right is made by sewing rectangles of thinner, shirt-type denim, to a base of thicker denim pieced together from blue jean legs.
Denim Trimmed Towel
Accent bath and hand towels by sewing on a stripe of denim; if desired, further embellish with flowered trim and ribbons.
Excellent! The rug looks really cool. Since a week now I m watching for jeans reconstruction or recycling but did not come across such unique matter. This is really original and too good. Keep it up.
Thanks.
Ida – Texas
Oct 21, 2009 - 16:55
I love these ideas. I used the Denim scatter rug idea except it is fleece. My aunt gave me a lot of Fleece remnants. The base is a pair of jeans though but the top is fleece remnants. I hope that makes sense. I didn't sew it in a rectangle like the picture above, mine looks more patchwork. Anyway, it feels so soft on my feet when I step out of the shower. THanks for the idea.
crimilda ferrer – hatillo, p.r.
May 12, 2008 - 20:30
Hello Jane ,
Besides blue jeans I've been recycling fabric sample books and left over pieces of material from clothes and left over fabric from other projects. I've made cushions , runners ,table cloths , placemats, purses and quilts . My grand children got the fabric sample books out of the trash from a local shop that sells curtains and covers . I gave alot to our students. Still have a bunch to keep on sewing.
Well I wish you and your family good health . My best regards, Crimilda
Donna – moose jaw sask
May 08, 2008 - 13:39
Hi I am looking for a blue jean top pattern some thing simple Thanks Donna let me know
Reply to Donna
crimilda ferrer – hatillo, p.r.
May 12, 2008 - 20:42
Hello Donna,
Hello my name is Crimilda . I'm from New Orleans ,La.I am a retired English teacher. Now living in Puerto Rico . There's a real cute tank top you can make from blue jeans and you can even sew straps to it . I made one using men's jeans, because they are wider. Open the legs by cutting close to the seams. Sew them together and on one side put a zipper if desired or a casting at top with elastic. If you put the zipper you can sew a folded band at the top . You can decorate it with ribbon ,lace ,flowers, stones or buttons .
They are really pretty. Have fun making it ! Crimilda
keka – Hatillo,PR
Apr 28, 2008 - 19:40
q belleza yo kiero mi baño asi tengo q guardar los mahones viejos
crimilda – puerto rico
Apr 27, 2008 - 20:51
Dear Jane,
Thanks for putting my denim bathroom accessories on line . Any questions just ask me ,I'll be proud to answer. I really like alot the other denim rug made by Joyce and I'm going to make one.
Thanks again, God bless you!
Crimilda
Window Valance:
Denim Toilet Bowl Lid Cover
Denim Toilet Paper Holder
Denim Bathroom Rug
The 
Denim Trimmed Towel
