More Denim Recycling Patterns
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Denim Rug
Denim Bathroom Accessories
Denim Wall Organizer
Recycling Denim
Blue Jeans Skirt
Denim Diary Cover
Recycling Denim: New Uses for Old Blue Jeans
Two complete articles, with lots of ideas of recycling denim, complete on this page!
Recycling Denim Blue Jeans
by Jane Lake
Denim is a prime fabric for recycling, so don't throw away that outgrown pair of blue jeans - put the wonderful hard-wearing qualities of denim to use once more, in one or more of our inspiring denim recycling ideas.
Denim Rice Hot Pack
Use the leg from a pair of jeans to make a tube-shaped Rice Hot Pack - just fill with white rice and microwave until warm; these are great to ease muscular aches and pains, or to pre-warm the bed on a cold winter's night.
Denim OrganizerA free sewing pattern from Coats and Clark, this denim organizer uses recycled cut-off jean legs. The hem of the legs makes the top of the pockets, so there's no need to bind the edges.
Denim Pocket Purses or Denim Pocket Fridge Magnets
Re-use the pockets from old blue jeans to make Denim Pocket Purses or Denim Pocket Fridge (or Locker) Magnets - both are sure to be bestsellers at your next church bazaar sale!
Denim Lace-Trimmed ShortsA new twist to cut-off shorts...simply cut down old jeans to shorts length and add lace to the new hem. Also consider adding lace to the top of the pockets, either with fabric glue or hand sewing. Instant flair and style for almost no cost!
Denim Capri Pants
Are your jeans too short to wear bare foot, or with your favorite shoes? Take advantage and shorten them some more...cut off at 3/4 length and make a pair of capri pants with a plain hem, or trimmed with lace at the bottom.
Denim Placemats
Use old jeans to make unique placemats...incorporate the pockets as part of the placemat to hold silverware in place.
Denim Pot Holders
Denim will stand up to the rigors of pot holder duty and look great in the kitchen. Line with fleece, quilt batting or even squares cut from old sweat shirts. Incorporate the pocket if you want to get fancy, or take advantage of those gold-thread seams.
Denim Wine Bags
Use the legs from blue jeans to make two wine bags...sew the bottom closed, and hem the top leaving an opening on one side, or both sides, to thread through a golden cord drawstring. Leave plain or embellish with lace, buttons, ribbon, or small silk flowers. Tres chic!
Denim Pencil Case:
Are you tired of your kids' pencil cases falling apart? Take advantage of the strength of denim and make a rectangular zippered bag large enough to store all the kid's pens and pencils.
New Uses for Old Denim
by Roxanna Ward
Recycle your used denim into homemade gifts. If your family is like mine, we live in denim. From denim jeans to denim skirts. We have plenty of denim in our house. With three children, we go through plenty of clothes. Two of these children being boys, many of these clothes are worn out before grown out of. So I found myself with a lawn and garden garbage bag full of no good denim. What is a frugal mother to do?
I'll tell you what I did. I rose to the challenge and went to work researching. I found there are so many uses for this denim, that I want more worn out clothes! Here are a few items you can make with denim scraps:
Denim Quilt:
Cut the good parts of the denim clothing into four inch squares. Sew together to form a quilt. I did this and made a "rag" quilt. I sewed the quilt and left the denim seams on the outside of the quilt. Washed and dried for a little fraying and bam .. one Christmas gift was finished. PURSE: Turn the jeans (I used shorts) to the inside and sew just below the bottom at the beginning of the legs. I sewed a few times for extra reinforcing. Sew on a strap using the waistband from another pair of jeans. Lace a belt or use ribbon through the beltloops to draw closed. I also put a strip of Velcro on the inside of mine to keep shut.
Denim Pillows:
I made "butt" pillows for our van the same basic way the purse is made. Except you need to close the entire top with Velcro. Put a ready made pillow form in and you can unvelcro for easy cleaning. Just toss in the washer. I used an old pillow as the pillow form and had no cost at all for my pillows.
Denim Apron:
Use a pair of overalls for this project. Cut the seams of the legs apart and then sew both of the front legs together and then both of the back legs together. Slip over you head for a great apron. You can also use as a great overall dress. Quick and easy.
So what are you waiting for? Go clean out your closets and see what you can make.
About the Author:
Roxanna Ward, Community leader and staff writer for http://www.BabyUniversity.com.
I am looking for instructions on how to make a jean reversible quilt made with the legs of old jeans.
is there a book available or a pattern
thanks
I used a denim pants leg to make a case to hold my son's music stand. It no longer banged the wooden legs of a table it was stored under.
I recently took one leg from a pair of old denim jeans & made little purses for my girls. I cut the cloth to the seams then I added a length of pink ribbon to both sides & sticthed it on in blue thread. Next I sticthed a length of the same color & type of ribbon as a loop closure. I then sticthed the pieces together along the bottom & sides. Finally I added more pink ribbon as a strap & a metal button to the front. The loop simply hooks around the button & the purse is held closed. I did this to limit the number of toys my kids bring on our trips. These worked wonders, hung the corners of the hotel bed head board & kept their toys from getting lost. The ribbons were left over from another project & the metal buttons were removed from an old jacket I had back in the 1980's. The kids LOVED these.
What a lovely lot of ideas for denim. I used to do a lot of recycling when our boys were small but just got out of the habit, the heat pillows are great for aging bones, and also cushions for the bottom when picnicing by the lake. Thank you for sharing your ideas so freely, its much appreciated. My only idea to share is using old soft denim squares, and some old floral shabby chic cotton, and making a quick throw edged with cotton lace. Lovely for a teen girl.
Does anyone have the pattern for a tablecloth that incorporates denim placemats into the actual tablecloth? One sewing magazine had the directions a few years ago but I can't locate it again. This particular pattern also called for embroidered "ants" crawling across the center of the tablecloth.
It sounds wonderful. I don't have the pattern, but wouldn't it work if you just stitched your denim placements together with a fun zigzag stitch in that ochre shade often used to topstitch jeans, and then, add a red and white gingham hem all around the edge of the tablecloth, that will highlight your red lady bug embroidery! Would love to see what you make.
Happy sewing,
21centurydressmakers.blogspot.com
I have seen what you talking about but didnt know they were sewn place mats together maybe it was in an old woman's magazine, you might to check might check ithat out or martha Stewart
Hi,,
Where can I give my old jeans to be recycled, I have many.
Rachael
at a charty shop
You can bring them to a church or place of worship. You can sell them on ebay or for free sell them on craigs list. Hope this helps you.
