My husband sorted out 4-5 pairs of jeans the other day that are too worn to wear any longer. It seems a shame to toss them out, there's lots of good fabric on them. Anyone have a use for them or know of someone who does? Any suggestions what I could do with them myself? Thanks!
If they are varying shades of denim, they work up nicely into a denim patchwork quilt.
Tara
That's what we've done with our old jeans. It started with a quilt for me - queen size, approx. 6" square patches. My grandma and my dad cut the squares and my grandma sewed them together, sometimes using a decorative stitch like the feather stitch on the top, in red. We added a layer of polyester batt and backed it with flannette and then we just tied it instead of quilting it. When my brother saw mine, he started whining for his own, so we quickly made him one over Christmas (mine was assembled in the days before Christmas when my grandma came for a visit). His girlfriend at the time wanted one really bad too, but grandma wasn't willing to commit to a quilt until she did. Now they are married, so for Christmas she got her's. It's a king size with bigger patches, but other than that, basically the same. Her's had a couple extra features. A couple of the patches near the top still have the back pockets, the perfect place for a kleenex, just in case. Also, she loved an old t-shirt of my brother's that had this cute little face embroidered on it, so my brother smuggled it to my mom during one of their visits, and now one of the patches near the top has that little face added to it.
The quilting batting isn't really need for warmth, but it helps to not feel the seams through the flannette. The quilt is incredibly warm, both my SIL and I are famous for being freezing cold and we love our quilts, especially for camping. They also can handle going though the washer and dryer, so are very easy to maintain.
Another great unconventional quilt idea is the ones my best friend has. She has a friend who does upholstery and he gave her a bunch of scraps. Her mom sewed them up for blankets. She sewed the seams down flat and didn't back them. They make perfect picnic blankets, really comfortable because the grass can't stick up through it, durable and easy to take care of.
Rachel
I saw a cute patchwork pillow using old jeans and faded flannel. There was a small punchneedle piece appliqued onto it.
Karen E., who has all the parts necessary to make her own (including the completed punchneedle piece) but hasn't actually put it all together.
The make great patchwork quilts! Cut the fabric into squares -- 4",
5", or 6" -- and machine-sew them together, using a 1/2" seam allowance. And that's it! One side is smooth, and the other shows the seam allowances, which will ravel beautifully. No batting or backing is needed. Enjoy!The make great patchwork quilts! Cut the fabric into squares -- 4",
5", or 6" -- and machine-sew them together, using a 1/2" seam allowance. And that's it! One side is smooth, and the other shows the seam allowances, which will ravel beautifully. No batting or backing is needed. Enjoy!Many years ago my ex-husband wanted something to keep his fishing rods in, and I cut the legs out of jeans, sewed them together, and one end, put some velcro on the other end at what he deemed to be the right length, then voila - a bag to keep his rods in. I've also seen them used to recycle into children's library book bags/lunch bags etc as they are virtually indestructible. Also on that theme if they are cleverly tied in a series of large knots they make great tug-of-war toys for dogs (and your local dog shelter would probably welcome a few)
The current issue of Mary Engelbriet Home Companion Magazine has a section of denim crafts. You can check it out. I know crafters who cut the pocket out of the back and decorate that pocket with wire for a small handle. They stuff the pocket with dried flowers.
Two interesting links are
jules said
If the legs are wide enough, cut an appropriate length, seam the bottom, turn under a bit on the top and stitch down, then add straps for an almost instant tote bag ;-)
If you want to get fancy, embellish the fabric with whatever you have on hand.
DD has tote made from the seat area - complete with pockets!
Cheryl
I amde my daughter yera ago a quilt with jeans + other colors ,, she still uses it. I wove a rug with jeans cut stripes ... i sewed curtains, all patched from jeans i made bags , cushion covers etc..... mirjam
"I saw some neat shoulder bags recently made from the lower legs of old jeans, with a back pocket stitched to the front of the bag as a cell phone pocket. Dawne
What great ideas! I love the pocket for Kleenex idea.
Another idea - how about a peg bag, incorporating a small coat-hanger so you can hang it on the line?
Pat P
As a teenager, I made a skirt from the lower legs of a pair of dungarees(sewn together by hand, if I recall correctly). Think it had snaps or hooks for a closure, and a couple of darts sew in for fit. It's probably packed away around here somewhere, but I doubt I will ever fit into it again.
-- Carey in MA
I had one of those too!
Cheryl
So many good ideas from everyone! I took pieces from jean legs and sewed them together to make a cover for my keyboard bench to keep the vinyl from sticking to my legs. I sewed a casing around the edges and put in elastic but you could also staple it on.
-- Barbara T
WIP: Superstition Mountains by Jean Lanning, small odd jobs
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