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This is a mat to put near the door. It will catch lots of outdoor dirt before it makes its way all over the house. This mat is made from recycled blue jeans, and makes use of very small scraps. You can make the base whatever size you want your mat to be.
Extra tip: Cut your scraps with a rotary cutter to save time. The picture is of a partially finished mat. Sorry, I have not had time lately to complete one for a photo session.
*Since stitching doesn't show, this is good place to use up those odd colors of thread.
By Harlean from Hot Springs, AR
The complete instructions are in a PDF file for which you may need Acrobat Reader to view. Download Acrobat Reader
Click Here to download the Denim Door Mat Instructions in PDF format.
Whenever your kids outgrow their denim jeans, save them for making bags from the legs. Cut off the legs at the crotch, turn inside out and hem the unfinished edge. Now you have a nice long tube-bag for tent poles, beach umbrella storage, or anything else that comes with poles or long, skinny pieces. You could label the leg-bag with puffy paint, duct tape, or Sharpie marker so you know what is inside.
If you need a fatter bag, take multiple legs, split them at the inner seam (cut off the multiple-thicknesses of the leg), sew the long edges together for a fatter tube, and now you have a bag for a sleeping bag, beach towels, tent (small one, of course), or perhaps off-season blankets.
By Eileen M. from Elk Grove, CA
Save up and ask friends and family for old jeans. Make a throw or bed blanket!
Cut every good part you can into the same size squares. Anything from 3 to 4 inch squares. Sew all these together in strips and then sew the strips together. Once you have the desired size for a throw or bed cover. Teens love these. To make it all tattered on the edges wash and dry many times!
Not to long ago my grand daughter went through a growth spurt and she asked me to turn her skinny jeans into shorts.
Using Cut Off Pant Legs. My 7 year old is a little larger than average around his waist, so I have to buy pants that are to long for him in order to get ones that will fit him around his waist, and end up cutting and hemming them for a better fit. . .
When my children were growing up, I cut the legs off their bluejeans and made shorts for the summer months. I saved the legs and made several things from them.
I made these for my pre-teen. I took Rice a Roni boxes with the top half cut off. I used old jeans and glued the jean material around the boxes. I used Sharpie markers to write "Live, Laugh, Love."
This is a pretty easy sewing project. It is a cute book bag made from an old pair of blue jeans.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
What can be made with old jeans?
By Jenn from Alberta
www.thriftyfun.com/
Pictured are two potholders that I made from a pair of my husband's old jeans.
I cut the legs off two more pair of his jeans and will be able to make two kitchen hot mats.
Last night I cut off my husbands blue jeans and made him some shorts. What can I do with the bottom portions that I have left? It has to be something really easy as I do not sew and don't have a machine and I have no little ones at home, just three little doggies! Thanks in advance! You ladies and gentlmen are the best! :)
You can use them to make knee, elbow and/or pocket patches as well as for some arts and crafts projects. Instead of sewing use fabric glue or a glue gun.
Well it depends on how small your dogs are but your pets can use them as covers or just to run around and play tug-o-war with. Or you can use them to clean around. Hope this helps you out !
You can make quilts, handbags, pocketbooks, belts, or covering a small lamp shades.
Sew the narrowest edges together with strong thread, and firmly stitch a loop of cord to each side of the other end, to make a bottle carrier for picnics, parties or just for giving a bottle as a gift.
I saved my off-cuts and they have been invaluable for patching the knees of hubby's work jeans over the years.
Stitch or staple one end together, insert a glass jar, turn down a cuff at the top, decorate with red, white, and blue ribbons tied in a bow around the neck of the jar, and you have a cute flower vase.
Sew one end shut, then stuff for a car travel pillow. After it's stuffed, sew the other end shut. They are sturdy, wash well and fit nicely behind your neck. I still have mine from when I was a kid.
If they're not shabby looking where you cut them down, you could make throw pillows out of them.
Since you said you don't sew (I see most people gave you suggestions that involve sewing!), you could cut the pieces into strips and tie them together to make doggie chew/play toys. No sewing involved there! :-)
Blue jean legs make the best potholders ever! I made one today using the batting from an old worn out potholder. I appliqued some stars onto it just for fun. Obviously this idea works best for someone who likes to sew!
you can make a headband to match your jeans when u put them on.
hope this helps u
Roll them up into a spiral, fold it in half, and stick lots of them in a vase for impromptu denim roses!
I had a friend who used to take those leg parts and put drawstrings in both ends,to use as a cat carrier when she took her cats to the vet, the cats didn't mind a bit being all bunnied up and couldn't claw through the tough denim. The vet was able to reach into the top part to use his stethescope and even do injections. You could even decorate the bags if your crafty and sell or give them away to catty friends
Sew one end of the legs up, fill it full of white rice and then close the other end. Put in the microwave and heat the rice. Use for achy muscles, and to also warm up beds on cold nights.
MAKE A RAG QUILT, SIMPLY TAKE SQUARES SEW THEM TOGETHER WITH A ONE INCH SEAM ALLOWANCE
You can make non-sew pot holders.
Use any kind of glue (washable glue if you are going to wash them) and glue 2 squares of any size together. You can cut some cotton batting a little smaller than the jean squares and glue in the middle of the 2 jean squares.
What can I do with denim scraps?
By Tina from Paola, KS
I am looking for how to make fringe out of old blue jeans.
By sewin granny from NE
What can be made with old jeans?
By Dorothy from Durban, KZN
This is a page about making a jeans apron. Take those old or wrong sized jeans and, rather than throw them away, make a cute apron.
This is a page about making a jeans purse. Jeans have long been an often used recycled material for a wide variety of crafts. One popular use is to cut and restitch into a durable jeans purse.
Create a fun journal from fabric covered heavy cardboard or chipboard panels. Add a jeans pocket to hold pens and pencils. We can show you how in the project that follows.
Those worn out denim pants can be reused to create a rug. This page is about crocheted blue jeans rug.
Old jeans can find new purpose via many recycled projects. Here is a link to making a tote bag from retired jeans. This is a page about making a recycled denim tote bag.
This is a page about patchwork circle mat. This fun little mat uses scraps of denim and cotton to make a colorful pattern. Its a great way to repurpose old jeans and use up fabric left over from other projects.
This is a page about making denim scrubbers. Old jeans have so many uses after we retire them from our wardrobe.
This is a page about blue jeans quilt ideas. Recycling blue jeans into craft projects is a great way to reuse this sturdy fabric.
This is a page about jean pocket crafts. Almost all the parts of a pair of jeans can be used in recycled crafts.
You don't need expensive materials to make new jewelry. To make this beautiful brooch, I used a piece of old jeans, a piece of a plastic shampoo bottle, a few beads and crystals. It is easy and quick to make such a brooch.
