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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!
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.
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What can be made with old jeans?
By Jenn from Alberta
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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.
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.