Recycle and Repurpose Old Jeans
Using Free Online Sewing Projects Sew Denim Skirts and Organizers
With the help of many free online sewing and needlework projects, recycle and repurpose old denim jeans to give them a new lease of life. Sew bags, skirts and organizers
Old or discarded denim jeans provide a good source of fabric for recycling. Denim is a thick cotton fabric which is hard wearing and rugged. Most jeans get discarded because they no longer fit or have gone out of style, however there is plenty of life left in the fabric itself.
Jeans originated as work trousers, although in the 1950s they started to become popular with teenagers and quickly became part of mainstream fashion. The distinctive combination of indigo color and denim fabric has resulted in an item of clothing which remains popular with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Finding Old Jeans
The wide popularity of jeans means that old and discarded jeans are easy to find. Old jeans can be bought cheaply at garage sales and thrift shops, and often appear as part of a bundle of cast off clothes.
Even very old or worn jeans can be useful, it is unlikely that a pair of jeans will be completely without any salvageable pieces of fabric. Pockets, zips and buttons are all useful and can make interesting embellishments on other projects.
Projects Using Recycled Jeans
Skirts
One of the most popular ways of recycling jeans is to turn them into a skirt. This is easy to do and is an excellent project for a novice sewer. This is also a good way to encourage teenagers to get interested in sewing. The ability to chop up old clothes and to put their stamp of individuality onto a garment may well be the introduction to a lifelong interest in creative sewing. Denim skirts long and short, plain and fancy are straightforward to make using a few basic sewing skills.
SavvySeams.com - detailed instructions including step by step photographs explaining how to make a skirt from a pair of jeans
Bags
The top of a pair of jeans lends itself to bag making. Many interesting styles of bags can be made making a useful feature of the jeans pockets. These bags can be embellished in a variety of ways, including embroidery and even needlefelting.
LoveToSew.com - Full instructions to sew a denim bag, including step by step photographs
QuiltPox.com - Step by step instructions to sew a small denim purse
Organizers
The legs of jeans are a perfect size for making organizers. Different lengths can be cut to create a range of pocket sizes. This can be a good way to use up lengths of legs left over from other projects.
TheCreativeLife.tv - illustrated step by step instructions to make a kitchen organizer
WhiteSewing.com - printable pdf instructions to make an organizer. Uses jeans pockets
Many other types of garments are suitable for recycling and repurposing. T-shirts, woolen sweaters and anything with interesting vintage fabrics can make interesting sewing and needlework projects.
