OS way of using old jeans?

thriftwizard

Denim squares/rectangles/strips make a really attractive & sturdy patchwork. Even though they all probably just look like - well, denim - separately, once you put the scraps together you realise there are lots of different blues. It frays beautifully so lends itself to doing things like "raggy" quilts with the seams on the outside & fuzzed up. Patchwork doesn't have to be a full-size quilt - you could do a cushion cover or a bag - and can be made up by hand, though a machine does make it quicker.

I cut out round & keep all the back pockets & stitch several of them onto an old flattened-out leg to make up useful wallhangings for storing pencils, scissors, needles & other small things; decorate with small appliques cut from old check shirts &/or scraps of lace & ribbon.

You can also cut the legs into strips, stitch or knot them together & braid/plait them into a spiral to make a rug - attractive, tough & hardwearing, but not easy to dry after washing!

It also makes a good cleaning rag when you need something stronger than old-sheet-type cotton, as it is quite absorbent. Also good for making up padded potholders - just stuff a cut-off leg with a folded old terry nappy or cut-up towel & stitch shut, then quilt a bit to stop the padding sliding about & making thin patches that might cause burns.

I even keep the side-seam strips & knit or crochet with them on giant needles/hooks - gotto love old jeans, small or large! The only bits I haven't found a use for (yet) are the zips & front pockets...

PS - yes, I converted trousers to shorts. Never bought the boys trousers again afterwards, they all wore shorts right up until secondary school after that - they never seemed to feel the cold anyway!

jpscloud

I was going to suggest a nice patchwork cushion but I see it's already been said above... I made one recently using denim circles from this tutorial http://www.equilters.com/library/jeans/jeans_gallbaros.html

You then get to keep something that looks great and will be a nice memento of your kids' past.

gibson123

You can make the top part into neat little handbags for yourself and your friends or for selling at craft fayres . Pencil cases for the boys out of the smallest ones. If you are clever you can avoid putting in a zip just cut the pencil case shape with zip in-situ. Also you could make the legs into drawstring bags for football boots, gym Kit etc. You can find free patterns and tutorials for all these on line. If the denim is thin, you can use it to cover school books and get some fabric pens so the boys can customise the covers. If they have hamsters or other rodents, you can make them into little hammocks for the cage.

gibson123

My teenage daughter says her friend has decorated her whole bedroom with old jeans, she separates them front to back and staples them to the wall and uses the pockets for keeping things in, a bit drastic but shows initiative.

rigsby1967

I have a pair of jeans, some net curtains and 1 bra that are ready for the bin but i thought i'd ask if you can think of anything i can do with them first before chucking them out as you all seem to like a challenge .

Thanks

Spamfree_2

rigsby1967 wrote: »

I have a pair of jeans, some net curtains and 1 bra that are ready for the bin but i thought i'd ask if you can think of anything i can do with them first before chucking them out as you all seem to like a challenge .

Thanks

Could you stuff one leg of the jeans with the other leg and the net curtains and make a draught excluder for a door?

PasturesNew

Use the 4rse/waist part of the jeans to make a bag.

blossomhill_2

Oooh is this like the Ready Steady Cook where people start with a bag of random ingredients? :rotfl:

Well of course the underwires of the bra need t be removed and stashed forever - I use them to prop up wayward houseplants - but then I am a hoarder :eek:

The jeans need to be cut off and made into a 70s style bag - use the legs for cutting into strips for handles (great minds Pasturesnew)

and the net curtains keep the birds off the soft fruit or as dressing up as brides for bored children :eek:

Sorted! :T

Or you could bin the lot and have a nice clear home like we ex-hoarders are trying to do on the other thread

minniemaus1970

u could make a handbag out of the jeans, a netcurtain- belt and handles to decorate the bag with, the bra could be made into a ball, a little purse or handbag depending on size and shape, you could make a litte hat for your pet? or hammock depending on cup or pet size :rotfl:

MM

thriftwizard

You can make a very practical apron (or two, out of one pair) with the jeans; there's a pattern on my blog & loads of others out there. Also, given two pairs & some old tights or similar, you can make a totally irreverent b*m-shaped cushion; DS1 has taken one I made over 10 years ago off to uni. All I can say is, it's very comfy! Old net curtains are dead handy for wet-felting, amongst other things, and bra wires are very useful too, although DH was in dead trouble when it emerged that completely unwittingly, he'd used DD2's missing underwire to suspend, quite appropriately, one of his home-made tit feeders from the willow tree.

Myself, I'd probably chuck the bra, keep & use the jeans & Freecycle the net curtains - someone out there will have an immediate use for them.