Forever in Blue Jeans

Rosa_Damascena

I have lots of pairs of jeans, which I like to wear until I can wear no more, usually because the inner seams have worn away. That still leaves a lot of denim! I could rag it, and I know there are lots of crafts that can be created from it but I'm wondering what I can turn them into that would both last the distance, and be worth the investment in time? 

Has anyone on the OS board actually done anything with old denim that is actually useful? 

Blue_Doggy

Two easy ones:
1 shoe bags: cut jeans legs to appropriate size (adding seam allowances), close at ankle end, make  hem/channel at top for drawstring. Jeans seams cut off the legs make good MSE draw cords, otherwise use cord or ribbon etc from your stash (if any). Not limited, of course, to shoe storage.
2 shorts (depends on how good your legs are/your modesty requirements): cut the legs off just above the worn bits, then either hem or fray by hand into fringes.
 

Less easy (more work): cut into strips, plait strips, stitch plaits together to make washable “rustic” rugs. 

 

I’m currently using opened out legs to make dog bed covers.

Rosa_Damascena

Just found this, it looks to strike the ideal balance between ease, investment and utility! 

http://mysoulfulhome.com/wine-bag-repurpose-pant-legs-wine-bags/#_a5y_p=3117435

mandy47

Boro bags. Always wanted to make one but never have the time.

https://www.redbubble.com/i/tote-bag/Boro-Mended-Textile-Artwork-by-FuzzyHoney/44299428.A9G4R?country_code=GB&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3frR7czW_QIVAuztCh1o4AAIEAQYASABEgKgV_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Pollie

Draught excluders from the legs. Can stuff with rest of denim.

-taff

I've made long skirt out of them, unpick inner seams, add a bit of triangular material to both side, hep presto, skirt with pocketses....

thriftwizard

There's a variety of aprons-from-old-jeans patterns out there, if you use aprons. But my favourite make so far has been "pocketses" for the back of my front passenger seat in the van, which hold all sorts of useful bits that I wouldn't want rattling around on the floor; WD40, pliers & screwdrivers, first aid & mending kit, pens, a spare comb & glasses, sunglasses, safety pins, etc.! 


Made from an opened-out leg with pockets from other jeans appliquéd on, waistband round the seat-top and a side-seam "tie" round the bunny-seat to stop it flapping round; would be round the joint between the seat & seat-back in a car.

Rosa_Damascena

thriftwizard said:

There's a variety of aprons-from-old-jeans patterns out there, if you use aprons. But my favourite make so far has been "pocketses" for the back of my front passenger seat in the van, which hold all sorts of useful bits that I wouldn't want rattling around on the floor; WD40, pliers & screwdrivers, first aid & mending kit, pens, a spare comb & glasses, sunglasses, safety pins, etc.! 


Made from an opened-out leg with pockets from other jeans appliquéd on, waistband round the seat-top and a side-seam "tie" round the bunny-seat to stop it flapping round; would be round the joint between the seat & seat-back in a car.

Creative but not the kind of thing I need at home.

I find the idea of a long denim skirt appealing though, I would definitely wear that! 

MikeJXE

Had jeans been around in the 1950s we would have made rugs

JIL

I dont wear jeans anymore but when I did when the inner seams wore away, I re sewed the seam.  I reseamened my favourite at least 4 times.

CapricornLass

Patch it with some spare denim and do sashiko stitches over the patch.  Gives a really robust repair, and several years more wear out of your jeans!