Everyone Has A Pair Of Old Jeans Wasting Away In Their Closet, But Instead Of Tossing The Denim, Here’s How You Can Upcycle The Fabric To Create Coasters, Shorts, Tote Bags, And More
Cleaning out your closet isn’t always such a thankless chore. Sometimes, you wind up discovering long-lost clothing items that you used to love. And sometimes, those pieces are no longer wearable due to them looking frayed and tattered. If you dug up a pair of once-beloved old jeans from the back of your closet, you’d probably find it difficult to part ways with them.
Instead of donating them or tossing them in the trash, you can turn them into something new. Consider upcycling worn denim to keep unnecessary waste out of landfills. A simple DIY project can completely transform a pair of jeans and give them a fresh purpose.
Here are a few interesting ideas to help you decide what to do with old jeans.
Coasters
Make denim coasters out of the pockets of your worn-out jeans! The stitching on the back pockets of jeans can give your drink coasters some fun, unique designs that won’t be found elsewhere.
This project will require you to cut a circle in the center of one of the back pockets and rip the seams to create frayed edges. When you’re done, you’ll have a nice set of coasters to save your tabletops from pesky rings.
Cut-Off Shorts
You can turn old jeans into a pair of cut-off shorts. Cut-off shorts are the perfect attire for the summer. Sure, these days, they’re available for purchase everywhere you go, but back then, most people just took their old jeans and cropped them into shorts.
In the 1970s, cut-off shorts with raw hems were commonplace, and they’re clearly not going anywhere in the near future. They are fashion staples that will never go out of style. You will need some sewing tools for this craft to ensure your shorts don’t end up crooked or too short.
Victoria Chudinova – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
Tote Bag
In recent years, tote bags have been the latest word in fashion, and they’re even more trendy when they’re upcycled. Not only are they stylish, but they’re also practical. Having an extra bag around for library visits, grocery shopping, beach days, and trips to the farmer’s market will certainly be useful.
You can construct your own tote bag using some well-loved denim! After the tote bag is finished, you can even sprinkle in some personality with iron-on fabric patches.
Planter
If you have a large collection of houseplants that just keeps on growing and you’re running out of creative ways to contain them, try making some denim plant holders. This project is ideal for people with a pile of old jeans on their hands, such as parents of multiple children who have outgrown their pants.
These planters are made by using denim seams or hems and old tin cans of any size. Plant succulents directly in the can—succulents are best because they don’t need a lot of water. Additionally, this craft can be used to hold utensils or office supplies.
Patchwork Bowl
Whether it’s for storage or decorative purposes, an extra bowl always comes in handy. To make a patchwork bowl out of your jeans, mix and match different-colored pieces of denim. For example, take a pair of light-wash jeans and combine them with a darker wash to create a nice contrast.
The bowl can be any size of your choosing. It’s great for holding various trinkets like your keys, jewelry, or makeup products.
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